Sport

Dublin ease into final

GAELIC GAMES/ALL-IRELAND UNDER-21 HC SEMI-FINAL/Dublin 3-23 Antrim 0-6: DUBLIN hurling received another boost as their under…

Mon Aug 22 2011 - 01:00

GAELIC GAMES/ALL-IRELAND UNDER-21 HC SEMI-FINAL/Dublin 3-23 Antrim 0-6:DUBLIN hurling received another boost as their under-21 team swept aside Antrim side at Páirc Esler in Newry to book their place in the All-Ireland final against Galway.

The victory further underlined the ailing state of Ulster hurling at present as Antrim struggled to compete on any level with the Leinster champions.

The winning margin was huge but the gulf in class between the sides was even greater than the scoreline suggested. In reality Dublin were not challenged in the slightest by the Ulster champions.

Mark Schutte netted a superb individual goal for Dublin within a minute and while Michael Devlin and James Black mustered an immediate response, it was clear the Antrim challenge was not one that could be sustained. Daire Plunkett and Kevin O’Loughlin added points for Dublin and together with Schutte as Dublin eased into a big lead.

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O’Loughlin’s accuracy from the dead ball pushed Dublin further in front but manager John McEvoy will have been disappointed by the seven wides Dublin registered in the first half. Conor McCann added two scores from frees for Antrim and but at half-time Dublin led 1-9 to 0-4.

Dublin began the second half as they had the first, with a goal. A shot from Schutte was saved by Eoin Gillan but Seán McGrath followed up from close range.

Dublin’s accuracy improved and a flurry of scores followed. Eamon Dillon, Niall McMorrow and O’Loughlin all added scores, seemingly at will. Dublin were able to rest O’Loughlin as well as captain Liam Rushe in the closing stages.

Tomás Connolly set up fellow sub Ben Quinn for Dublin’s late third goal to complete the rout.

DUBLIN: G McManus; B O’Carroll, D Kelly, J Doughan; D Curran (0-1), L Rushe, M Quilty; C Gough (0-1), D Sutcliffe; D Plunkett (0-3), M Schutte (1-3), S McGrath (1-1); K O’Loughlin (0-6, 0-4 frees), N McMorrow (0-4), E Dillon (0-2). Subs: F Clabby for B O’Carroll, T Connolly (0-1) for O’Loughlin, O Ó Maoileidigh (0-1) for D Sutcliffe, S O’Connor for McGrath, B Quinn (1-0) for Rushe.

ANTRIM: E Gillan; T McAllister, K McKiernan, P McKeague; M Armstrong, N Cunningham, C Loughran; C Laverty, P McNaughton (0-1); J Black (0-1), M Devlin (0-1), T McCloskey; D McClean, C McCann (0-3, 0-3 frees), S Smyth. Subs: C Gillan for M Devlin, A Downey for P McKeague, B Curran for C Laverty.

Referee: P Smith (Meath).