Allianz National Hurling League Division 1 Group B: Dublin 0-28 Antrim 2-19
UNLIKE the licking Antrim left Parnell Park with last time they pulled up in Dublin’s north side a couple of years back, this time around it was more regrets and what-might-have-beens accompanying the Saffrons back up the road.
Coming off the back of a similar story against Kilkenny eight days earlier, this one stung. Moral victories have long been consigned to the bin by this ambitious group, but that brings with it the expectation of proving they belong at this level.
“Groundhog f**kin’ day,” muttered one player as he stomped towards the changing room, frustration filling the air on a day when the Saffrons simply left themselves too much to do.
Following a forgettable first half, two Keelan Molloy goals sparked a fightback of sorts, one that brought Antrim to within touching distance of opponents who looked set to cruise across the line as they did here in 2021.
But a failure to capitalise on those power-plays proved costly. After Molloy’s first goal revived Saffron spirits, Dublin rattled off three unanswered points in the space of two minutes to cancel it out. At this level, that is unforgivable.
Chances had come before then too. Neil McManus saw one effort brilliantly saved by ’keeper Eddie Gibbons, and moments later another thundered back out off the black spot.
The impressive Conal Bohill flashed a low shot across the square as the minutes ticked down, while substitute Joe Maskey offered an outlet beneath the high ball as the surge continued.
But, just when cool heads were required, poor wides and poor choices killed Antrim’s momentum. Wastefulness had dogged them all day, but a bit more composure in those critical moments and we could be talking about a different result - but we’re not.
The slow starts are a clear cause for concern, and become a little bit more difficult to explain each time they occur.
Last weekend, a poor first half playing with the wind left them chasing their illustrious opponents. Corrigan Park came to life momentarily when the gap was cut to two heading down the straight, only for the Cats to find that extra gear the best sides always have.
At Parnell Park, a lack of meaningful intent left them trailing by 10 early in the second half. Too pedestrian, too slow to the tackle, too sloppy before the posts as shots sailed wide or dropped short.
On a heavy field with little give, it was the men in blue shirts who were coming out of rucks and starting attacks, dominating the middle and finding space much more freely that their opponents who struggled to make any dent in the Dublin defence during that opening 35.
And while Micheal Donoghue’s men strode into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead without having broken sweat in the opening 12 minutes, Conal Cunning had already missed two scoreable frees while Neil McManus left one short.
And yet, even in the midst of the haze, there was opportunity. Like Antrim, the Dubs are prone to patchy periods and the Saffrons brought it back to one with 20 minutes gone. Gleeson had taken his hat off on the sideline, warming to the task just as his players did likewise.
But when the chance was there to put the boot on Dublin’s throat, another Cunning free – the kind of one he would usually nail in his sleep - sailed wide, before Bohill did likewise after being found in space.
Deadly Donal Burke - a thorn in Antrim’s side all day, finishing with 10 points - scored seconds later and the Dubs were up and running again,. By half-time their lead was pushed out to seven, 10 by 46 minutes as all was beginning to look lost for Antrim.
Then, with Bohill moved into midfield and subs Paul Boyle and Maskey presenting a different kind of threat, the Saffrons rediscovered their mojo. In the 51st minute, Molloy profited from a Conor Johnston interception before finishing smartly to the net.
And although Dublin steadied the ship, when Molloy buried past Gibbons 13 minutes later a whiff of ‘what if?’ swept around the ground. The intensity and aggression that had been lacking for so long was suddenly there in spades as Antrim hunted Dublin down.
Unfortunately for Gleeson’s men, though, that was as good as it got. The three minutes of added time moved way too fast for the Saffron cause and although McManus and Molloy brought it back to three, there would be glorious comeback, no victory snatched from the jaws of defeat.
The damage, not for the first time, had already been done.
Dublin: E Gibbons; P Doyle, E O'Donnell (0-1), J Bellew; C Donoghue (0-2), C Burke (0-2), D Gray; C O'Leary (0-3), A Mellett (0-1); D Leavy (0-2), D Burke (0-10, 0-5 frees), C Boland (0-2); F Whitely (0-2), Liam Murphy (0-2), P Crummey. Subs: R Smith for Mellett (blood sub, 19-22), D Power (0-1) for Leavy (31), D Sutcliffe for Crummey (47), A Jamieson-Murphy for Whitely (58), A Dunphy for Doyle (61), D Purcell for Murphy (64)
Yellow card: D Gray (45)
Antrim: R Elliott; P Duffin, R McGarry, P Burke (0-2); G Walsh, E Campbell, C Bohill; M Bradley (0-1), K Molloy (2-1); N McKenna (0-1), J McNaughton (0-1), N McManus (0-5, 0-2 frees); C Cunning (0-6, 0-1 65, 0-2 frees), C Johnston, S Elliott (0-1). Subs: N O'Connor (0-1) for Duffin (32), J Maskey for McKenna (47), P Boyle for McNaughton (58), R McMullan for Seaan Elliott (64)
Yellow cards: N McManus (45), C Cunning (70)
Referee: C Lyons (Cork)
