Super Saffrons get the job done in Mullingar

Leinster GAA Senior Hurling Championship – Round 5

Antrim 4-24 Westmeath 1-19

Sunday 28 May

Brendan McTaggart reports from Cusack Park, Mullingar

Job done.  Antrim travelled to Mullingar knowing their fate in the Leinster championship was on the line, but they were masters of their own destiny and after a sensational second half, it was job done.

Trailing by two points having played into the wind in the first half, Antrim manager Darren Gleeson looked a frustrated man walking off the Cusack Park pitch at the short whistle.  Antrim had controlled much of the first half and held a seven point lead after 20 minutes.  The home side kept Antrim to just one point in the time that remained of the first half and scored 1-7 themselves.  The Saffrons reduced to 14 men with referee Kevin Jordan giving Ryan Elliott a black card for an infringement in the build up to the Westmeath goal.

James McNaughton fires in Antrim’s third goal

That and numerous decisions in the first half had the vocal Antrim support outraged and Antrim looked all at sea.  The game and momentum changed in the opening exchanges of the second half.  The Saffrons came out rejuvenated with Gleeson’s words ringing in their ears and put in a performance for the ages to run out 14 point winners and leave a Westmeath team who defeated Wexford just seven days ago, chasing shadows.  Two goals in either half with Conal Cunning and Conor Johnston before Eoin O’Neill and James McNaughton late in the game.  Cunning finished with 1-9, his last point something that should be shown to every young player with aspirations to play the game.  Seaan Elliott and Keelan Molloy covered every inch of the Cusack Park turf, Molloy with an outrageous block late in the game that saw him being picked up by Gerard Walsh and embraced such was his bravery.  Mick Bradley put in another top performance and has been Antrim’s Mr Consistency this year while James McNaughton’s second half performance was more like we’ve been used to seeing from the Loughgiel man.  A special mention should be reserved for Neil McManus however.  If the rumours are to be believed and this was his last match in the Saffron jersey, then what a way to go out.  He has been Mr Antrim for years and through thick and thin.  A man that owes Antrim hurling nothing and gives everything.  A man that should never have been on the pitch given the extent of his injuries but you just knew he was never missing this game.  A massive influence, a leader, a legend.  He deserved this game and performance to end an illustrious career.

Conal Cunning scores Antrim’s opening major with a brilliantly taken goal

Despite Antrim scoring the opening point of the game through a free from Cunning, Westmeath looked sharp.  They held a two point lead with Ciaran Doyle, Davy Glennon and Jack Galvin all finding their range.

The first Antrim goal came in the eighth minute with James McNaughton picking up the loose ball and finding Cunning who finished superbly.

The scores were tied when Antrim struck again in the 13th minute.  Bradley with the delivery where Cunning broke the sliotar into the path of Johnston.  He pulled first time and the net rippled.  Antrim turned the screw and added a further four scores in as many minutes. 

Seven clear and with the home side on the ropes, Westmeath scored their first point for 15 minutes and began to find their range. 

Four points separated the sides when Westmeath scored their only goal of the game.  An error in the Antrim defence and O’Brien capitalised.  He passed to Owen McCabe who was through one on one with Ryan Elliott.  The Dunloy man brought McCabe down but the Westmeath forward managed to get his shot away to score the goal.  It was a double blow however with referee Jordan giving Elliott a black card.

While Antrim struggled, Westmeath reaped in the mayhem.  Another four unanswered scores gave them a 1-12 to 2-7 lead at the short whistle.

Half time came at the right time for the Saffrons.  Gerard Walsh was deputising between the sticks and they reorganised their defence.  They needed a change on mindset in the second half and they came out a different team.

Conor Johnston punches the air after scoring Antrim’s second goal

Inside the opening 60 seconds they were back on terms on the scoreboard and by the third minute of the half they were back ahead.  They were turning the screw on the Westmeath defence and forcing turnovers while defensively they held the home side to just four points in 31 minutes of hurling.  Between times, they were running riot.  McNaughton, McManus, Cunning, Seaan Elliott all finding scores to put Antrim eight points clear with five minutes of the 70 remaining.

The third and fourth Antrim goals came inside two minutes at the death, the first of those from substitute Eoin O’Neill all but sealed the win.  Burke finding Molloy who found O’Neill in space.  He rounded his man with a side step and bore down on goal, making no mistake when one on one with Noel Conaty.  The fourth goal came from an interception by Seaan Elliott and he passed to McNaughton.  The Loughgiel man took his tally to 1-3 and his goal a reward for an excellent second half performance.

On what could be his last day wearing the Antrim jersey Neill McManus gets a special welcome from his daughter Aoibhin at the end of the game.

The final whistle blew and the Antrim celebrations started.  Mixed with a hint of relief but nevertheless, this performance felt like a defining moment for this side.  It was as good as I personally can remember Antrim playing and to do it under the circumstances they were faced makes it all more sweet.  The Leinster Championship will see the Saffrons in 2024 while Westmeath will play in the McDonagh Cup after Wexford pulled off a shock result in Kilkenny.

Seaan Elliott who had a great game for Antrim in their win over Westmeath

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Paddy Burke, Ryan McGarry, Niall O’Connor; Gerard Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill; James McNaughton, Michael Bradley; Keelan Molloy, Niall McKenna, Conor Johnston; Conal Cunning, Neil McManus, Seaan Elliott

Subs: Daniel McKernan for C Bohill (11); E O’Neill for C Johnston (61); Rian McMullan for N McManus (70); Joe Maskey for N McKenna (70+2); Domhnall Nugent for C Cunning (70+3)

Scorers: C Cunning 1-9 (7fs); J McNaughton 1-3; C Johnston 1-1; E O’Neill 1-1; N McKenna 0-3; S Elliott 0-2; N McManus 0-2; N O’Connor 0-2; K Molloy 0-1

Westmeath: Noel Conaty; Darragh Egerton, Conor Shaw, Johnny Bermingham; Tommy Doyle, Aaron Craig, Robbie Greville; Jack Galvin, Charlie McCormack; Davy Glennon, Eoin Keyes, Niall O’Brien; Owen McCabe, Joseph Boyle, Ciaran Doyle

Subs: Niall Mitchell for C McCormack (41); Peter Clarke for A Craig (48); Derek McNicholas for C Doyle (59)

Scorers: C Doyle 0-7 (4fs 2 ‘65s); D Glennon 0-4; N O’Brien 0-3 (1f); O McCabe 1-00; J Boyle 0-2; J Galvin 0-2; J Bermingham 0-1

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)

Well beaten Antrim must now turn their attentions to next Sunday in Mullingar

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship round-robin 4

Galway 5-29 Antrim 1-22

Antrim left Pearse Stadium today with a lot on their minds after taking a nineteen point beating from Galway in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship in their penultimate game in the Leinster round-robin game. However  events on the other side of the country, where their final game opponents Westmeath staged a remarkable comeback from 16 points down to beat Wexford was very much in their thoughts as well.

The midlanders remarkable comeback means that Antrim must now beat the Midlanders in Mullingar next Sunday to stay in the Leinster championship, instead of getting a draw, which had appeared to be the likely scenario. If Antrim do manage to pull off a win over the Lakelanders, and already qualified Kilkenny beat Wexford in the last game, then Wexford will find themselves relegated to the JoeMcDonagh Cup, while Antrim and Westmeath will remain in the championship.

During the first half of Sunday’s game Antrim had battled well and were in contention for most of the first-half, but as Galway upped the pace in the lead to half time they stretched their lead and were in complete control by the half time whistle as they lead by 2-17 to 1-07

Antrim got away to a great start as Eoin O’Neill ran at the Galway defence before passing to Niall McKenna who was brought down by a Galway defender and Conal Cunning fired home the resultant penalty. Conor Cooney and Evan Niland came back with points to cut the gap to a single point but Enda Og McGarry hit Antrim’s first from play to put them 1-2 to 0-4 up, but when Galway rattled off the next five on the spin, with Cooney and Niland hitting two apiece and Padraic Mannion also on target the picture was slowly changing

Antrim responded with points from Conor Cunning and Keelan Molloy but on 28 minutes, but things began to slip for the Glensmen when a Ronan Glennon’s shot for a point came back off the post and the loose ball was whipped to the net by Conor Whelan. When Paddy Burke replied with a point to reduce the gap to four, things didn’t look too bad but Galway came strong in the final minutes as Niland, Cooney, Kevin Cooney and Declan McLoughlin all sent over points before Whelan delivered a killer blow as he drilled the ball to the net to put his team 2-15 to 1-7 ahead at the break. .

To their credit Antrim kept battling after the restart but they missed a couple of early scoring chances while at the other end Conor Cooney, Joseph Cooney and Declan McLaughlin all found the target.

James McNaughton did get Antrim away in the second period with a points on the run, but they were hit with a third goal straight after as a good move resulted in Kevin Cooney blasting home.

Three points in quick succession lifted Antrim spirits but Galway’s fourth goal wasn’t far away and on 47 minutes, Tom Monaghan got in and fired home his team’s fourth goal from a narrow angle.

James McNaughton had a great shot at goal saved by the Galway netminder, and though the Loughgiel man pointed the resultant 65, the intensity of the game was fading a bit. With next weekend’s game in their minds both teams made a raft of changes which killed the pace of the game, but Galway still had a goal in them, and Liam Collins got his side’s fifth major with a fine finish.

One promising thing in the final minutes was Daniel McKernan, who was making his return after a long absence through injury, came on and hit  three good points for the Saffrons, and the Sarsfields man should be available for next week’s crucial decider in Mullingar

GALWAY: E Murphy; J Grealish, G McInerney, D Morrissey; P Mannion (0-2), D Burke, F Burke; J Cooney (0-2), C Mannion; R Glennon, E Niland (0-8, 2 frees, 2 65s), C Cooney (0-7); K Cooney (1-2), C Whelan (2-0), D McLoughlin (0-4).

Subs: T Monaghan (1-2) for C Mannion (7), TJ Brennan (0-1) for F Burke (head injury, 15, not reversed), C Fahy for R Glennon (48), A Tuohey (0-1) for D Burke (53), L Collins (1-0) for C Whelan (53), J Ryan for J Cooney (62)

ANTRIM: T Smyth; P Burke (0-3), G Walsh, S Rooney; R McGarry, C Boyd, N O Connor; K Molloy (0-1), E Og McGarry (0-1); E O’Neill (0-1), C Cunning (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-2 frees), N McKenna (0-1); D Nugent (0-1), J McNaughton (0-4, 1 free, 1 65), C Johnston (0-3).

Subs: P Boyle for G Walsh (HT), J Maskey (0-1) for D Nugent (50), D McKernan (0-3) for C Cunning (50), S Walsh for K Molloy (55), A Bradley for E O’Neill ( blood sub, 62, not reversed), C McKernan for P Burke (64)

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)

The Paddies in Salthill as Daniel McKernan (23) made a welcome return when introduced as a second half substitute

Poor first half costs Antrim dearly, but they showed great character to battle back

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship round robin – Game 2

Wexford 1-30 Antrim 1-26

PICS BY NOEL REDDY

James McNaughton who scored a brilliant goal for Antrim early in the game.

A poor first half, at the end of which they trailed by nine points, cost Antrim dearly in Saturday’s Leinster SHC round-robin duel at Chadwicks Wexford Park. The talk of an Antrim win in the lead up to the game appeared to sharpen the minds of the home side who were really up for it from the start and their forwards led the Antrim defence a merry dance in that opening period.

When they trailed by nine points at half time the Antrim fans who made the journey south must have feared the worst, but to their credit Antrim showed much more character and skill in the second half and at the end of the game they had cut that nine point deficit back to just four. It could have been even closer, and dare I say it they could have won the game, had it not been for two outstanding saves by Wexford goalkeeper James Lawlor from Antrim substitute Rian McMullan and Keelan Molloy.

Despite a strong start by Wexford which saw Rory O’Connor hit two and Liam Og McGovern one the lead was soon back to a single point as Seaan Elliott and Gerard Walsh (free) hit excellent points, Walsh’s free from well inside his own half

Things remained tight as the sides traded scores before an Oisín Foley double suggested a Wexford surge was in the offing as they pulled 0-6 to 0-3 ahead on ten minutes.

But Antrim shook things up seconds later when James McNaughton dashed in from the right wing to crash home an equalising goal (1-3 to 0-6).

Wexford responded thought and they 1-6 in a six minute spell of dominance, while conceding just a single point themselves.

Conal Cunning who was top scorer with 13 points

Jack O’Connor hit a quick brace before his brother, Rory, a constant thorn in Antrim’s side, released Cathal Dunbar, who danced past a couple of defenders before firing home in the fourteenth minute and suddenly the gap was a yawning eight points.

Antrim kept battling as Michael Bradley, Conal Cunning, Keelan Molloy and McNaughton all added points to cut the gap back to five by the 25th minute, but the Yellow Bellies pushed on before the break to open a 1-19 to 1-10 gap by half-time.

That gap could have been a lot closer as Antrim had gone agonisingly close to netting in the 35th minute, when substitute Rian McMullan’s goal bound shot was brilliantly saved by Lawlor in the Wexford goals.

Whether it was the promptings of Antrim manager Darren Gleeson or just the fact that they realised that the first half display was simply not good enough, but Antrim were transformed in the second half. The Saffrons closed to within 1-20 to 1-14 by the 42nd minute as Neil McManus, Coby Cunning (free), Rian ‘Bubbles’ McMullan and Conor Johnston all added points. However the gap was soon out to nine again as Lee Chin, Rory O’Connor and the O’Connors, Jack and Rory, hit back with points to stretch the lead to 1-25 to 1-16 after 51 minutes.

Neil McManus sends over an Antrim point

But Antrim kept battling and and fought back to trail by 1-28 to 1-23 after 65 minutes as Cunning (three frees) and subs McMullan, Paul Boyle and Séamie McAuley kept Wexford on their toes.

Indeed, the home-side were thankful for another intervention by ‘keeper James Lawlor as he blocked another close-range shot from Keelan Molloy. You felt if the Ulster men could get a goal they game was still there for the taking, but to their credit Wexford kept control and were four ahead at the final whistle.

Coby Cunning goes past the challenge of Wexford midfielder Conor Hearne

Wexford: James Lawlor; Matthew O’Hanlon, Liam Ryan, Conor Foley; Simon Donohoe (0-1), Shane Reck, Conor Devitt; Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Conor Hearne; Jack O’Connor (0-5), Lee Chin (0-8, 4 frees, 1 ‘65), Oisín Foley (0-4); Liam Óg McGovern (0-2), Rory O’Connor (0-7), Cathal Dunbar (1-2).

Subs: Joe O’Connor for Ryan, inj. (HT), Conor McDonald for Hearne (46), Kevin Foley for O’Keeffe (54), Mikie Dwyer for J. O’Connor (59), Richie Lawlor (0-1) for Dunbar (69).

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Paddy Burke, Ryan McGarry, Niall O’Connor (0-1); Gerard Walsh (0-1 free), Eoghan Campbell, Scott Walsh; Michael Bradley (0-1), Seaan Elliott (0-1); Keelan Molloy (0-1), Joe Maskey, James McNaughton (1-1); Conal Cunning (0-13, 10 frees, 2 ‘65s), Neil McManus (0-2, 1 free), Conor Johnston (0-1).

Subs: Rian McMullan (0-2) for Maskey (32), Paul Boyle (0-1) for S. Walsh (33), Eoin O’Neill for S. Elliott (45), Séamie McAuley (0-1) for Johnston (55), Domhnall Nugent for Campbell (64).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).

Old friends on opposite sides at Wexford Park

The Antrim fans left Corrigan Park last Saturday with mixed feelings after drawing with Dublin, who earned themselves a share of the points due to a point deep in injury time. There was great disappointment at conceding that late score, after leading for the majority of the game, but also a sense of relief when you thought back on the opportunities that the Dubs missed through the game.

Seaan Elliott moves out to midfield in Saturday’s team to face Wexford

The Saffrons looked set to take the win the game when they went six points clear early in the second half, despite facing a stiff breeze, but they lost their way a little as Dublin took control around the middle of the field. Antrim could not win a ball in middle third as Dublin clawed their way back. When they visitors hit the front with just ten minutes to go it looked like was going to be the same old story, but the men in Saffron showed great character to battle back. When substitute Paul Boyle put them ahead in injury time we all held our breath, hoping they could hold on, but it wasn’t to be and O’Sullivan’s late point meant it ended all square.

We all knew going into this Leinster campaign that the nature of these physically punishing games would most likely take its toll on the Antrim team and so it has proved when Nigel Elliott went off early with a foot injury, an injury that will probably keep the Dunloy ace out of action for the remainder of the campaign.

Gerard Walsh once again plays in the half back line

With Niall McKenna already out through injury Antrim are robbed of two ball winners in the half forward line. When excellent midfielder Michael Bradly went down injured in the final minute at Corrigan last week, it looked like he would join the casualty list as well, but the Johnnies midfield star has been named on the starting team for Wexford Park. In fact there is only one personnel change in Saturday’s line up with Joe Maskey coming in for the injured Elliott. The defence is the same as started last week, when all of them showed well, but there is a positional switch at midfield where Seaan Elliott comes out to join Bradley. James McNaughton, who started alongside Bradley against Dublin move out to the left half forward position, while Maskey is on the forty and Keelan Molloy on the right. Last week’s full forward line of Conal Cunning, Neill McManus and Conor Johnston remains the same as last week.

James Mcnaughton moves from midfield to wing forward

Playing away from home is a hard task for any team and Saturday’s game will be no different. Wexford are formidable opponents, who will start as firm favourites, despite last week’s defeat to Galway. However if Antrim show the fight, determination and skill they displayed last week they are more that capable of getting something out of this game and give manager Daren Gleeson the bragging rights over his good friend Darragh Egan.

Corrigan Thriller as Antrim and Dubs Can’t be Seperated

Seaan Elliott who had his best game in an Antrim jersey for quite a while with a top class display

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Round 1

Antrim 1-19 Dublin 1-19

Saturday 22 April

Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast

Pulsating, breathtaking, heart stopping yet you didn’t want it to stop.  Corrigan Park opened its arms to the Leinster Championship on Saturday afternoon and Antrim stepped up to the challenge of Dublin in the throws of Championship hurling and put the men from the capital to the pin of their collar.  

In the end, the sides couldn’t be separated at the end of the 70 plus minutes of action in a contest neither really knew if it was a point dropped or earned.  Antrim lead for the majority of the game yet had to dig deep after Donal Burke’s 67th minute goal gave Dublin the lead for the first time in the game.  And dig deep they did.  Points from Coby Cunning and substitute Paul Boyle looked like they had given Antrim the best start possible to the 2023 Leinster Championship but were pegged back in the sixth minute of injury time with Cian O’Sullivan firing over his sixth point of the game.

In a performance that belittled the bookies, Antrim played with huge intensity.  They met fire with fire against a Dublin side who they had come up second best in the physical stakes in the recent past.  Dublin are a physically imposing side and have plenty of flare in their ranks and Antrim matched them all over the pitch.

Cunning the top scorer with seven of his 0-9 coming from placed ball but he played the vast majority of the game around the middle third.  Chasing, harassing, tackling anything that moved and creating where he could.  The Dunloy man has become much more than meets the eye.  Despite losing Nigel Elliott late in the first half, his brother Seaan also shone.  Playing with a freedom, an abandonment and confidence that may have been lacking in recent times, Elliott was back to his mercurial best from midfield.

Defensively, the Saffrons were quite simply outstanding.  Behind them, Ryan Elliott’s reflexes denied Dublin three if not four certain goals while captain Eoghan Campbell lead by example and was in the thick of everything.  Gerard Walsh and Conal Bohill were superb throughout while Paddy Burke’s display rightly earned him the man of the match award.  Scoring a point, he made an amazing goal saving tackle in the second half among numerous turnovers, the Dublin attack will be glad to see the back of the Cushendall man.

A scintillating start laid the foundations for the Saffrons performance.  Before the game, Darren Gleeson called for his side to produce something different and to make the Dubs react to them instead of playing catch up.  A trademark score from Keelan Molloy below the Corrigan Park stand opened the scoring before Donal Burke replied.  It did little to stop the early Saffron charge however as Antrim hit three of the next four scores to lead by two after eight minutes.

Antrim’s goal came through a piece of individual brilliance from Seaan Elliott.  Picking the sliotar up around midfield, the space opened up in front of him and Elliott took off, leaving a trail of blue shirts in his wake.  His shot was superbly saved by Sean Brennan in the Dublin goal but as the sliotar spun high, Conor Johnston was on hand to bat the rebound to the back of the net.

By the time Coby Cunning fired over his third point of the game in the 13th minute, Antrim held a deserving five point lead.  The visitors began to find their range however and fired four points in three minutes thanks to O’Sullivan (two), Alex Considine and Cian Boland.

Antrim’s response came from two gargantuan frees from Gerard Walsh and Cunning before the Dunloy marksman scored his first from open play in the 30th minute.

Paul Crummey left the major between the sides before a sumptuous sideline cut from Elliott sailed between the sticks.  A trio of points from Dublin through Donal Burke (two frees) and Daire Gray left the minimum between the sides but Cunning had the last say of the half with a free deep in injury time following a great catch by Neil McManus, to leave Antrim two ahead at the short whistle.  

Half time score: Antrim 1-11 Dublin 0-12

It was a huge half of hurling from the Saffrons and they probably deserved to be further ahead at the interval.  They had the wind at their backs in the first half and it was going to take something special in the second half and Antrim duly obliged.  Five of the opening six points of the second half came from an Antrim hurl with Cunning firing over a brace of frees and scores from Walsh (free), Paddy Burke and Seaan Elliott.  A hotly disputed sideline from O’Sullivan the solitary response from Miceal Donoghue’s men.

Dublin reorganized and put Antrim on the back foot before Michael Bradley fired their next score.  Donal Burke was having a rare off-day from placed ball but still managed to fire over two frees and a ’65 to reduce the Antrim lead to three points.  It could have been more but for the brilliance and bravery of Paddy Burke to deny Sean Currie from close range.

With the game in the melting pot, both sides looked to the bench for legs and energy for the final quarter.  O’Sullivan and Donal Burke cut the Antrim lead to two once more before firing the goal in the 67th minute.  Ronan Hayes gathering the sliotar close to the end line on the right hand side, he looked to have overcarried before passing to O’Sullivan.  He fed the sliotar to Donal Burke and he expertly found the bottom corner of Ryan Elliott’s net.

Antrim rallied in the time that remained with Cunning restoring parity with the next Antrim attack.  With the game reaching into injury time, they rolled the dice once more.  Paddy Burke breaking from defence and finding Seaan Elliott.  The Dunloy man lured the Dublin defence before finding substitute Paul Boyle and as the Corrigan crowd held its collective breath, the sliotar sailed over the bar.

It was the Dubs who dug deep this time and could have had another goal but for the bravery of Conal Bohill to throw himself in the way of Cian Boland’s goal bound effort.  The sliotar went out for a ’65 and while Donal Burke’s effort was far from accurate, the Dublin attack recycled and found O’Sullivan with the half yard he needed to bring the sides level once again.

Referee John Keenan called time with the next poc out to bring an end to what was a hugely entertaining game of hurling.  Antrim played with greater intensity, hunger and work rate to anything we had witnessed in 2023 and made the step up to top tier championship hurling.  The journey takes us to the sunny south coast next weekend where Wexford lay in wait.

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; P Burke (0-1), Ryan McGarry, Niall O’Connor, Gerard Walsh (0-3 frees), Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill; Michael Bradley (0-2), James McNaughton, Seaan Elliott (0-2, 0-1 sideline), Keelan Molloy (0-1), Nigel Elliott; Conal Cunning (0-9, 0-7 frees), Neil McManus, Conor Johnston (1-0) 

Subs: Joe Maskey for N Elliott (29), Eoin O’Neill for K Molloy (62), Paul Boyle (0-1) for C Johnston (66), Domhnall Nugent for J McNaughton (69), Rian McMullan for M Bradley (72)

Dublin: Sean Brennan; Mark Grogan, Eoghan O’Donnell, Paddy Smyth; Paddy Doyle, Conor Burke, Daire Gray (0-1); Conor Donohue, Chris O’Leary; Danny Sutcliffe, Donal Burke (1-9, 0-6 frees, 0-2 ‘65s), Cian Boland (0-1); Alex Considine (0-1), Cian O’Sullivan (0-6, 0-1 sideline), Paul Crummey (0-1) 

Subs: Ronan Hayes for A Considine (49), Sean Currie for P Crummey (56)

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)

He scored from his first touch to put his team in front in injury time, but championship debutant Paul Boyle had to settle for a share of the spoils as the Dubs came back to share the spoils. Our pic shows the Loughgiel man shake hands with Dublin corner back Mark Grogan as referee John Keenan signals the end of the game.

Paddy Burke receives the Fibrus Man of the Match award after the game