Senior Hurlers Draw with Antrim

ANTRIM 1-19 DUBLIN 1-19

A last-gasp point from Cian O’Sullivan rescued a share of the spoils for Dublin as they drew 1-19 apiece with Antrim in their Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 1 encounter at Corrigan Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Dubs trailed for the large part and looked in a perilous position as they faced a deficit of six points at the end of the third quarter but they battled back well with a goal from Dónal Burke edging them in front in the 67^th minute.

The hosts replied well to that setback in scoring the next two points but O’Sullivan was on hand to show his customary sharpness as he spilt the posts to leave an equitable conclusion to the entertaining clash.

Buoyed on by a vociferous crowd, Antrim started up brightly through a Keelan Molloy point and although Burke replied through a free, the hosts regained tangible reward for their efforts through points from Gerald Walsh and Conal Cunning.

A Burke free briefly stalled their momentum but Antrim moved five points ahead by the 8^th minute as Conor Johnston was on hand to bat home from close range after Seán Brennan had repelled a Seaan Elliott effort.

A brace of O’Sullivan points kept Dublin in contention and they looked to be moving well as they landed three further scores through Alex Considine, O’Sullivan and Cian Boland to trail by just a point by the 19^th minute.

However, the free-taking of Walsh and Cunning pushed Antrim back into control although they were fortunate not to concede a goal in the 31^st minute as Paul Crummey drove over the crossbar when well placed.

Sean Elliott added a fine point from a sideline ball towards the end of the half and with Burke denied by Ryan Elliott soon after, a Daire Gray score and a Burke free saw Dublin trail by two points (1-11 to 0-12) at half-time.

With the rain becoming increasingly heavy, the hosts look to reaffirm their dominance at the start of the second-half and managed to hit five of the first six scores with Cunning, Walsh and Michael Bradley all on target.

Dublin’s sole reply was a sideline from O’Sullivan and with Burke’s radar from placed balls going slightly awry, matters looked as bleak as the weather for the visitors.

However, the Na Fianna attacker regained his composure as his scores began to lead to some increased Antrim tension and that was added to in the 67^th minute as substitutes Seán Currie and Ronan Hayes combined to set up Burke for a powerful finish to the net.

Cunning drew Antrim level from a free within an instant and the hosts looked to have snatched the win when Paul Boyle edged them back in front in the first minute of added time.

Back came from Dublin with O’Sullivan denied a goal by a superb tackle from Conall Bohill but form the resultant ‘65’, O’Sullivan found space to salvage a point as the Dubs turn their attentions to their Round 2 meeting with Westmeath in Parnell Park next Saturday evening (6.00).

Scorers – Antrim: C Cunning 0-9 (6f), G Walsh 0-3 (3f), C Johnston 1-0, M Bradley, S Elliott (0-1 S/L) 0-2 each, P Burke, K Molloy, P Boyle 0-1 apiece. Dublin: D Burke 1-9 (0-6f, 0-2 ‘65’s), C O’Sullivan 0-6 (0-1 S/L), D Gray, C Boland, P Crummey, A Considine 0-1 apiece.

Antrim: R Elliott; P Burke, R McGarry, N O’Connor; G Walsh, E Campbell, C Bohill; M Bradley, J McNaughton; S Elliott, K Molloy, N Elliott; C Cunning, N McManus, C Johnston. Subs: J Maskey for N Elliott (28), E O’Neill for Molloy (62), P Boyle for Johnston (66), D Nugent for McNaughton (69), R McMullan for Bradley (73).

Dublin: S Brennan; M Grogan, E O’Donnell, P Smyth; P Doyle, C Burke, D Gray; C Donohoe, C O’Leary; D Sutcliffe, D Burke, C Boland; A Considine, C O’Sullivan, P Crummey. Subs: R Hayes for Considine (48), S Currie for Crummey (56), D Power for Boland (60).

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow).