Preview: Dublin v Antrim Allianz Hurling League

Tue, 6th February 2024

By Conor Martin

Micheál Donoghue's Dublin will be looking to bounce back from defeat on the opening weekend at home to Tipperary in our second Allianz Hurling League fixture away to Antrim in Belfast this Sunday (1.45pm).

Get match tickets here.

Despite Brian Hayes opening the scoring, it was the only time Dublin had the lead, as Tipperary took control of the game soon after Dublin’s bright start.

Cian O’Sullivan and Conor Burke helped stem the Tipperary tide that swept across Parnell Park; however, we would ultimately go into the break eight points down.

Dublin looked revitalised after the break as O’Sullivan and Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing closed the gap between us and Tipperary.

Tipp would then disrupt the Dublin resurgence when Sean Ryan found the net for the visitors.

Fergal Whitely responded for the Dubs as O’Sullivan pointed a handful of frees before Jake Morris got Tipperary’s second goal of the afternoon, which put the game out of Dublin’s reach.

Dublin did knock on the door once more, but Tipperary made sure that the door leading to a route back into the game was locked with its key thrown away.

Davy Keogh was denied by Rhys Shelly before also thwarting O’Sullivan. We would end the game with points from Whiteley and Paul Crummey, as Tipperary deservedly went home with the win.

Antrim suffered a heavy 27-point loss at the hands of reigning Allianz Hurling League Division 1 champions Limerick.

Two frees from Conal Cunning helped Antrim into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead before Limerick got themselves going.

Halfway through the first-half, they would find the net after some excellent work from Rian McMullen to set up Fred McCurry, who fired home.

Limerick would then find form once more and they hit 10 points unanswered, which helped them into a six-point half-time lead.

The Treaty Men then raced away from Antrim, recording a more than comfortable 1-36 to 1-9 win.

Cunning and McCurry are ones Dublin will need to keep tabs on, whilst Antrim will be looking to keep the likes of O’Sullivan and Ó Dúlaing quiet, as both teams look for an improved performance and a first league win of 2024 this Sunday.

The Friends of Dublin Hurling are running a Supporters Bus to Belfast for the game. See details here.

For those not travelling to Belfast this weekend, the match will be live on the TG4 player and app from 1:45pm.