Antrim well beaten by Dublin at Parnell Park

Dublin powered to a 3-32 to 1-18 victory over Antrim at a sun-kissed Parnell Park on Saturday to remain in the hunt for a place in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship final.

Donal Burke starred for the hosts with 1-12, but he had plenty of support on the day as they build a decent lead in the opening period and although Antrim rallied either side of the break to get the margin back to four, Miceal Donoghue's side absorbed the hits and responded in emphatic fashion.

Antrim tried valiantly to find a way back in, but just couldn't build upon their win over Wexford a fortnight back as their nightmare record in Parnell Park continued.

The hosts couldn't have wished for a better start as they had the ball in the net after just 10 seconds when Conor Burke went long and Paul Crummy rose to get the touch home.

That goal separated the teams after eight minutes as Seaan Elliott and Eoghan Campbell replied to scores from John Bellew and Donal Burke.

James McNaughton scored Antrim's goal

Dublin began to take charge, out-scoring Antrim by seven points to one over the next 15 minutes as the visitors were unable to gain much primary ball with Dublin lording it around then middle and mistakes from Antrim also gifted opportunities. The lead was 10 by this stage and in truth, could have been much more only for a host of wides and some scrambled defence.

Antrim needed a spark and after Conal Cunning pointed a free, they got it on 28 minutes as a move from out the back led by Eoghan Campbell saw hi find Nigel Elliott who put James McNaughton away and although he had plenty of work to do, the Loughgiel man struggled off challenges to find the net.

The teams would go score-for-score into the break as Dublin led 1-13 to 1-7, but Antrim, despite having been second best for the most part, seemed to be back in it.

Those suspicions were raised further as Antrim landed early scores through Nigel Elliott and Keelan Molloy, but gradually, Dublin began pull away again with Burke, his brother Conor and Sean Currie - who both finished with five points apiece - were finding their range.

Antrim rallied again with Campbell landing a brace with Seaan Elliott and Cunning splitting the posts with the gap back to six, but then came the killer on 58 minutes as Dublin substitute Ronan Hayes popped into younger brother Brian who crashed home.

That was that as the scores began to flow for Dublin who grabbed a third goal through a Burke free that appeared to be more mishit that intended as they ended up romping over the line to maintain their unbeaten start to the competition.