Antrim 2-15 Dublin 2-19
A strong second-half performance saw Dublin shake off the challenge from Antrim at a windswept Corrigan Park on Saturday.
Paul Crummey’s 53rd minute goal two minutes after Neil McManus found the net for Antrim to bring the gap down to two proved a pivotal moment as the Dubs maintain their unbeaten start to 2022.
While Conor Johnston pointed Antrim into a first-minute lead, Dublin were quicker to settle. Their dominance in rucks and in the air saw them get on the front foot and with a substantial wind at their backs, rattle off five points on the trot.
Fergal Whitely knocked over a brace, as did Donal Burke from frees and when Danny Sutcliffe added another, it appeared this game was following the same pattern of recent meetings.
Antrim suddenly clicked with Conal Cunning and Neil McManus pointing in quick succession and after Keelan Molloy reduced the gap to one, the Saffrons hit the front as an inch-perfect ball from Eoghan Campbell found McManus in the left corner who turned James Madden and rifled to the net.
Points from Cunning and Niall McKenna followed with Antrim now the dominant force as Dublin’s shooting went awry.
Burke continued to carry the fight for the visitors who trailed by that goal in first-half stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty as Paul Crummey was hauled down inside the area. Burke drilled the resultant award low to the net to leave the sides locked at 1-8 at the interval as the rain poured down.
While Antrim were again first off the mark in the second period, Dublin began to turn the screw, outscoring the hosts by six points to two in the opening 15 minutes as they made the adjustments to snuff out the Antrim attack.
However goalkeeper Alan Nolan was forced into a smart save from Conal Cunning, but could do nothing to keep a 51st minute Neil McManus penalty out that left just one between the teams. However, the Dubs responded in perfect fashion as two minutes later, Eamon Dillon spun in from the left, played an inviting ball across goal and Paul Crummey was there to slam home.
Dublin were able to manage things from there on out as they pulled further clear with a range of scorers, while Neil McManus was left to carry the fight with points from frees, although three off-target would leave Antrim too far behind in the final moments as they got to within four. But Dublin had their work done
Antrim: R Elliott; N O'Connor, G Walsh, S Rooney; P Burke (0-1), E Campbell, J Maskey; S Walsh, K Molloy (0-2); N McKenna (0-1), D Nugent, N McManus (2-7, 0-5 frees, 1-0 penalty, 0-1 65); S Elliott, C Johnston (0-1), C Cunning (0-2).
Subs: M Bradley for S Walsh (54 mins), E O'Neil for D Nugent (54 mins), J McNaughton (0-1 free) for C Johnston (54 mins), D McKernan for K Molloy (69 mins), D Kearney for N O'Connor (70 mins).
Dublin: A Nolan; A Dunphy, E O'Donnell, C O'Callaghan; J Bellew (0-1), P Smyth, J Madden (0-1); C Crummey (0-1), C Burke; D Burke (1-9, 0-7 frees, 1-0 penalty), R McBride (0-1), D Sutcliffe (0-2); F Whitely (0-2), R Hayes, P Crummey (1-0).
Subs: Dillon (0-1) for R Hayes (45 mins), J Malone (0-1) for R McBride (56 mins), A Mellett for P Crummey (59 mins), D Keogh for J Bellew (60 mins), C Currie for F Whitely (70 mins).
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)
