Dubs deny Saffrons a return win
Antrim 1-19
1-19 Dublin Leinster SHC round 1
CIAN O’SULLIVAN rescued a draw for Dublin at Corrigan Park in the opening round of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship to deny Antrim a winning start on their return to the competition.
Antrim looked in control for long stages but they had to find a response after Donal Burke hit the net on 67 minutes to give Dublin their first lead of the game.
They did so and, just when it seemed as though their return to Leinster was about to be a glorious one, O’sullivan struck.
Antrim flew out of the traps and on eight minutes had the ball in the net after Conor Johnston batted home when Seaan Elliott’s initial effort was saved by Sean Brennan to make it 1-4 to 0-2.
Conal Cunning and Gerard Walsh were on target for the hosts with Donal Burke and O’sullivan carrying the fight for the Dubs who began to steady and rattled off four points on the spin.
But Antrim responded and were 1-11 to 0-12 ahead at the break.
The rain poured in the second half as Antrim again made the better start with five of the opening six points including one from man-of-the-match Paddy Burke to put them in the box seat.
But back Dublin came and, after Burke was off-target with a couple of frees, he rediscovered his range on 67 minutes to rattle the Antrim net.
But Antrim stayed with it, Cunning knocking over a free and then in stoppage time Paul Boyle floated over what the home support hoped was the winner.
But there was time for late drama as Conall Bohill recovered superbly to deny O’sullivan a goal with a block out for a 65 that Burke floated in and this time O’sullivan opted to take his point to rescue a draw.