Antrim 1-19 Dublin 1-20: Sean Gallagher's late goal snatches one point win for Dubs

Antrim's Conal Cunning contributed 1-10 for the home side in their narrow defeat to Dublin

A late goal from Sean Gallagher helped Dublin snatch a narrow 1-20 to 1-19 win over Antrim in Belfast.

Despite the visitors quick start, Conal Cunning kept the Saffrons in touch with a first-half goal.

Dublin led at half-time but after a fine second half display, Antrim took a one point going into the final stages.

However, Saffron keeper Tiernan Smyth fumbled a dropping shot from Sean Gallagher into his own net and Dublin took the late win.

The visitors started the game the brighter of the two sides and powered to a three point lead thanks in part to excellent scores from midfield pair of Conor Burke and Brian Hayes,

Darren Gleeson's Antrim, who were outclassed by All-Ireland champions Limerick in last weekend's league opener, were never too far away from Dublin though with the impressive Conal Cunning landing a series of points from frees before he showed what danger he can cause from play by scoring the opening goal of the game.

The Dunloy man got in behind the Dublin defence and drilled a shot low and hard into the bottom corner to restore parity between the teams.

Cunning took his personal tally to 1-6 and gave Antrim their first lead of the game moments later, but it was short lived, as Dublin notched three points in a row to lead 0-13 to 1-8 at half-time.

Whilst Cunning carried the heavy scoring load in the first period, several other Antrim players stepped up to the mark in the second period, including scores from Scott Walsh (two), Eoghan Campbell (two), Rian McMullan, debutant Joseph McLaughlin.

Cunning though was the star man, and when he pointed late in the game to take his tally to 1-10 and put Antrim ahead by one, it looked like he was going to have the storybook ending.

But ultimately, it was Gallagher's late goal that proved to be the match-winner to leave Antrim searching for a first league win.