Oliver fires minor hurlers into All-Ireland semi-final

Sat, 25th July 2015

DUBLIN 2-22 ANTRIM 2-11

Dublin minor hurlers are into the All-Ireland MHC semi-final after overcoming a battling Antrim in Saturday afternoon's quarter-final at Breffni Park, Cavan.

The Dubs dominated the concluding ten-plus minutes to score seven unanswered points and set up a semi-final clash against Munster champions, Tipperary, on Sunday August 16 in Croke Park (1.30).

The marksmanship of Matthew Oliver was once again to the fore as the Na Fianna man contributed 0-11 (0-10f) as Johnny McGurk's men bounced back from the disappointment of their Leinster final loss to Kilkenny to keep their All-Ireland dream alive.

Dublin started brilliantly with points from Fergal Whitely, Oliver (two frees) and Mark Maguire before the towering Eoghan Conroy grabbed Dublin's first goal in the eighth minute to open up a 1-4 to 0-1 advantage.

Two Carl Sammon points from play had extended that lead to 1-6 to 0-1 before Antrim came roaring back into the game when scoring 1-3 without reply.

Points form Dylan McLaughlin and Christy McNaughton (free) settled the Glensmen before Conor Small cracked home a goal and when Ryan McKee quickly added a point it was 1-6 to 1-4.

Whitley's 18th minute goal for the Dubs halted Antrim's building momentum and Dublin closed out the half well with points form Daire Gray, two Oliver frees and Whitely's second point from play to lead 2-11 to 1-8 at the break.

Oliver continued to keep the scoreboard ticking for the Dubs in the second half but the concession of a second goal left Antrim just four points in arrears inside the concluding quarter.

However, Dublin showed good character to respond and from then to the finish held the upperhand to run out 11-point victors.

Mark Maguire began the scoring sequence and Oliver added four frees with Alex Considine and Gavin King getting in on the scoring act.

SCORERS - Dublin: M Oliver 0-11 (0-10f), F Whitely 1-2, M Maguire 0-3, E Conroy 1-0, C Sammon 0-2, E Foley, D Gray, A Considine, G King 0-1 each. Antrim: C McNaughton 1-6 (0-6f), C Small 1-0, K Malloy 0-2, C Doherty- Cunning, D McLaughlin, R McKee 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: E Skelly; C Hendricken, D Butler, C Ryan; E Foley, P Smyth, C O'Sullivan; M Oliver, C Sammon; F Whitely, C Dowling, D Gray; A Considine, E Conroy, M Maguire. Subs: G King for O'Sullivan (38); D Ryan for Smyth (43); J McGuirk for Dowling (45); C Currie for Conroy (52); C Burke for Considine (58).

ANTRIM: B Connor; O McKenna, D Carey, C Carson; J Maskey, G Walsh, S Duffin; C McMullan, K Malloy; C Doherty-Cunning, C Small, C McNaughton; D McShane, D McLaughlin, R McKee. Subs: J Daniels for McShane (43); C Blair for McKenna (43); A Burke for McLaughlin (51); D McKernan for Duffin (60); CJ McKenna for McKee (61).

REF: J Keane (Galway).