Dublin Dominate Antrim in Convincing League Opener at Croke Park

Image courtesy Conor Ryan

DUBLIN 1-25

ANTRIM 0-14

Dublin commenced their Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B campaign on a positive note as they accounted for Antrim by fourteen points at Croke Park on Saturday evening.

The contest marked manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s first competitive game in chargeand while sterner challenges await, he could be justifiably pleased with a winning start in a contest that failed to ignite throughout.

The Dubs enjoyed a 1-14 to 0-9 interval lead with Conal Ó Riain’s powerful strike in the 9th minute just reward for the greater threat the hosts enjoyed in the opening half.

Dublin’s marksmanship deteriorated upon the restart but Cian O’Sullivan’s thirteen points over the seventy minutes proved more than enough to see them home with a fair degree of comfort.

James McNaughton andO’Sullivan exchanged early frees before the visitors landed the first score from play through Nigel Elliott in the 3rdminute.

The returning John Hetherton levelled matters with a fine solo effort and Dublin moved two points clear by the 6th minute courtesy of another O’Sullivan free and a Chris Crummey score.

Dublin put daylight between the teams in the 9th minute as Crummey’s diagonal pass released debutant Iain Ó Heithir, who showed great composure in picking out the inrushing Ó Riain for an emphatic finish into the roof of Ryan Elliott’s net.

Antrim’s response to this setback was impressive as McNaughton fired over the next three scores (two frees) to leave just two points separating the sides by the start of the second quarter.

The hosts could well have netted again in the 19th minute but O’Sullivan’s powerful shot flicked the crossbar before going over but the St Brigid’s clubman soon added a trio of placed balls to keep Dublin on the front foot.

Dara Purcell also made an impression with a brace of points from play and with Ó Riain added to his personal tally, a late ‘65’ by O’Sullivan saw the Dubs open up an eight-point advantage by half-time.

Scorers from O’Sullivan, Hetherton and Ó Riain in the early stages of the second-half saw Dublin enhance their dominance with Niall McKenna’s point in the 41st moment an isolated moment of encouragement for the Glensmen.

Despite a further two points from O’Sullivan, Dublin’s accuracy deserted them for a period as they spurned a number of presentable chances to extend their lead.

Those misses never looked likely to cost them however, given the relative poverty of Antrim’s challenge, with home substitute Cillian Hayes making an instant impact when introduced as he popped over a smart score in the 59th minute.

There was little to commend the closing stages but points in added time from Kilmacud Crokes duo Purcell and Ó Riain saw Dublin home by double scores.

Scorers – Dublin:C O’Sullivan 0-13 (10f, 1 ’65); C Ó Riain 1-3; Dara Purcell 0-3; C Crummey, J Hetherton 0-2 each; C Burke, C Hayes 0-1 apiece.Antrim:J McNaughton 0-10 (8f); N McKenna 0-2; N Elliott, N O’Connor 0-1 apiece.

Dublin:E Gibbons; J Bellew, D Lucey, I Ó Heithir ;D Gray, C Crummey,P Dunleavy; B Hayes, C Burke; C Ó Riain, F Whitely, D Power; C O’Sullivan, J Hetherton, Dara Purcell. Subs:D Ó Dúlaing for Whitely (43), S Gallagher for Gray (47),C Hayes for B Hayes (57),David Purcell for Hetherton (60), J Lambert for Dunleavy (63).

Antrim:R Elliott;C Boyd, D McCloskey, P Burke; C Bohill, R McGarry, E Campbell; S Walsh, N Elliott; P Boyle, N O’Connor, N McKenna; E O’Neill, J McNaughton, K Molloy. Subs:G Walsh for McGarry (half-time), E McFerran for Boyd (half-time), S Elliott for O’Connor (47),J Maskey for Bohill (54),J McLaughlin for O’Neill (67).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).