Slaughtneil gave it everything but it was Cushendall's day at Pairc Esler.

After a long wait, it's the men from Antrim who claim a first Ulster Championship since 2018 and march on to the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Cushendall will face a mighty challenge in the All-Ireland with O'Loughlin Gaels to come. No doubt they'll be giving it everything on the big stage.

That's all for now, but keep an eye on the BBC Sport website for the report from this afternoon's game in Newry.

Image source, Inpho

Cushendall defender Paddy Burke: "It's brilliant and it means the world to this group of players and our whole club. It was a long four or five years there of not being successful, seeing Slaughtneil and Dunloy going on to compete in Ulster finals so it is sweet to be back here again.

"We work really hard in Cushendall. We train really hard and we have an extremely competitive group of players and a brilliant management team who facilitate everything we need to be able to compete at this level. We knew the task we were going to face. Slaughtneil are a brilliant hurling team and they work like dogs as well, so we had to match that."

Neil McManus on facing O'Loughlin Gaels: "It's not going to be easy, not when you have three or four All-Stars in the team. Winning the Kilkenny Championship is quite an accreditation, never mind coming through Leinster, so we'll enjoy this one this evening and look forward to that one tomorrow."

Cushendall captain Neil McManus: "It's great. Every club in Ulster targets today. They want to be in it for a start and then you want to come out on the right side of it. That was some battle.

"It was such a tight game. Slaughtneil had a few wides and if they had taken them then it was anybody's. Slaughtneil deserve every piece of credit they are given because they raised the bar in Ulster club hurling significantly.

"We had to come up to it and we are delighted to come out on the right side of it."

We'll bring you some reaction from Pairc Esler shortly. Stay tuned...

I should reiterate that McManus didn't hoist his child into the sky like a trophy. What a photo that would be if he did, though.

It was just silverware that was sent into the Newry night.

Neil McManus, so good from dead ball and in play, hoists the trophy high with one arm, with his daughter in the other.

The man can do it all.

We're getting ready for the cup presentation as the formalities and speeches begin.

The Antrim men now march on to the All-Ireland semi-finals, where Kilkenny's and Leinster champions O'Loughlin Gaels await.

Massive.

Cushendall are Ulster champions for the first time since 2018!

Image source, Inpho

Brendan Rogers slices one wide and that sums up Slaughtneil's afternoon!

A minute or so left to play!

Joe McLaughlin lands a massive score and that could be that!

McGuigan is running towards goal and elects to stick it between the posts.

A goal between the sides!

The gap is back down to four as Peter McCullough pulls one back.

Scott Walsh is up from the back and extend's Cushendall's lead!

Neil McManus wins a free and Chrissy McKaigue is shown a yellow card.

McManus does the rest. Eight for McManus. Four between them. Three to play.

The art of hurling.

Image source, Inpho

Se McGuigan gets another back! Is the comeback on?

Oh my days! Fergus McCambridge lands a huge score!

Cushendall have one hand on the trophy here.