Minor Hurlers lose out to Galway in Leinster Championship tie

Pic courtesy Eamon O'Callaghan 

DUBLIN 1-14 

GALWAY 2-16

A late Brian Callanan goal proved telling as Galway held off a spirited Dublin by five points in their Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Tier 1 Round 2 encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

The teams experienced contrasting fortunes a week previously as Dublin held on for a three-point win against Wexford while Galway suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Kilkenny.

Dublin looked the more impressive side in the first-half but a sloppy clearance allowed Galway’s Ciarán Leen to net in the 29^th minute to ensure parity by the break.

A Rory Flannery penalty in the 52^nd minute ensured a dramatic conclusion to events but Galway held on as Callanan tapped home from close range to seal the away success.

It didn’t take long for Galway to edge in front as Eoghan Mulleady gathered possession from the throw-in before splitting the uprights inside ten seconds.

A Cillian Roche free in the 6^th minute doubled the away advantage but Dublin replied in an instant through an excellent score from distance by full-forward Cathal Barrett.

Conor Quinn, who delivered a strong defensive showing against Wexford, levelled matters with a fine effort from below the terrace side in the 10^th minute as the hosts began to settle to their task.

Roche’s second free of the half restored Galway’s lead briefly but Darragh Kilduff turned sharply before bringing the teams level once again by the 12^th minute.

The home defence were coping well with any pressure that came their way and they deservedly moved two-points clear by the 18^th minute through a Fionn Daly score and a Rory Flannery ‘65’.

However, with the wind at their backs, they failed to translate their growing dominance into scores as they struck a number of wasteful wides as the half evolved, allowing Galway to halve their deficit by the 22^nd minute thanks to Ronan Cahalan.

Dublin did eventually find their range as Cathal O’Flynn landed a captain’s point from distance in the 26^th minute with a Tom Higgins point a minute later pushing the hosts three points clear.

That margin was wiped out in unfortunate circumstances as a misplaced pass by O’Flynn was seized upon by Leen, who left Dublin goalkeeper Pádraigh Ryan helpless from eight yards.

An Eamonn McGlynn point edged Galway in front approaching the break but a superb solo effort from Kilduff in added time ensured the sides entered the turnaround deadlocked at 0-8 to 1-5.

Despite Flannery edging Dublin back in front in the 34th minute, Galway were beginning to find more space in attack and they duly overtook their opponents in scant time through scores by Leen, Brian Callanan and Roche.

Another Flannery free brought brief respite for Dublin but they were beginning to struggle against the aerial dominance of Galway as the Tribesmen moved four points ahead through a brace of excellent points by substitute Jamie Ryan.

However, the Dubs were handed a lifeline in the 51^st minute as Kilduff was fouled inside the square and Flannery did the necessary from the resultant penalty to leave just a point between the sides.

Kilduff, Flannery, James Norris and Eoghan Brennan all pointed in the closing stages but Dublin were undone in added time as Stephen Keane raced through and while Ryan made a superb save from his shot, Callanan was in the right spot at the right time to seal Galway’s success.

Scorers – Dublin: R Flannery 1-4 (1-0pen, 0-2f, 0-1 ’65), D Kilduff 0-3, C Quinn, C O’Flynn, F Daly, T Higgins, J Norris, C Barrett, E Brennan 0-1 apiece. Galway: B Callanan 1-4 (0-2f), C Leen 1-2, C Roche 0-3 (3f), E McGlynn, J Ryan 0-2 each, J Donnellan, E Mulleady, R Cahalan 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: P Ryan; C Fitzgerald, S Dunphy, R Duffy; C Quinn, C O’Flynn, T Cullen; F Codd, F Daly; T Higgins, J Norris, R Flannery; A Ryan, C Barrett, D Kilduff. Subs: C O’Sullivan for Ryan (37), E Brennan for Daly (40).

Galway: S Kelly; C Maloney, D Burke, G Maher; B Fox, J Donnellan, R O’Connor; E Mulleady, S Moran; C Leen, R Murphy, E McGlynn; B Callanan, R Cahalan, C Roche. Subs: J Ryan for Cahalan (43), J Shaughnessy for Roche (45), S Keane for McGlynn (55), R Burke for O’Connor (59).

Referee: Ciarán Flynn (Meath).