Second-half surge sees Dublin sink Antrim in Walsh Cup

Daire Walsh

Gaelic Games: Walsh Cup: Dublin 3-25 Antrim 1-17

A strong second-half performance paid dividends for Dublin at the DCU Sportsgrounds yesterday afternoon, when Antrim were on the receiving end of a 14-point defeat in the Walsh Cup.

This was the Saffron county’s second successive reversal in the competition, but although their Metropolitan counterparts were comprehensive winners in the end, the Ulster kingpins produced a strong display in the opening period.

With midfielder Kevin McKernan in fine form, they only trailed Ger Cunningham’s charges by a single point at the mid-way stage (1-11 to 1-10), and speaking after the game, Antrim manager PJ O’Mullan was keen to focus on the positive aspects of their play.

“Well, I think for 40, 45 minutes, we contributed to a good game. We came out of it there, maybe the last 25 minutes. At half-time, we put ourselves in a good position, we were challenging well,” O’Mullan remarked.

“I think in the first half we out-hooked them and out-blocked them maybe two to one. Everything was good, but we haven’t played at this level. We’re playing at a league below, we’re playing two leagues below now this year, and eventually that’s going to catch up with you.

Buoyed by their triumph against UCD three days earlier, a fourth-minute Paul Ryan goal edged Dublin into a 1-2 to 0-1 lead.Â

This was an early set-back for Antrim (who played with a strong breeze in the first-half), but excellent contributions from Eddie McCloskey, McKernan and the influential Liam Watson ensured that they remained within touching distance.

Ryan did add to his personal tally with a 17-minute free, but after he picked possession close to the Dublin goal, Loughgeil’s McCloskey levelled matters by firing beyond the reach of opposition netminder Conor Dooley.

This was a confidence-boosting three-pointer for Antrim, and although they conceded subsequent points to Dublin half-back Chris Crummy and the reliable Ryan, McKernan and Watson were both on hand to cancel out these scores.

A combined total of four points by the aforementioned duo of Watson and McKernan also enhanced Antrim’s tally, but with Ryan providing a strong outlet at the opposite end of the field, Dublin held a slender advantage when the action resumed.

Antrim did restore parity after the break with a point from centre-forward Niall McKenna, but during the third-quarter of the action, Dublin points from Crummy, McMorrow and substitute Johnny McCaffrey were supplemented by a superb Dillon three-pointer from a tight-angle.

The floodgates were opened as a result of this score, and despite adding two more successful frees from Watson, Antrim were facing into a 3-20 to 1-13 deficit with 13 minutes remaining in the contest.

Ryan (three), McMorrow and Dillon (two) all split the posts during this juncture, while Sean Reilly also added a third goal in the 53rd minute. McCloskey finally ended this scoring sequence with a well-taken effort from play, but although Antrim’s perseverance led to further scores from Conor Johnston and Watson (two), a series of points eased Dublin towards a second consecutive triumph.

Although he acknowledged that Dublin took control of the proceedings in the latter stages of the tie, O’Mullan feels that the talent is currently there within the county, and that they will in the right frame of mind for the start of the Allianz League on February 14.

“The talent is there in Antrim. Our job is to provide the platform to get up to the standard that Dublin are at. We’re happy with where we’re at, we know where we’re going to go. The only date that’s in our head at the minute is Valentine’s Day, and that’s it,” O’Mullan added.

Dublin: C Dooley; J Boland, O Gough, S Durkin; C Crummy (0-2), L Rushe, R Hardy; B Quinn (0-1), C Mac Giolla Bhride; D Treacy (0-1), N McMorrow (0-4), C Bennett; P Ryan (1-10, 0-7 frees), F McGibb, E Dillon (1-3).

Subs: J McCaffrey (0-2) for Hardy, D O’Connell (0-1) for Mac Giolla Bhride (both h-t), S Reilly (1-1) for Bennett (47), M Schutte for Dillon (66).

Yellow cards: O Gough (26).

Antrim: C O’Connell; O McFadden, C McClelland, C McKinley; B McFall, S McCrory, N McAuley; K McKernan (0-3), Ciaran Johnston; N McKenna (0-1), E McCloskey (1-1), J Black; Conor Johnston (0-1), L Watson (0-9, 7 frees), C Clarke (0-1).

Subs: CJ McGourty for K McKernan, D Nugent for Black (both 47), D McKernan (0-1) for Clarke (54), G McTaggart for O’Connell, G Walsh for McFall (both 66).

Referee: P O’Dwyer (Carlow).

Yellow cards: L Watson (26).

Quote from Antrim manager PJ O’Mullan

“I think in the first half we out-hooked them and out-blocked them maybe two to one. Everything was good, but we haven’t played at this level.”