DUBLIN v ANTRIMDUBLIN HURLERS don't have a great reputation for playing at their best when favourites, but that shouldn't stop them winning this. They learnt a hard lesson against Limerick last year about letting chances like this slip, and having apparently turned the corner after the poor showing against Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final, this is one game they simply can't afford to lose. 

Dublin manager Anthony Daly has named the same team that beat Clare last Saturday, although they’ll want to be a little more consistent over the 70 minutes, having very nearly let Clare right back into it the last day, following an excellent start.

They have a good record against Antrim too, at least based on last year’s championship meeting, as Dublin won out 2-16 to 0-12 in Croke Park, when Alan McCrabbe scored 1-9 and David O’Callaghan 1-3 for the home team.

Antrim have drafted in Simon McCrory to their starting 15. McCrory scored a crucial point following his second-half introduction in the comeback win over Carlow a fortnight ago and retains his place in the half-forward line at the expense of Colm McFall.

But it’s hard to see Antrim matching Dublin’s fire-power up front nor indeed contain it at the other end, particularly in Croke Park.

DUBLIN:G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, O Gough; S Hiney, J Boland, M O'Brien; J McCaffrey, S Durkin; P Kelly, L Rushe, A McCrabbe; P Carton, D O'Dwyer, D O'Callaghan.

ANTRIM:C O'Connell; K McGourty, C Donnelly, S Delargy; P Shiels, J Campbell, C Herron; S McNaughton, K Stewart; S McCrory, N McManus, T McCann; PJ OConnell, L Watson, K McKeegan.

Referee:D Kirwan (Cork).