Derry ease into semi-finals

Anthony Tohill: determination is the name of the game

Derry 1-11 0-9 Antrim

Derry's clear win over Antrim clinched a place in the semi-finals of the 2001 Ulster Senior Football Championship.

Eamon Coleman's team had five points to spare over underdogs Antrim at Celtic Park.

Derry now play Tyrone in the semi-finals on Sunday 17 June.

Paddy Bradley scored the only goal of the game just before half-time and also sent over three points.

Once again Enda Muldoon had a great game up front for Derry, scoring four points.

Paddy Logan scored all but one of Antrim's nine points.

Enda Muldoon: Four points for Derry

His side held a three points to one lead in the early stages but Derry's experience and power soon took over.

Both sides had one player sent off in the second half for two yellow cards - Derry's Paul Carton being followed by Paul Close of Antrim.

Derry fullback Sean Martin Lockhart said he was relieved to get over the Antrim hurdle.

"Everybody expected us to win - there was big pressure on us," said Lockhart.

"Antrim came at us strongly and ran us ragged in the first 15 minutes.

"But we played well in the end and in the second half showed our experience."

Derry manager Eamon Coleman said his team would have to play better against Tyrone if they were have any chance of reaching the final again.

"We would not live with Tyrone on a performance like that," said Coleman.

Eamon Coleman says Derry must improve

Antrim captain Joe Quinn felt his team's inexperience had been exposed.

"Giving away that goal just before half-time - that was the sucker punch," said Quinn.

"We were with them up to that point. We started like a house on fire but we could not keep that pace going."

"But we are a young team and still learning and gelling together.

"We go into the losers' group now and that will give the young lads some more experience."

The big shock of Sunday's other championship matches was Roscommon's dethroning of Galway in the Connacht Football Championship.

Johnny Tobin's team defeated last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists by 2-12 to 0-14.

Roscommon thoroughly deserved their victory.

Meath came from 1-5 to 0-1 down early on to defeat Westmeath 2-12 to 1-14 in the Leinster Football Championship.

Also in the Leinster Football Championship Mick O'Dwyer's Kildare edged out Carlow 0-19 to 1-11.

In Sunday's big hurling clash in Munster, Tipperary defeated Clare 0-15 to 0-14.