Disappointment for Dublin Minor Hurlers in All-Ireland Quarter-Final Against Galway

DUBLIN 2-18 

GALWAY 3-18

 Dublin failed in their attempts to advance to the semi-finals of the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship as they succumbed to Galway by three points at Semple Stadium on Monday afternoon.

Galway enjoyed a narrow win over Dublin in the provincial group stage and a strong start from them proved key as Dublin failed to ignite from the first whistle.

Goals from Brian Callanan and Cillian Roche handed Galway the initiative in the first-half but a fortuitous Cathal O’Flynn goal saw Dublin reduce their deficit to 2-10 to 1-7 by the interval.

A 36th minute goal by Darragh Kilduff helped Dublin to within a point of their opponents but the concession of a goal to Harry Holmes four minutes later was a body blow from which they never truly recovered.

The Dubs could not have anticipated such a deflating start as their opponents controlled the early passages, with three frees in the opening four minutes from full-forward Callanan reflecting their early pressure.

Matters deteriorated for Dublin in the 5th minute as Callanan found space in behind and his low finish from ten yards proved too much for Pádraigh Ryan in the Dublin goal.

Dublin responded well to this setback as Cathal Barrett and Killian Costello knocked over points in quick succession but Dublin’s overall play was scrappy at times with their forwards unable to exert a concerted influence.

At the opposite end,Ciarán Leen and Holmes proved a handful for the Dublin defence but an improved showing as the half evolved saw Dublin trim their arrears following scores by O’Flynn and Tom Higgins.

Further points arrived through Barrett and Tommy Cullen but further defensive uncertainty allowed Cillian Roche the time to crash home for Galway’s second goal in the 23rd minute.

Dublin required some inspiration at this juncture and it duly arrived as O’Flynn’s lengthy delivery in the 28thminute deceived Seán Kelly in the Galway goal as the keeper fumbled to the net under pressure from Rory Flannery.

The half finished with Flannery converting a straightforward free, leaving the Dubs with a six-point mountain to climb in the second-half.

The contest resumed with Flannery and Callanan trading two points apiece but a more assured Dublin began to make inroads as Fiachra Codd split the uprights in the 35th minute.

Further momentum was generated when a smart delivery from deep by O’Flynn found Kilduff close to goal and the Round Towers Lusk player made no mistake with an assured finish past Kelly from close range.

The gap was down to the bare minimum by the 40th minute following a Flannery free but Galway struck back as Holmes turned sharply before firing an excellent finish low into the corner of Ryan’s net.

Callanan and Seán Moran added points to restore Galway’s six-point buffer with Dublin staying in the hunt thanks to a brace of points at the opposite end from substitute Conaill O’Sullivan.

The Dubs pressed hard but struggled to generate a genuine goal chance in the closing stages with late points from O’Flynn and Flannery proving in vain by the final whistle.

Scorers – Dublin:R Flannery 0-8 (7f, 1 ’65); C O’Flynn 1-2; D Kilduff 1-0; C Barrett, C O’Sullivan 0-2 each; K Costello, T Higgins, T Cullen, F Codd 0-1 apiece.Galway:B Callanan 1-8 (0-7f); H Holmes, C Roche 1-1 apiece; C Leen 0-3; J Donnellan 0-2 (1f, 1 ’65); J Ryan, R O’Connor, S Moran 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: P Ryan;M Byrne, S Dunphy, R Duffy; C Quinn, C O’Flynn, T Cullen; F Codd, F Daly; C Barrett, J Morris, T Higgins; D Kilduff, R Flannery, K Costello. Subs: E Ferguson for Codd (43), C O’Sullivan for Daly (46), E Brennan for Higgins (50), B O’Mahony for Barrett (52).

Galway:S Kelly; C Maloney, D Burke, R Burke; R O’Connor, J Donnellan, G Maher; S Moran, R Murphy; C Leen, E Mulleady, C Roche;B Callanan, J Ryan, H Holmes. Subs:B Fox for O’Connor (47),R Cahalan for Ryan (51),D Zimmerer for Mulleady(57), S Keane for Roche (61).

Referee:Nicky O’Toole (Waterford).