Dublin demolish Antrim to make it two wins from two in Walsh Cup

DUBS DOUBLE DELIGHT: Dublin's Liam Murphy tackles Tiernan Smyth of Antrim as the Dubs make it two wins out of two. Pic Credit: Leah Scholes, Inpho.

Dioralyte Walsh Cup, Group Two

Dublin 2-31 Antrim 1-20

DUBLIN made it two wins from two in Group Two of the Walsh Cup as they romped to a 14-point win over Antrim on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Parnell Park.

Micheál Donoghue's side dominated throughout this contest and indeed, could have pushed the inning margin out further but for a number if missed opportunities, but as it was, 13 different players got their name on the scoresheet in what was another impressive performance in the competition.

Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing, Joe Flanagan, Davy Keogh, Conor Burke and Paul Crummey contributed 2-22 between them, while Liam Murphy was a thorn in the Antrim side and the hosts' half-back line was in superb form.

Rian McMullan top-scored with 1-9 for the visitors, who also welcomed back Conor McCann after year on the sideline through injuries, but they were unable to make much of a dent in the hosts.

Dublin flew out of the traps with Paul Crummey and Conor Burke on target within the opening minute and Davy Keogh would add another before Antrim got on the board through Paul Boyle on seven minutes.

This would bring them to life a little as they inched into the game and twice got to within one in the opening quarter, but Niall McKenna's point on 16 minutes would be their last for another 15.

The hosts had been a little wasteful, but soon began to find their range with the Antrim puc-out struggling. Joe Flanagan would begin and end a run of seven points on the spin as Antrim were living off scraps and any chances they did create went begging.

A pair of Rian McMullan scores finally ended their barren spell late on to narrow the gap to six, but Dublin would finish the half string as Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing popped up with a point and then buried to the net right on the whistle to put Dublin into a deserved 1-14 to 0-7 lead at the half as Enda Og McGarry hobbled off with what looked a hamstring injury for the Saffrons.

Fergal Whitely of Dublin in action against Conal Bohill of Antrim during the Dioralyte Walsh Cup Round 3 match between Dublin and Antrim at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

A McMullan free early in the second period narrowed the gap briefly, but Dublin quickly reasserted themselves, hitting seven of the next 10 scores to push the gap out to 13 before their second goal arrived on 51 minutes as Chris Crummey made up for missing an earlier sitter to blast to the net despite the best efforts of Tiernan Smyth.

The Antrim goalkeeper would pull off a stunning double save from the impressive Davy Keogh and substitute Alex Considine soon after while Dublin were off target with a couple of further goal chances.

McMullan was keeping the board ticking for the Saffrons, but Dublin had a much better spread of scores with Ó Dúlaing taking over the free-taking duties from the replaced Flanagan, whilst Keogh and Conor Burke pushed their own hauls out to four apiece.

The Dublin half-back line got in on the act, as did the bench as they finished well, but Antrim were rewarded with a goal of their own late on when McMullan sent a bullet of a shot to the net as the game ticked into added time.

It was a mere consolation, however, as Dublin were long out of sight as they look forward to a semi-final and Antrim now turn their attention to the start of the Allianz League.

Scorers for Dublin: D Ó Dúlaing (1-5, 2f), P Crummey (1-3), J Flanagan (0-6, 4f), C Burke, D Keogh (0-4 each), L Murphy, M Grogan, C Donohoe, E O'Donnell, P Doyle, D Leavy, C Foley, B Hayes, A Considine (0-1 each).

Scorers for Antrim: R McMullan (1-9, 8f), P Boyle 0-3, N McKenna 0-1, C Bohill 0-1, C Cunning 0-1 (f), C Boyd 0-1, F McCurry 0-1, S McAuley 0-1, A O'Brien 0-1, J McNaughton 0-1.

DUBLIN: S Brennan; J Bellew, J Madden, P Doyle; E O'Donnell, C Donohoe, M Grogan; C Burke, C Doyle; S Currie, D Keogh, J Flanagan; D Ó Dúlaing, P Crummey, L Murphy.

Subs: A Considine for Currie (HT), B Hayes for C Doyle (HT), F Whitely for Flanagan (45), J Malone for Murphy (45), C Foley for Malone (49), D Leavy for P Doyle (53), O Gaffney for P Crummey (62).

ANTRIM: T Smyth; C Boyd, R McGarry, P Burke; S Walsh, E Campbell, E Og McGarry; C Bohill, N O'Connor; E McFerran, N McKenna, P Boyle; C Cunning, C McCann, R McMullan.

Subs: S Rooney for Og McGarry (35+3), S McAuley for Cunning (HT), A O'Brien for O'Connor (HT), F McCurry for Walsh (HT), E Trainor for McCann (47), R McCloskey for Bohill (56), P Duffin for Burke (56), C McGarry for McKenna (63), J McNaughton for McFerran (63).

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).