Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B
Antrim 2-15 Dublin 2-19
Saturday 12 February
At half time on Saturday afternoon Antrim looked well placed to record their first league victory of the year. Having played into a strong wind in the opening 35 minutes, the Saffrons performed superbly and but for a dubious decision in injury time before the interval, could have taken a three point lead into the break.
That being said, if Antrim were told they would be on terms at the mid-point of this match before a hurl was swung or a sliotar struck, they would have taken it with both hands.
The second half just didn’t go to plan. Dublin were resolute in defence and Antrim’s fluency form the first half was missing. Some costly errors in possession gave the visitors to Corrigan Park fresh impetus and Mattie Kenny’s side took full advantage with Donal Burke showcasing once again why he’s one of the best in the business.
Beforehand, there were calls for a bumper crowd to get behind the Saffrons in Corrigan and the Antrim management team got their wish. A big crowd came to get behind the Saffrons against a side who have traditionally had the upper-hand but Antrim’s performance levels were increased from seven days previous and it’s no accident that coincided with a strong support.
The Saffrons had chances and some uncharacteristic wides at the business end of the game proved to be telling as they couldn’t get the scores required with Dublin seeing out injury time with little alarm.
Neil McManus top scored on the day for Darren Gleeson’s men with 2-7 to his name and was close to having a third goal with a first time shot in the opening exchanges. The Cushendall man was once again pivotal for Antrim with both he and Domhnall Nugent brought a fierce physical challenge to the Dublin defence that allowed the likes of Seaan Elliott and Conor Johnston cause the Dub’s defence problems. The perfect foil.
A slow start for the Saffrons turned into 10 minutes of the best hurling they’ve produced this year. Dublin led 0-5 to 0-1 with Fergal Whitely and Donal Burke doing the damage on the scoreboard but Conal Cunning’s first point of the contest signalled an awakening. Antrim went on to score a further 1-4 with McManus goal coming in the 14th minute, Eoghan Campbell with the assist but McManus showed all his experience to get goal side and hammer the sliotar into the net.
The Saffrons maintained that three point advantage with Dublin wasteful in front of the target, struggling with the famed Corrigan Park wind but as the clock struck into injury time, referee John Keenan awarded a penalty for an infringement on Paul Crummey. Donal Burke stepped up and gave Ryan Elliott no chance between the sticks as he hammered the sliotar to the bottom corner to leave the sides tied on 1-8 apiece at the interval.
Antrim began the second half in whirlwind fashion with the large crowd at Corrigan Park still making their way back to their seats in the stand or position in the terraces before Keelan Molloy split the uprights and while James Madden and Donal Burke (free) responded in kind for the visitors, Paddy Burke fired over to ensure the Saffrons kept the scoreboard ticking.
A run of four points in just over five minutes, a trio from Donal Burke (two frees) and Riain McBride put Dublin in control but Antrim hit back. Seaan Elliott and Paddy Burke combined to carve open the Dublin defence but Burke was hauled to the ground with a penalty the decision. McManus fired home despite a deflection from Alan Nolan in the Dublin goal.
The Saffrons never got the opportunity to build on that or gather momentum from McManus’ second major of the afternoon as Dublin scored their second goal with the next attack. Fergal Whitely gathering the sliotar in the corner and picking Paul Crummey with a cross-field pass. The Dublin man pulled first time to the net despite the brave efforts of Ryan Elliott in the Antrim goal.
In the time that remained Antrim huffed and puffed but without much joy in attack. Dublin were solid in defence and smothered any lose sliotar from high dropping poc-outs while their ability to recycle possession and find a player in space allowed them to control the time that remained.
Antrim will look at missed chances in that final quarter where missed frees and poor decisions while in possession ultimately cost them. To try and stay positive, it’s two games against two of Ireland’s finest where on another day, we could be two from two. The performance against Dublin was significantly better than any they have managed in the recent past and that is undoubtedly a major bonus but it isn’t points on the board as Darren Gleeson pointed to at the end of the game.
They have an extra week to recover from two bruising games before welcoming Waterford to Corrigan Park. The games get no easier but this is where Antrim want to be, mixing it with the best in the business and rubbing shoulders with giants.
The Deise are next.
TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Niall O’Connor, Gerard Walsh, Stephen Rooney; Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Joe Maskey; Keelan Molloy, Paddy Burke; Niall McKenna, Domhnall Nugent, Neil McManus; Conal Cunning, Conor Johnston, Seaan Elliott
Subs: James McNaughton for D Nugent (55); Michael Bradley for S Walsh (55); Eoin O’Neill for C Johnston (55); Daniel McKernan for K Molloy (61); David Kearney for N O’Connor (67)
Scorers: N McManus 2-7 (1-00 pen, 5 f’s, 1 ’65); C Cunning 0-2; K Molloy 0-2; P Burke 0-1; N McKenna 0-1; C Johnston 0-1; J McNaughton 0-1 (1f)
Dublin: Alan Nolan; Andrew Dunphy, Eoghan O’Connell, Cian O’Callaghan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, James Madden; Chris Crummey, Conor Burke; Donal Burke, Riain McBride, Danny Sutcliffe; Fergal Whitely, Ronan Hayes, Paul Crummey
Subs: Eamon Dillon for R Hayes (45); Jake Malone for R McBride (56); Aidan Mellett for P Crummey (59); Davy Keogh for J Bellew (60); Colin Currie for F Whitely (70)
Scorers: D Burke 1-9 (1-00 pen, 6f’s); P Crummey 1-00; D Sutcliffe 0-2; F Whitely 0-2; J Bellew 0-1; J Madden 0-1; C Crummey 0-1; R McBride 0-1; J Malone 0-1; E Dillon 0-1
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)
