Senior Hurlers overcome Antrim in Leinster Senior Hurling Championship tie

DUBLIN 3-32 

ANTRIM 1-18

Second-half goals from Brian Hayes and Donal Burke helped Dublin eventually cruise past Antrim by twenty points in their Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 3 encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Apart from a sporadic period of Antrim pressure before half-time, Dublin were in cruise control for the large part with Burke finishing the contest with 1-11 to his name.

In total, thirteen players contributed to the home tally and this result should give the side a much-need morale boost ahead of next Saturday’s clash with Kilkenny.

The hosts could not have wished for a better start as Conor Burke gained possession from the throw-in and while his point attempt dropped short, Paul Crummey was on hand to flick home past Ryan Elliott from six yards.

With the wind at their backs, Dublin carried a threat all through the half but were loose enough in their approach play, despite an excellent John Bellew point in the 4^th minute.

The visitors opened their own account through midfielder Seaan Elliott a minute later and they were given further grounds for optimism as Elliott’s centefield partner Eoghan Campbell popped over in the 8^th minute.

However, there was no denying Dublin’s dominance at this stage with Eoghan O’Donnell in exceptional form at full-back and three points within two minutes from Conor Donohoe, Seán Currie and Danny Sutcliffe extended their lead to six points by the 13^th minute.

A brace of Donal Burke frees gave a more accurate reflection of Dublin’s control on the scoreboard with their opponents enduring a scoreless period of thirteen minute prior to a Niall McKenna point.

The hosts struck back with three further scores on the bounce through Currie, Cian O’Sullivan and Bellew but from a position of dominance, Dublin were unnerved by the concession of a goal in the 28^th minute as Nigel Elliot released James McNaughton for a low finish past Sean Brennan.

McNaughton added two further points as the half progressed while Conor Burke did likewise at the opposite end to ensure the hosts a six-point interval lead.

That margin looked insufficient given the strength of the breeze and the early stages of the second-half seemed to support that view as Antrim popped over two points in as many minutes through Keelan Molloy and Nigel Elliot.

However, the hosts gradually regained their fluency thanks to points by O’Sullivan, Donal Burke and Conor Burke with Fergal Whitely also spinning away for a smart score in the 45^th minute.

The hosts should have put further distance between the teams a minute later but Crummey flashed wide from Whitely’s pass but they gained some consolation through two further scores by Donal Burke soon after.

Campbell hit two points by way of reply but the contest was effectively settled as substitute Ronan Hayes released his brother Brian through for a superb angled drive high past Ryan Elliott in the 58^th minute.

A third home goal arrived in the 63rd minute as Donal Burke’s miscued a free close to goal but the sliotar evaded Elliot as it rolled almost apologetically into the back of the net.

From that point, it proved a case of target practice for Dublin with Currie and Conor Burke chipping in with five points apiece by the final whistle.

Scorers – Dublin: D Burke 1-11 (1-8f); S Currie, C Burke 0-5 each; P Crummey, B Hayes 1-0 each; J Bellew, C O’Sullivan, R Hayes 0-2 each; C Donohoe, D Sutcliffe, F Whitely, S Gallagher, D Power 0-1 apiece. Antrim: J McNaughton 1-2; C Cunning 0-4 (4f); E Campbell 0-3; S Elliott, G Walsh (1f), K Molloy 0-2 each; N Elliot, N McKenna, F McCurry 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: S Brennan; P Smyth, E O’Donnell, J Bellew; C Crummey, C Donohoe, P Doyle; B Hayes, C Burke; F Whitely, D Burke, D Sutcliffe; S Currie, P Crummey, C O’Sullivan. Subs: R Hayes for P Crummey (47), D Power for Sutcliffe (59), J Madden for C Crummey (63), J Malone for O’Sullivan (65), S Gallagher for B Hayes (69).

Antrim: R Elliott; P Burke, N O’Connor, C Boyd; G Walsh, R McGarry, C Bohill; S Elliott, E Campbell; N Elliot, K Molloy, J McNaughton; C Cunning, N McKenna, A O’Brien. Subs: J McLoughlin for O’Brien (47), P Boyle for Molloy (50), F McCurry for Boyd (55), C McGarry for McKenna (62), S McKay for Cunning (66).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary).