Stewart seals Saffrons win in thriller

ANTRIM 1-17 DUBLIN 0-19

ANTRIM hurlers created a bit of history on Saturday when they staged a superb second-half comeback to beat Dublin in the All Ireland qualifier at Croke Park, their first ever championship win over the men from the capital.

Rated as 7-1 outsiders by the bookmakers Antrim maintained their good form of recent weeks with a great gutsy display which saw them overturn a second-half deficit of six points to clinch a memorable win with a late Karl Stewart point to set up a quarter-final meeting with Cork on Sunday next.

Dublin appeared to be home and dry when they pulled six ahead with just eighteen minutes left on the clock, but Antrim clawed their way back point by point to edge through in a real thriller.

Karl McKeegan and Neil McManus points got Antrim off to a good start with points and it got even better when for the Saffrons when corner-forward PJ O'Connell raced onto a through ball and fired in a brilliant goal.

Liam Watson added a great point from out on the Cussack Stand sideline but Dublin hit back with points from Liam Rushe, Simon Lambert and Peadar Carton

Two more from the impressive Carton and one from All Star Alan McCrabbe, brought Dublin back on terms and even though Neill McManus added two points from play the Dubs leveled matters by half-time with Carton and McCrabbe finding the target yet again.

Antrim fans must have been really upbeat as the teams re-emerged for the second-half, but their hopes were to receive a setback as Dublin raced from the traps and with Carton, McCrabbe and Lambert in fine form they pulled six clear.

Antrim appeared to be in real trouble, but just as they had done two weeks earlier against Carlow they showed real fighting spirit to edge their way back.

Neill McManus showed great accuracy from frees as the gap closed point by point and the game appeared to be heading for extra time when Shane McNaughton leveled the scoring in the first minute of injury time.

Dublin had a chance to edge ahead but were off target and as the ball was delivered long into the Dublin ‘square’ substitute Mickey Herron hand-passed to Karl Stewart the St Gall’s man somehow worked his way clear of a Dublin defender to send over the match wining point.

A fantastic win for Antrim who have really turned their season around after a disappointing league campaign. Cork on Sunday next will be a massive task but the Antrim players can’t wait for it to happen as they get their chance of a Croke Park wuarter-final for the first time since 2004.