Sport

Dublin have to dig deep

Dublin dug themselves out of a hole with a superb victory over Antrim at Casement Park yesterday

Mon Apr 09 2001 - 01:00

Dublin dug themselves out of a hole with a superb victory over Antrim at Casement Park yesterday. This hard-fought win gives Dublin a lifeline but tough games against Limerick and Offaly lie ahead.

Dublin battled bravely during the second half with their work rate paying rich dividends. When Antrim were on top for most of the first half, they failed to put the visitors away and at half-time led by just 0-9 to 0-5.

Antrim had stormed off with five unanswered points in the opening 16 minutes but from there to the break Dublin outscored the home side by five points to four with Con Ring tossing over three points from placed balls.

The introduction of Shane Martin to centre back, with Aodan de Paor moving to full back had a telling effect on Dublin and just 23 seconds after the restart Damian Russell had the ball in the Antrim net. That score gave the visitors a launching pad even thought the Saffrons hit back for two points and a goal by Greg O'Kane.

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Dublin continued to hustle and two goals in six minutes had them in front for the first time. On 53 minutes David Donnelly finished a long delivery to the Antrim net and the third goal was a blunder by an Antrim defender. Chris Hamill's attempted clearance was blocked to the net by David Henry.

O'Kane hammered in an Antrim goal but it wasn't enough as Dublin swept back to hit three more points and carve out a much-needed victory.

Antrim's Emmet O'Hara was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 57th minute.

ANTRIM: D D Quinn; E O'Hara, C McAllister, C McCambridge; C Herron (0-1), K Kelly, E Graham; A Campbell (0-1), C Cunning; D McKillop, G O'Kane (2-7, pen, 2 frees), B McFall (0-2); J McIntosh (0-2), R McNaughton (0-1), P Graham (0-1). Sub: C Hamill for McCambridge (50 mins).

DUBLIN: D Maguire; L Walsh, S Power, J Cullen; C Meehan, A de Paor, D Spain; T Moore, D Sweeney (0-1); C Ring (0-5, 65, 4 frees), L Ryan (0-2), D Henry (1-1); S McDonald (0-2), D Russell (1-1), D Donnelly (1-2). Subs: S Martin for Power (21 mins), A Reilly for Cullen (41 mins), D de Paor for Moore (46 mins), E Carroll for Donnelly (60 mins).

Referee: B King (Westmeath).