Allianz Hurling League Division One

Group B

Antrim vs Dublin

Saturday 12 February

Venue: Corrigan Park, Belfast

Throw in: 2pm

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)

We preview Antrim’s first home game of the League as they welcome the Dubs to the Whiterock Road

Match day two and a first home match of the campaign, Antrim welcome Dublin to Corrigan Park on Saturday afternoon looking to pick up their first points.  Last Sunday they put in a huge performance against Kilkenny and but the Cats purred in the third quarter of that game to open a gap that would ultimately be match winning.

That being said, it took the heroics of Kilkenny ‘keeper Darragh Brennan to deny Domhnall ‘Federer’ Nugent in injury time and Eoghan Campbell couldn’t have missed the breaking ball by much a split second later.  A case of what might have been.

Having already faced Dublin this year, Darren Gleeson and his backroom team already know the magnitude of the task in front of them.  The Saffrons first match of the 2022 season was in Parnell Park when they travelled to face the Dubs in the Walsh Cup.  11 points was the difference in the scoreboard on that occasion in a contest that showed all the physical and technical attributes of what is an excellent Dublin side.

Under the tutelage of Mattie Kenny, Dublin have developed into an awesome side and won the Walsh Cup earlier this year, defeating Wexford with ease in the decider while last weekend they went toe-to-toe with Waterford.  Nothing would separate those two in a match that saw the Dubs reduced to 14 men for 20 minutes, the game ending 0-21 to 2-15 with Donal Burke landing his tenth free of the game in injury time to edge his side ahead only for Stephen Bennet to equalise at the death for the Deise.

If Antrim need any reminders of what Dublin are capable of, they need look no further than last June and the last competitive outing between these two sides.  A chastening defeat at Pairc Tailteann and the Saffrons return to the Liam McCarthy Cup proved to be short lived.  Dublin were simply awesome that day, racking up a highly impressive 3-31 in the process and while Antrim’s tally of 0-22 shouldn’t be overlooked either, they know they will have to improve from that showing and last week’s game at Nowlan Park to get anything from the game.

On the injury front, Antrim will hope to have Michael Bradley back in contention while Keelan Molloy showed little ill effects from the knock that threatened to rule him out of the game.  Second half substitutes Daniel McKernan and Eoin O’Neill all made impacts when introduced and will give Gleeson and his team something to think about when selecting.

Against Kilkenny on less than favourable conditions, Antrim looked to play to their strengths and early on caused the Kilkenny defence plenty of problems.  Seaan Elliott and Conor Johnston in particular while Conal Cunning was more involved in a deeper role than usual.  It’s a conundrum for Gleeson to see how to get the best out of what is an exciting attacking unit.  

In defence, Gerard Walsh looks made in the number three shirt.  He’ll be the first to admit it wasn’t a great day for him in Tullamore against Offaly in the Walsh Cup but since then the Rossa man has been immense and was my pick for Antrim’s man of the match last Sunday.  At times we looked open with the space between our full back and half back line telling, Kilkenny were able to take advantage of that in the third quarter and there’s no doubting Dublin will identify that as an area where they can make hay but Kenny’s side are more renowned for their powerful running from deep and breaking the lines with pace and strength.  The middle third is where the game will be won and lost, to deny or limit Dublin’s ability to break with pace.

Last year in Corrigan Park with limited numbers in attendance, Antrim produced memorable performances against Clare, Wexford and Laois to end up undefeated.  It will take something special for that to happen this year again.  The gates are open and Gleeson has implored the Saffron support to get out and throw their support behind his side.  The efforts, the progress, the commitment these lads have shown is unending.  They are putting Antrim back on the hurling map with notable performance and winning the hearts and minds in all corners of the country, even if RTE don’t think so when it comes to the highlights package on a Sunday evening.

It’s time to make Corrigan Park a fortress, it’s time for every man, woman and child to throw their support behind this team.  Let’s give something back to this team who have given us so much in darker days in the recent past.

When they last met….

Leinster GAA Senior Hurling Championship

Quarter-Final

Antrim 0-22 Dublin 3-31

Saturday June 26

Saffrons defeated in return to Liam McCarthy

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pairc Tailteann

It was a chastening return to the Leinster championship for Antrim as they succumbed to a 18 point defeat to Dublin.  The Dubs proved to be a step above what the Saffrons could produce on the day as they dominated after a close opening quarter.

Dublin’s ability to win primary possession was remarkable on the day with their half forward line imperious, captain Danny Sutcliffe, my man of the match Donal Burke and Conor Burke in particular the heartbeat of a hugely impressive Dublin side.

Dublin had 12 different scorers on the day with Donal Burke top scoring with 0-12 while their three goals came from the inside forward trio of Cian Boland, Ronan Hayes and Cian O’Sullivan.  Antrim’s defence struggled with the movement of the Dublin attack but the delivery into them from deep was measured and precise.  Dublin manoeuvred the sliotar expertly, intelligently and created chances at will throughout.

Ciaran Clarke was Antrim’s top scorer with two of his nine points coming from play while Neil McManus finished with 0-6 beside his name.  Some of his scores in the opening half in particular enough to grace any pitch in the country.

Trailing by eight points at the short whistle, Antrim competed well at the start of the second half but in nine minutes either side of the second half water-break Dublin kept Darren Gleeson’s men scoreless and scored 2-4 themselves to effectively end any hopes of a dream return to the Liam McCarthy for the Saffrons.

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, Gerard Walsh, Damon McMullan; Eoghan Campbell, Paddy Burke, Joe Maskey; James McNaughton, Keelan Molloy; Michael Bradley, Neil McManus, Niall McKenna; Seaan Elliott, Conal Cunning, Ciaran Clarke

Subs: Conor McCann for S Elliott (27); Domhnall Nugent for N McKenna (49); Shea Shannon for M Bradley (49); Ryan McGarry for E Campbell (58); Ciaran Johnston for J Maskey (58)

Scorers: C Clarke 0-9 (6f 1’65); N McManus 0-6; K Molloy 0-3; C Cunning 0-1; M Bradley 0-1; J McNaughton 0-1 (1f); C McCann 0-1

Dublin: Alan Nolan; Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O’Donnell, Cian O’Callaghan; Daire Gray, Liam Rushe, James Madden; Rian McBride, Conor Burke; Danny Sutcliffe, Donal Burke, Chris Crummey; Cian Boland, Ronan Hayes, Cian O’Sullivan

Subs: Jake Malone for Riain McBride (58); Oisin O’Rorke for C O’Sullivan (58); Fergal Whitley for D Sutcliffe (58); Sean Moran for C Burke (60); Paul Crummey for C Crummey (63)

Scorers: D Burke 0-12 (4f); R Hayes 1-3; C O’Sullivan 1-2; C Boland 1-1; D Sutcliffe 0-3; C Crummey 0-3; R Burke 0-2; E O’Donnell 0-1; C Burke 0-1; O O’Rorke 0-1; F Whitley 0-1; S Moran 0-1

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)