Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship quarter-final: Antrim. 0-11 Dublin 2-20
ANTRIM’S wait for a return to the All-Ireland Minor Championship semi-final since 1996 continues as their challenge ended against Dublin.
Played in Newry’s Pairc Esler on Saturday, Antrim simply couldn’t cope with a swift and expansive Dublin side whose star man
Sean Currie (inset) scored 2-13. And there was no complaints from Antrim minor hurling boss Collie Murphy who still feels that the Saffrons are moving in the right direction again.
“I was really proud of the boys in the second half, I thought they emptied the tank and with a wee bit of luck maybe we could have gotten closer,” said Murphy.
“I didn’t think we were ever going to win it after half-time, but I thought we did well in the second half.
“On another day we could have gotten closer, but it just wasn’t to be. I think it was progress, this is the best prepared team in a long time but we just don’t have the big players like the 6ft 2 or 6ft 3 player. And when you looked at the Dublin team compared to ours you just thought
‘oh my God, look at the size of them’.
The Dublin side were physically stronger, much more mobile and crisper in completing passes and Murphy feels Antrim are trailing off in the preparation stakes.
“You have to look after yourself off the pitch almost better than on the pitch – you have to look after your diet, go to the gym, it is all a package,” Murphy said.
“But unfortunately you could see there that the Antrim players were at least a year to 18 months behind the Dublin players.
“The physique, sharpness, everything was just there and I know they have a bigger pool to pick from.”
Antrim failed to get any tangible grip on the first half as Dublin bossed the contest with an ability to spray passes much too easily.
Dublin ruled the roost in midfield as the Saffron two-man full-forward line of Tiernan Murphy and Ed McQuillan was starved of possession.
By the first quarter Sean Elliot and Tiarnan Murphy grabbed Antrim’s only scores, but Dublin started to seize the initiative around the middle and points from Ben Coffey and Currie gave the Dubs a four-point lead.
Dublin’s Emmett Allen picked out a wonderful 70-metre point. Mark Grogan and Currie kept the scoreboard ticking over, but Elliot converted a free to leave Antrim trailing 0-3 to 0-10 at half-time.
Antrim’s best spell came immediately after the restart as Elliot chipped over his third point, but all over the pitch the Ulster lads were visibly much more competitive.
Ed McQuillan, substitute Anton McGrath and Scott Walsh started to win their battles. Tiarnan Murphy and Elliot added to Antrim’s tally either side of Currie’s seventh point to close the gap to five points, but then came Dublin’s opening goal.
Goalkeeper Conor O’Donoghue floated in a free, Antrim’s Walsh fumbled and Currie took advantage and lashed into the net from close range.
Antrim’s heads understandably dropped as Dublin stretched their legs with the exceptional Currie giving a masterclass in finishing which included his second goal on 53 minutes.
By that stage Dublin’s thoughts were on their All-Ireland semi-final against Cork, while Antrim look ahead to the club championships.
Antrim manager Murphy feels his county are
not too far away from bridging the gap between Ulster
and Leinster hurling and was he was clearly proud of his squad.
“For six months everything we have asked they have done and they are a great bunch of fellas to work with and it has given me another good sense of what the GAA is about,” said Murphy.
“It is about kids coming from all different clubs and all leaving aside their baggage from schools and stuff and just pulling together and coming together as one.”
