Dublin enhanced their provincial final ambitions as they overcame Antrim by twenty points in their one-sided Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 3 encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.
A tight conclusion seemed guaranteed as Dublin enjoyed a 1-13 to 1-07 interval advantage but faced a strong breeze upon the restart.
However, despite closing the gap to four points early in the second half, Antrim's performance unravelled disarmingly as the contest evolved as second-half goals from Brian Hayes and Dónal Burke helped cement Dublin’s dominance.
The hosts could not have wished for a better start as Conor Burke gained possession from the throw-in and while his point attempt dropped short, Paul Crummey was on hand to flick home past Ryan Elliott from six yards.
Dublin’s John Bellew and Antrim’s Seaan Elliott traded points soon after but with Dublin enjoying the benefit of a stiff breeze, they gradually moved clear of their opponents through points from Dónal Burke, Conor Donohoe, Seán Currie and Danny Sutcliffe.
Indeed, their buffer should have been greater as they completely controlled the first-quarter, with Eoghan O’Donnell in exceptional form at full-back, but some sloppy decision-making close to goal undermined some promising situations.
However, a brace of Dónal Burke frees gave a more accurate reflection of Dublin’s control on the scoreboard with their opponents enduring a scoreless period of thirteen minutes prior to a Niall McKenna point in the 21st minute.
The hosts struck back with three further scores on the bounce through Currie, Cian O’Sullivan and Bellew but from a position of dominance, Dublin were unnerved by the concession of a goal in the 28th minute as Nigel Elliot released James McNaughton for a low finish past Sean Brennan.
That goal had the combined effect of inspiring the visitors while puncturing Dublin’s confidence as the hosts continued to make life hard for themselves with some needless errors under little pressure.
McNaughton added two further points from play as the half came to a close while Conor Burke did likewise at the opposite end to ensure the hosts a six-point interval lead.
Keelan Molloy clipped over a brace of points early in the third quarter to raise hopes of an Antrim success but the hosts slowly but surely handed themselves breathing room through scores by O’Sullivan, Dónal Burke and Conor Burke.
The hosts should have put further distance between the teams in the 46th minute when Crummey flashed wide from Whitely’s pass but they gained some consolation through two further scores by Dónal Burke soon after.
A second goal did arrive in the 58th minute as Ronan Hayes found his brother Brian Hayes in space and the Kilmacud Crokes clubman arrowed a rising shot beyond the helpless Ryan Elliott from 10 yards.
A third home goal arrived in the 63rd minute as Dónal Burke's miscued a free close to goal but the sliotar evaded Elliot as it rolled almost apologetically into the back of the net.
From that point, it proved a case of target practice for Dublin with Currie and Conor Burke chipping in with five points apiece by the final whistle.
Dublin: Seán Brennan; Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O’Donnell, John Bellew (0-02); Chris Crummey, Conor Donohoe (0-01), Paddy Doyle; Brian Hayes (1-00), Conor Burke (0-05); Fergal Whitely (0-01), Dónal Burke (1-11, 1-08 frees), Danny Sutcliffe (0-01); Seán Currie (0-05), Paul Crummey (1-00), Cian O’Sullivan (0-02).
Subs: Ronan Hayes (0-02) for P Crummey (47), Darragh Power (0-01) for Sutcliffe (59), James Madden for C Crummey (63), Jake Malone for O’Sullivan (65), Seán Gallagher (0-01) for B Hayes (69).
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Paddy Burke, Niall O’Connor, Conor Boyd; Gerard Walsh (0-02, one free), Ryan McGarry, Conal Bohill; Seaan Elliott (0-02), Eoghan Campbell (0-03); Nigel Elliot (0-01), Keelan Molloy (0-02), James McNaughton (1-02); Conal Cunning (0-04, four frees), Niall McKenna (0-01), Aodhan O’Brien.
Subs: Joseph McLoughlin for O’Brien (47), Paul Boyle for Molloy (50), Fred McCurry (0-01) for Boyd (55), Christy McGarry for McKenna (62), Seán McKay for Cunning (66).
Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary).
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