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 started last summer's final Championship game against Galway.
Donoghue crammed his team with rookie and fringe performers though, initially at least, they thrived and looked like they might very well rout the visitors.
Gray, featuring at full-back, struck the first point of the Donoghue era, a long range score after collecting a pass on his own 45 and bursting forward.
The hosts were three clear before Antrim finally registered their first score of 2023, from veteran attacker Neil McManus who is back for another season.
Flanagan was Dublin's chief threat throughout the half and struck six points in a row for Dublin at one stage to help them open up a 0-09 to 0-07 advantage.
Between the 25th and 28th minutes, Dublin then reeled off 1-03 without response, the goal a close-range strike from Glenn Whelan, to leave eight points in it.
Dublin had all the momentum now and looked set to extend their lead into double digits but were reeled right back and led by just two at half-time, 1-14 to 1-12.
A 29th-minute McMullan goal, when he cleverly shortened the hurl and batted beyond the advancing Dublin goalkeeper Dara Perry, was Antrim's lifeline.
Paul Boyle, McMullan, James McNaughton and McManus added points to leave just two in it at the break.
Liam Murphy, a rising star from Cuala, netted after the restart from Dublin who quickly reopened a six-point gap with further points from Flanagan.
Again, they hinted that they were ready to pull clear but Antrim responded impressively and McKenna's expertly taken 47th minute goal, and scores from Caolan McKernan and Bradley, helped them back to level terms.
They couldn't kick on though and Dublin, despite making seven substitutions, finished things off in style with a series of points from Cian Boyle, Flanagan, Cian O'Sullivan and Murphy before the latter's late, late volleyed goal.
Dublin: Dara Perry; Eddie Moran, Daire Gray (0-01), John Bellew; Darragh Power, Chris O'Leary (0-02), Darach McBride (0-01); Cillian Costello (0-01), Aidan Mellett; Cian Boland (0-01), Joe Flanagan (0-14, 0-08f, 0-03 65), Ciaran Dowling; Cian O'Sullivan (0-02), Glenn Whelan (1-01), Liam Murphy (1-00).
Subs: James Madden for Mellett 48, Cian Boyle (0-01) for Dowling 48, Paul Crummey for Whelan 54, Andrew Jamieson-Murphy (1-02) for Murphy 54, Conor Burke for Costello 57, Alex Considine for Power 62, Enda O'Donnell for Flanagan 67.
Antrim: Paul McMullan; Paddy Burke, Rory McCloskey, Niall O'Connor; Michael Bradley (0-03), Eoghan Campbell (0-01), Conan Bohill (0-02); Joe Maskey, Daniel McKernan (0-01); Paul Boyle (0-02), James McNaughton (0-04, 0-02f), Niall McKenna (1-02); Rian McMullan (1-01), Neil McManus (0-04, 0-01f), Caolan McKernan (0-01).
Subs: Scott Walsh for McKernan 50, Damon McMullan for Caolan McKernan 50, Eoin O'Neill for McManus 50, Arron Bradley for Maskey 56, Seamie McAuley for Rian McMullan 56, Gerard Walsh for Bohill 62, Eoin McAlonan for Boyle 62, Enda Og McGarry (0-01) for Bradley 62, Eoin Trainor for McCloskey 65.
Referee: Eamon Furlong (Wexford).
