08 June 2009
Antrim’s first historic sojourn into the Leinster Hurling Championship ended in disappointment at Croke Park on Sunday when they were well beaten by Dublin team by 2-16 to 0-12.
Things looked promising for Antrim when a lovely point from substitute Brendan Herron brought them level just two minutes into the second-half, but it was all downhill from there as they managed to raise just two more flags in the remaining thirty-five minutes, and they came late in the game when the match was already well beyond their reach.
Both teams started nervously and the standard of hurling was poor as neither side managed to produce the goods.
Antrim did have chances, and three goal chances from centre-half-forward Neill McManus, one from play, one from a twenty-metre free and one from a penalty were all brilliantly saved by Dublin goalkeeper Gary Maguire.
However a quick salvo by the Dubs, which saw dangerous corner-forward David O’Callaghan grab a goal and Alan McCrabbe add three quick points, put them firmly in control and left Antrim facing a humiliating defeat.
To their credit the Saffrons responded well and in the last ten minutes of the first half and produced their best hurling of the day. Karl Stewart got the ball rolling with a fine score, and added two more from frees, while Sean Delargy, CJ McGourty and Michael Herron also found the target to close the gap to a single point and send them to the dressing room at half-time in a much more buoyant mood.
Herron’s early second-half point, which levelled the scores, left the Antrim fans feeling that they were in for an exciting second-half contest, but it never materialised as Dublin took control.
Antrim simply could not win a ball around the middle of the park as Dublin piled on the scores to put themselves back firmly in the driving seat, most of those scoring coming from Alan McCrabbe frees, though O’Callaghan hit a couple of beauties and substitute Kevin Flynn added one as well.
Crabbe also added his team’s second goal to put the game firmly beyond Antrim’s reach and late points from Karl McKeegan and Joey Scullion proved mere consolation.
Scorers for Dublin: A McCrabbe 1-9 (0-7f, 0-1 65); D O’Callaghan 1-3; D Tracey 0-2; S Durkan, K Flynn, 0-1 each.
Scorers for Antrim: K Stewart 0-5 (4f); N McManus, S Delargy, CJ McGourty, B Herron, J Scullion, K McKeegan, M Herron, 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, O Gough; S Hiney (c), J Boland, M Carton; J McCaffrey, D Curtin; S Durkan, L Ryan, L Rushe; D O’Callaghan, A McCrabbe (3rd midfielder), D Tracey.
Subs: K Flynn for Ryan, 35; S Lambert for Curtin, 46; P Carton for Durkan, 54; D Sweeney for McCrabbe, 67. Blood sub: K Flynn (Rushe 32/34).
ANTRIM: R McGarry; K McGourty, N McGarry (capt), A Graffin; J Campbell, C Donnelly, N McAuley; P Richmond, K McKeegan; S Delargy, N McManus, M Herron; CJ McGourty, K Stewart, PJ O’Connell.
Subs: B Herron for O’Connell, 32; J Scullion for M Herron, 50; P McGill for Delargy, 61.
Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).
