U20 Hurlers Come Out on Top Against Antrim to Seal Leinster Quarter-Final Spot

DUBLIN 2-19 

ANTRIM 4-10

 Dublin advanced to the quarter-finals of the Oneills.com Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship when getting the better of Antrim by three points in Dowdallshill, Dundalk on Wednesday night. 

After suffering losses to both Kilkenny and Wexford, the Dubs got their campaign back on track but they were pushed all the way by an Antrim side that brought the contest right down to the wire having trailed by eleven points at the end of the third quarter. 

Despite the concession of goals to Antrim’s Fiontan Bradley and Jack McCloskey, Dublin enjoyed a 1-11 to 2-4 interval advantage with 1-4 from the influential Daniel O’Kelly proving pivotal in the first-half. 

A second O‘Kelly goal within nine minutes of the restart looked to have settled the matter but late goals by Cormac McKeown and McCloskey left matters tighter than anticipated by the final whistle.    

Backed by a stiff breeze, it as Antrim that started on the front foot through scores from Bradley (free) and Jack McCloskey before Dublin opened their scoring in the 5th minute through an O’Kelly free. 

Callum Graham and Joseph McLaughlin traded points soon after before O’Kelly levelled matters in the 8th minute with his second score. 

That point preceded a dominant spell by the Dubs with an O’Kelly free followed by scores from Fionn Murphy, Cathal Kennedy and Nathan Fitzgerald as they pushed four points clear by the 12th minute. 

However, their momentum stalled as Bradley availed of some hesitant defending to poke home past Daniel Joyce, prompting a scoreless period of six minutes either side of the first quarter mark. 

Brendan Kenny and Bradley exchanged scores before Antrim regained the lead in the 23rd minute as McCloskey swept home from close range to turn the tide briefly in his side’s favour. 

Dublin’s response to that setback was instant as O’Kelly shrugged off his defender from the resultant puck-out and his powerful finish into the top corner proved too good for Eoin Richmond in the Antrim goal. 

The Dubs finished the half strongly as points by Ollie Gaffney, O’Kelly (free) and Kenny saw them four points clear by the interval.

Dublin continued to control matters in the early stages of the second-half with scores from Killian Costello and Kenny helping take them further clear. 

Kenny’s pace was hugely evident during this period as he won a free that saw O’Kelly’s initial attempt blocked but he regained possession before firing another unstoppable shot into the roof of the Antrim net.

Points followed through Gaffney and Joey Kinnane but the Dubs lacked fluency in the final quarter as Bradley clipped over a trio of points from placed balls. 

A McKeown goal in the 56th minute added fresh impetus to the Antrim challenge and Dublin were forced to weather a late storm when McCloskey rocketed a free into the net two minutes into injury time.     

Scorers – Dublin: D O’Kelly 2-5 (0-3f); B Kenny 0-4; O Gaffney 0-2; C Graham, F Murphy, C Kennedy, N Fitzgerald, K Costello, J Kinnane, J Sheppard, B Lynch 0-1 apiece. Antrim: F Bradley 1-6 (0-4f, 0-1 sideline); J McCloskey 2-1 (1-0f); C McKeown 1-1; J McLaughlin, C McAuley 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: D Joyce; B Lynch, D Lucey, C Groarke; J Sheppard, C Ó Riain, C Kennedy; K Costello, F Murphy; O Gaffney, J Kinnane, B Kenny; C Graham, D O’Kelly, N Fitzgerald. Subs: D Mulqueen for Fitzgerald (43), S Crosbie for Kinnane (52), J Kavanagh for Graham (53). 

Antrim: E Richmond; M McGibbon, S McKay, D Patterson; C McAuley, L Glackin, B O’Kane; J McLaughlin, N Magee; A McGarry, C McIlwaine, T McLaughlin; F Bradley, O Donnelly, J McCloskey. Subs: C Mooney for Patterson (17), C McKeown for Magee (40), O O’Connor for Donnelly (50).

Referee: Ciarán Flynn (Meath).