Six-goal Dublin steamroll Down to keep promotions hopes alive

If Wexford slip up against Clare, then it's game on for Dublin who will hope to clinch promotion back to 1A

John Hetherton scored 2-3 for Dublin in his side's 32-point victory over Down. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

National Hurling League Division 1B: Dublin 6-32 Down 0-18 

In the end, Dublin's giant scoreline almost matched the early evening time as the promotion-chasing Sky Blues kept their hopes of Division 1A hurling in 2027 alive.

John Hetherton, just like he did against Wexford at Croke Park, netted twice and struck 2-3 in total while the excellent Dara Purcell, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing, Fergal Whitely and Paddy Dunleavy all registered goals too.

Purcell finished with 1-5 while there was an impressive cameo at midfield from Darragh Power who weighed in with four points from play and dominated his zone.

It may all count for nothing in promotion terms if Wexford, who play Clare tomorrow in Ennis, win their remaining games.

But if the Model County slip up to the Banner then it's game on for Dublin who will hope to clinch promotion back to 1A by beating Carlow in the final round on March 21, and edging out Wexford on scoring difference.

As for Down, they still have an outside hope of staying in Division 1B for another season despite the 32-point hammering though it's a mathematical long shot at this stage.

Down hung tough for most of the first half at the north Dublin venue and trailed by just six points with 32 minutes played, 0-10 to 1-13.

Tim Prenter opened the scoring for the visitors and caused Dublin plenty of trouble when in possession early on, while free-taker Paul Sheehan and Finn Turpin registered five points between them.

But seven first-half wides were costly for Down who were made to pay by a Dublin side that hit the afterburners in the minutes leading up to half time.

Dublin outscored Down by 2-2 to 0-1 from the 33rd minute to the interval with Hetherton grabbing his second goal having netted Dublin's opening goal in the ninth minute.

The St Vincent's man's first three-pointer came from a long ball in that he initially broke down himself before pulling on it sharply and rattling the net.

Hetherton's second goal came after a Down puck-out, intended for Barry Trainor on the right wing, was intercepted by Fergal Whitely who picked out the big number 14 close to goal.

A minute later, Hetherton turned provider, feeding O Dúlaing for Dublin's third goal and their 3-15 to 0-11 half-time lead didn't flatter them.

Down needed a miracle to haul themselves back into the game but it never arrived as Dublin kept their foot on the gas, firing in three more goals and taking the opportunity to empty their bench.

Purcell nailed Dublin's fourth goal five minutes after the restart and defender Dunleavy was fed by Hetherton for the fifth in the 45th minute.

It was Dunleavy's first start of 2026, along with Conor McHugh, while Cathal Kennedy made his full League debut.

Whiltely struck Dublin's sixth goal late on with sub Paddy Doyle assisting that one.

Brendan Kenny had the biggest impact of Dublin's subs, the Kilmacud Crokes man firing three points in what was also his first activity of 2026 though he pulled up late on with what looked like a hamstring injury.

Davy Keogh, back this season from the football panel, fired two points after coming on while Seán Gallagher also got on the scoresheet, the 12th Dublin player to register a score.

Dublin scorers: John Hetherton 2-3, Donal Burke 0-8 (0-6f), Dara Purcell 1-5, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing 1-2, Fergal Whitely 1-2, Darragh Power 0-4, Paddy Dunleavy 1-0, Brendan Kenny 0-3, Davy Keogh 0-2, Conor Burke 0-1, Chris Crummey 0-1, Seán Gallagher 0-1.

Down scorers: Paul Sheehan 0-7 (0-5f, 0-01 65), Daithí Sands 0-3, Finn Turpin 0-3, Tim Prenter 0-1, Tom McGrattan 0-1, Caolan Taggart 0-1, Liam Savage 0-1, Shea Pucci 0-1.

DUBLIN: Eddie Gibbons; John Bellew, Conor McHugh, Cathal Kennedy; Conor Burke, Chris Crummey, Paddy Dunleavy; Darragh Power, Conal Ó Riain; Fergal Whitely, Donal Burke, James Madden; Dara Purcell, John Hetherton, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing.

Subs: Paddy Doyle for Madden h/t, Davy Keogh for O Riain h/t, Brendan Kenny for Donal Burke 48, Seán Gallagher for Crummey 51, Davy Lucey for McHugh 60.

DOWN: Pearce Smyth; Ben Teggart, Ruairí McCrickard, Niall McFarland; Barry Trainor, Caolán Taggart, Liam Savage; Donal Hughes, Tim Prenter; Paul Sheehan, Finn Turpin, Daithí Sands; Tom McGrattan, Shea Pucci, Eoin Pucci.

Subs: Marc Fisher for Teggart 24, Michael Dorrian for McGrattan h/t, Ben Christie for Prenter 51, Cahal Coleman for Eoin Pucci 51, Conor Cassidy for McCrickard 60, Matthew McCabe for Sheehan 71 (inj).

Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim).