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Picture Courtesy Matthew Burke
DUBLIN 1-13
GALWAY 2-17
It proved a disappointing start to Dublin’s Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship campaign as they succumbed to Galway by seven points at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.
An impressive Galway side enjoyed a healthy 1-10 to 0-6 lead at half-time with Ethan Coleman’s well-taken goal in 13th minute reflecting their threat in attack.
A Sean Culleton goal in the 40th minute offered hopes of a home comeback but those ambitions were extinguished seven minutes later as Coleman nipped in for his second goal.
It was the visitors that seized the early initiative with points by Ronan Cahalan and Jody Canning augmented by a brace from Jack Shaughnessy as they raced four points clear by the 5th minute.
Dublin finally opened their own account through a Richie Hession free in the 7th minute and smart approach play by Conaill O’Sullivan allowed Luke Hayes the chance to reduce the home deficit a minute later.
Galway struck back through Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh and Shaughnessy (free) to restore their four-point buffer and they put further daylight between the teams as Coleman shrugged off the challenge of Deimhne Murphy before firing low past the helpless Eoin McGuirk.
The Dubs responded well to this setback with Paul O’Connell impressing at full-back and points in quick succession by Hayes and Hession reduced their arrears to 1-6 to 0-4 by the end of the first quarter.
A brilliant Mac Cárthaigh score from the left flank briefly stalled Dublin’s mini-resurgence but an excellent Rory Duffy point and another Hession free brought the hosts back to within four points by the 20th minute.
However, Galway finished the half on the front foot through points by Cahalan and Cillian Roche, leaving them seven points clear by the interval.
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