Paddy Crozier is planning ahead for the Ulster semi-finals

"We got off to a great start but took our foot off the pedal and got ourselves into trouble," he said.

"We regrouped at half-time, scored the first point at the restart and the goal gave us the platform to go on and win the match.

"The goal killed Antrim off and I'm delighted to get through."

Derry let a five-point lead slip in the opening 35 minutes with the teams going in level at the break.

Mark Lynch's 51st minute goal proved decisive and the Oak Leafers go on to play Monaghan in the semi-finals in a fortnight.

Crozier added: "We had plenty of chances in the first half but we were taking the wrong options - it was the wrong decision making which got us in trouble.

"There's local rivalry between the teams and we knew coming down that there would be only one or two points in it either way.

"Antrim are not as bad a team as everyone makes them out to be.

"There's a series of Derry club games on Tuesday night and hopefully our players will come through them without picking up injuries.

"We decided that we'd like to go one step further than last year and I'm glad to be over that first fixture."