Antrim hurling manager Darren Gleeson says his side need to learn from their mistakes and turn positive performances into points.
The Saffrons fell to their second successive Division One loss on Saturday when Dublin claimed a 2-19 to 2-15 victory at a wind-swept Corrigan Park.
Dónal Burke hit 1-9 for Dublin, who were without their manager Mattie Kenny for the game following the passing of his mother Annie on Saturday morning.
Antrim enjoyed the better of things in the first half playing against the wind, but Burke’s penalty on the stroke of half-time left the game tied at 1-8 each.
Dublin were more clinical in the second half and were always able to keep the hosts at arm’s length, despite the heroic efforts of Antrim’s Neil McManus, who scored 2-7 of his side’s tally.
Saturday’s defeat followed on from another encouraging showing in defeat in Kilkenny in round one, but Gleeson stressed the need for Antrim to gain points rather than plaudits.
“Dublin are in the top five teams in the country and if you want to play with them you can’t make basic errors,” said Gleeson.
“We played really well in the first half and both teams probably played better into the wind.”
“I’ve been getting that line over the last few years, “lots of positives” - I’m here for points not positives.
“There is another two points we’ve given up. Last week, we should have got something out of the Kilkenny game and didn’t.
“The chances are there in front of us and you have to take them. Dublin got a run of four or five scores in a row and they took them. That’s the difference, that’s the gap between the top teams in the division, they’re executing in their purple patches.”
“We’ve had these lessons already - It’s time to start learning them.
“They’re an honest bunch, great endeavour. You could sit with the players now and they’ll tell you the same thing, about the six or seven plays that we didn’t get anything out of.”
For Antrim, it is looking increasingly likely that they’ll need to win a relegation play-off to retain their top-flight status unless they can claim a victory in at least one of their final three games.
Waterford travel to Corrigan Park on Sunday, February 27 before Antrim finish their Division 1B campaign with back-to-back away games against Laois and Gleeson’s native Tipperary.
“We needed to get points on the board early and get momentum from it. We did that last year,” added the Antrim boss.
“Waterford will be coming, probably as second favourites for the All-Ireland and will have Ballygunner players coming back in.
"It's down to O'Moore Park next and the track record isn't wonderful down there over the past few years.
“If you don't get anything there then you are going to Semple Stadium. They are the places you want to be, but you want to be going there with confidence."
