Dublin cruised into the All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship final with a runaway win over Antrim at Pairc Esler.
The Ulster champions never came close to causing an upset in a one-sided encounter which provided the Metropolitans with little in the way of worthwhile preparation for next month’s decider.
Mark Schutte, Sean McGrath and Ben Quinn grabbed the goals, while Kevin O’Loughlin contributed seven points as Dublin’s U21s joined the county’s minor side as All-Ireland finalists.
Dublin got off to a dream start when Mark Schutte blasted home a brilliant goal with an unstoppable shot to the top corner of the net after just a minute.
Antrim struggled to get attacking momentum going, but registered scores through Michael Devlin and James Black.
Dublin, building from deep through Dean Curran and the excellent Martin Quilty, were sharper and more inventive than a Saffron side that had to work extremely hard for a modest share of possession.
If Kevin O’Loughlin’s pace was a constant worry for the Antrim defence, his accuracy from frees was even more devastating.
The Kilmacud Crokes man swept a couple between the posts, and also cored with a sublimely struck sideline cut.
Daire Plunkett and Mark Schutte were also on target as the Dubs moved into a 1-6 to 0-2 lead by the 23rd minute.
Liam Rushe was a settling influence at the heart of a Dublin defence that had to deal with a couple of nervous moments, but corner backs Bill O’Carroll and Jack Doughan competently dealt with anything that came their way.
The Antrim defence was soon under pressure again, and the damage could have been greater but for some excellent work from Kevin McKiernan and Michael Armstrong.
Schutte and Conor Gough added points, and Niall McMorrow sent a screamer crashing against the crossbar, with Antrim skipper Conor McCann converting a couple of frees at the other end.
Dublin led by 1-9 to 0-4 at the break, and made a flying start to the second half when Sean McGrath finished to th net from close range after Eamon Dillon’s shot had been saved by Eoin Gillan.
They also put four points on the board in the opening four minutes of the half, two of them from Dillon.
Niall McMorrow landed three long range efforts, and there were points also from Dean Curran, Schutte, McGrath and Dillon.
Michael Armstrong put up brave resistance at the back for Antrim, but was powerless to halt the blue tide.
There was some respite when Paddy McNaughton and McCann added to Antrim’s tally, but the Dubs turned on the power again in the closing stages, with substitute Ben Quinn blasting in their third goal with his first touch.
Dublin scorers: M Schutte 1-3, S McGrath 1-1, B Quinn 1-0, K O’Loughlin 0-7 (4f, 1s/l), N McMorrow, D Plunkett 0-3 each, E Dillon 0-2, D Curan, T Connolly, O O Maoileidigh, C Gough 0-1 each
Antrim scorers: C McCann 0-3 (3 f), J Black, P McNaughton, M Devlin 0-1 each.
Dublin: G McManus, B O’Carroll, D Kelly, J Doughan, D Curran, L Rushe,. M Quilty, C Gough, D Sutcliffe, D Plunkett, M Schutte, S McGrath, K O’Loughlin, N McMorrow, E Dillon.
Subs: F Clabby for O’Carroll, T Connolly for O’Loughlin, S O’Connor for Sufcliffe, O O Maoileidigh for McGrath, B Quinn for Rushe
Antrim: E Gillan, T McAllister, K McKiernan, P McKeague, M Armstrong, N Cunningham, C Loughran, C Laverty, P McNaughton, J Black, M Devlin, T McCloskey, D McLean, C McCann, S Smyth.
Subs: C Gillan for Devlin, A Downey for McKeague, B Curran for Laverty
Referee: F Smith (Meath).
