Antrim head into the semi-finals of the Ladies Intermediate All-Ireland Championship after a 5-06 to 0-8 defeat of Monaghan at Davitt Park in Belfast today.

The Saffrons came out of the blocks at breakneck speed with Lara Dahunsi popping the ball over the bar almost straight from the throw-in.

Orlaith Penter smashed the ball into the back of the net a couple of minutes later to make it 1-1 for the home side.

The visitors were temporarily reduced to 14 after Shone Brady was shown a yellow card for a high tackle in the tenth minute and made an already tough task even harder for the Farney Army.

Penter then scored a point after a good move by the Saffrons before Grainne McLaughlin’s goal make it 2-2. A Penter free came before Sarah O’Neill fired past Alanna O’Donoghue to put Antrim 3-3 up before the half-hour mark.

The game became a stop-start affair with players from both sides going down injured and nearly 13 minutes of added time was given by the referee.

Monaghan finally got off the mark in injury time when Jodie McQuillan popped one over the bar, then Chloe McBride and Shauna Coyle made it 3-3 to 0-3 at the interval.

The Oriel County started the second half with some determination scoring four points through Leanne Maguire, Jodie McQuillan, Chloe McBride, and McQuillan again to make it 3-04 to 0-7 ten minutes after the restart.

A Maria O’Neill for Antrim goal ended any possibility of a Monaghan comeback however, before Prenter scored 1-1 to put the Saffrons out of sight with 5-05 on the scoreboard.

Lauren Garland scored the Farney Army’s eighth and final score before Theresa Mellon made it 5-06 to 0-8 on the day.

A well-deserved victory for Antrim in a blustery afternoon in Belfast and this exciting team can confidently head into the final four knowing silverware is within their grasp.