A Night To Remember As Our Hurlers Progress

In the sports drama movie 'Any Given Sunday' coach Tony D'Amato (played by actor Al Pacino) lifts his down-on-their-luck players with an inspiring pre-game speech.

"On this team, we fight for that inch . . . . We claw with our finger nails for that inch . . . . Cause we know when we add up all those inches that's going to make the difference between winning and losing, between living and dying."

That sentiment was mirrored in this year's Leinster SHC round-robin group which culminated in simultaneous excitement on Saturday, June 15 in Parnell Park and Wexford Park.

Dublin's thrilling victory over Galway added to the draw between the Slaneysiders and the Cats saw Kilkenny, Wexford, Dublin and Galway all finish level on league points and had to be separated by scoring difference (see table).

Inches indeed!

There are now eight counties still standing in the race for the Liam Mac Carthy - (Leinster finalists) Kilkenny, Wexford, (Leinster third-placed) Dublin, (Munster finalists) Limerick, Tipperary, (Munster third-placed) Cork, (Joe McDonagh finalists) Laois and Westmeath.

In last summer's Leinster SHC games embedded away from Dublin in the concluding stages and to some degree you could argue a similar trait was evident in Dublin's loss this summer to Kilkenny and draw with Wexford.

But how crucial that late Sean Moran goal from a 20-metre free against Davy Fitz's men proved to be in the overall scheme.

It gave Mattie Kenny's team plenty to play for in their remaining group games - away against Carlow and home to Galway.

After Dublin's win against Carlow it was do-or-die against Galway in the concluding round of fixtures in the group.

Just after defeating Carlow, Dublin manager Mattie Kenny said: "As I said after the Wexford game (draw), that point means that the championship is still in our own hands.

"It's knockout from now on for us, we have to win every game. We have all our loses or draws used up, so we have to make sure we get a win the next day.

"I thought it was a good solid team performance. They worked some really good scores.

"It was very blustery out there, to hit 2-22 was a good score in the conditions. We're not playing at our fully best yet, but there's signs that there's a good understanding among the lad."

How true his words proved to be with Dublin delivering their best display of this season at a packed Parnell Park to knock Galway out of this year's SHC.

In Dublin's opening two SHC games both their goals had come from deadball situations by Sean Moran - it was one of many areas Dublin have improved on.

The Dubs scored five goals in their last two games - Eamonn Dillon grabbing three (two against Carlow, one versus Galway), Chris Crummey got an inspirational goal against the Tribesmen while Sean Moran has continued his accuracy from penalties to account for the other.

Dublin will now look to repeat their standard and more that they showcased against the Tribesmen as they continue their preparations for their meeting with the Joe McDonaghan champions (Laois or Westmeath).

Victory over the Tribesmen will hopefully be a turning in the road for this team.

The loss of Dublin's top-scorer Paul Ryan in advance of the game coupled with the loss of the in-form Eoghan O'Donnell early in the contest failed to derail Dublin's ambitions.

Shane Barrett went to full-back and normal business resumed while Oisin O'Rorke, enjoying game-time for the first time this summer, tallied 0-9 (0-6f,0-1 '65').

But the Kilmacud Crokes clubman contributed more than just that as he alertness, touch and running pulling the Galway full-back line out of position.

There were heroes on every line for the Dubs but a couple of scores are probably worthy of extra note.

The points by goalkeeper Alan Nolan, from inside his own '45', and Conal Keaney's power-play when he firstly turned over and dispossessed a Galway defender before pointing - well they seemed to be worth more than a point to Dublin.

Then there was Chris Crummey's goal, who decided on this occasion that attack was the best form of defence, to get in behind the Galway cover and drive the sliotar to the net.

This Sunday Laois and Westmeath meet in the Joe McDonagh final - it promises to be very close - with Dublin facing the winner the following weekend.

Mattie Kenny's men will need to be fully focused once again following the high of the Galway victory as they look to continue their climb up hurling's ladder . . . . inch by inch!

ALL-IRELAND SHC PRELIMINARY QUARTER-FINAL

Saturday/Sunday, July 6/7: Winner of Westmeath/Laois v Dublin

ALL-IRELAND SHC QUARTER-FINAL

Saturday/Sunday, July 13/14: Dublin/Laois/Westmeath v Loser of Munster SHC final (Limerick/Tipperary)

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2019 DUBLIN SENIOR HURLERS: Scoring Chart