Dubs start Donoghue reign with win against Antrim

Dublin 3-26 Antrim 2-22

New Dublin manager Micheál Donoghue started his reign on a positive note as his team battled to a 3-26 to 2-22 Walsh Cup win against Antrim at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Twice the new-look Dubs threatened to put the game beyond Antrim, late in the first half and then again in the third quarter, but it ultimately took a flurry of late scores for the Walsh Cup holders to see off the Saffrons.

Darren Gleeson's side, who will face Dublin again in the opening round of the Leinster SHC in April, twice fought back from significant deficits and were on level terms at 2-20 apiece with 10 minutes to go.

From there, Dublin outscored the 2022 Joe McDonagh Cup winners by 1-06 to 0-02 to secure the win, setting them up nicely for next weekend's clash with Donoghue's native Galway.

Dublin are currently carrying a 50-man panel and with 10 of last year's group unavailable for various reasons, places are up for grabs.

Joe Flanagan made the most pressing case for further inclusion. The Naomh Barrog man, who helped his side to the Leinster intermediate club semi-finals last season, scored 0-14 and was terrific both from placed balls and in open play.

Cian Boland returned to match action after a year out with injuries too and was among 11 different scorers for the hosts while substitute Andrew Jamieson-Murphy hit 1-02 including the late goal that killed off Antrim.

Antrim, without their Dunloy contingent who are preparing for the All-Ireland senior club final, will be happy with the work out and the impact of players like Michael Bradley who scored three points from wing-back while Niall McKenna and Rian McMullan struck the goals for them.

Dublin lined out with just two players - John Bellow and Daire Gray - that