Antrim power to victory over Fermanagh in All-Ireland Junior final

Antrim 3-15

Fermanagh 0-11

Antrim ended a 10-year wait for the TG4 All-Ireland Junior title as they powered to victory over Fermanagh replay at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.

Two weeks after the draw in Croke Park when the Saffrons were extremely wasteful, this time they were much more efficient in front of the posts and were helped in their cause by early goals from Lara Dahunsi and a Cathy Carey penalty.

Grainne McLaughlin played a starring role for the victors, turning up the heat on a blistering hot day and top-scoring with eight points, five from play.

It was left to Eimear Smyth to carry the fight for Fermanagh and she kicked seven of her own, but unlike McLaughlin, had little support with Antrim just better in all departments on the day.

After an early exchange of pointed frees for Smyth and Grainne McLaughlin, Antrim bagged their first goal and Dahunsi — so influential in the drawn game — forced a turnover out on the right and while she shot for a point, it dipped over Róisín Gleeson wickedly and ended up in the net.

Smyth replied with a point, but Antrim's second goal arrived a minute later when Maria O'Neill was sent through and while Gleeson saved the shot and injured herself in the process, after a stop for treatment, referee Lorraine O'Sullivan indicated there was an infringement in the build-up and awarded a penalty.

Up stepped captain Carey to slot home the penalty to the roof of the net.

Again, Smyth replied with a point but Orlaith Prenter cancelled this out from a free.

Smyth was on fire for the Ernesiders and hit a great score, attacking at pace and shooting on the spin, before Erin Tierney became their second scorer when she pointed off her left.

Yet Antrim had a fine spell, with points from Caitlín