The Dublin U20 hurlers pictured before their Leinster preliminary quarter-final victory over Antrim. Photo courtesy of Dublin GAA.
oneills.com Leinster U-20 hurling championship preliminary quarter-finals
Dublin 2-19 Antrim 4-10
Laois 1-29 Kildare 2-16
By Paul Keane
Dublin will play holders Offaly in a glamour oneills.com Leinster U-20 HC quarter-final clash after holding off a late Antrim rally in Dowdallshill.
Daniel O'Kelly's two goals, and overall 2-4 tally, proved decisive as Dublin advanced to set up a May 5 rematch of last season's provincial final.
But Dublin, who finished third in their Tier 1 group, were pushed all the way by a determined Antrim side that previously topped their Tier 2 group.
In fact, the Saffrons cut an 11-point deficit with 42 minutes on the clock to just three in stoppage time.
Fiontan Bradley and Jack McCloskey had earlier scored goals for Antrim and two more majors, in the 57th and 63rd minutes, from Cormac McKeown and McCloskey again, left Dublin looking nervously over their shoulder.
Dublin cut loose at times and hinted at a rout, reeling off five points in a row between the sixth and 12th minutes to initially open up a 0-7 to 0-3 lead.
But Antrim's first two goals, arriving in the 13th and 22nd minutes, made it clear that they were in it for the long haul and briefly moved them two points ahead, 2-4 to 0-8.
Dublin finished the half strongly, reeling off 1-3 without response, to lead 1-11 to 2-4 at half-time. O'Kelly's goal was the vital score during that blitz while Ollie Gaffney and Dublin senior Brendan Kenny tagged on points at the neutral venue outside Dundalk.
Dublin piled on the pressure in the third quarter, adding another 1-4 without response immediately after the restart to open up that 11-point 2-15 to 2-4 lead.
But Antrim refused to fade out and pushed the Sky Blues all the way with McKeown rifling to the roof of the net before McCloskey's stoppage time fourth goal for Antrim from a free.
Meanwhile, Laois were comfortable 1-29 to 2-16 winners against Kildare in the other preliminary quarter-final tie, sealing a quarter-final date with Wexford.
Laois enjoyed a double scores, 0-16 to 0-8, half-time lead and added a 58th minute goal from Cormac Byrne. Alex Bell netted twice for Kildare in the final 10 minutes.
