Summary

  • Result: Down beat Antrim 1-18 to 0-14

  • First Ulster SFC meeting between counties in 18 years

  • Down beaten by Tyrone in 2017 decider

  • Antrim last reached final in 2009

  • Down face Donegal or Derry in last four

Live Reporting

Cian Murtagh

  1. Ulster SFC goes head to head with Champions League

    Down v Antrim

    John Haughey
    BBC Sport NI at Pairc Esler

    The big question all week in the run-up to this game is how Liverpool's involvement in the Champions League final in Kiev is going to impact on the attendance at Pairc Esler.

    A few dire warnings (Ok...one uttered by myself on the car journey down here) have suggested that the turn-out could be as low as 2,500

    An Ulster Council official has just spoken to me optimistically of 6,000 punters turning up - though adding that they would be content with 5,000.

    "It's a Saturday game and attendances are invariably lower on Saturdays but we have to be realistic about the Champions League Final."

    You would fear that if the game is effectively over by half-time that you could have a bit of an early exodus from Pairc Esler.

    Will keep you posted.

  2. The wait is over

    Down v Antrim

    Supporters of Antrim and Down have had to wait until the last weekend of May to get involved in this year’s championship action but their patience will finally be rewarded this evening.

    The Ulster championship sparked into life last weekend with Fermanagh’s stunning victory over Armagh followed by Monaghan’s crushing success against Tyrone in Omagh.

    The winners today will advance to an Ulster semi-final against either Derry or Donegal on 10 June. The losers could find themselves going up against Mayo or Tyrone in the first round of the qualifiers.

    It’s all to play for at Pairc Esler.