Dublin fully justified their favourites tag when they negotiated the challenge of Ulster champions Antrim at Crossmaglen on Saturday afternoon to qualify for the semi-finals of the All Ireland minor hurling championship.

The Leinster runners-up led by three points at the break but when they doubled that advantage within 60 seconds of the restart they never looked back against opponents who were already down to 14 men after the harsh sending off of captain Matthew Donnelly in the 22nd minute.

Antrim couldn’t have wished for a better start as they found the Dublin net after only two minutes when Daniel McCloskey scored at the third time of asking after two initial shots had been blocked. Cillian Moffat opened Dublin’s account but it was Antrim who were playing the better hurling at this stage and efforts from James Black, Chris McGuinness Ciaran Clarke helped them establish a 1-3 to 0-1 lead.

Dublin though began to get into their stride and in the 14th minute they were right back in the game when Cormac Costello bagged the first of his two goals.

Costello then got in behind the Antrim defence to score another goal and despite a couple of successful frees from Clarke it was Dublin who led 2-6 to 1-6 at half- time. The second half had only started when Fergal Heavey drilled the sliothar to the Antrim net and Dublin never looked back.

They sealed their place in the last four with late scores from substitute duo Naoise Maguire and Niall Ryan.