Senior Hurlers defeated by Galway in Dioralyte Walsh Cup Semi Final

DUBLIN 0-17

GALWAY 1-24

Dublin succumbed at the penultimate hurdle as they lost to Galway by ten points in their Dioralyte Walsh Cup semi-final at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Despite a bright start, the hosts found themselves trailing by double scores at half-time (1-11 to 0-7) and there was no way back as the visitors pulled away after the break, thanks largely to the brilliance of Galway’s Evan Niland.

In blustery conditions, both teams took their time to settle into their strides with Dublin opening the scoring in the 3^rd minute through an excellent point from wing-back Donal Leavy.

A series of wides ensued, particularly from the visitors before Dublin doubled their lead in the 9^th minute following a free from distance by Cian O’Sullivan.

Galway opened their own account through a Niland free a minute later with O’Sullivan restoring Dublin’s two-point advantage when converting his second free of the quarter in the 13^th minute.

Brian Hayes has enjoyed an encouraging campaign to date and he highlighted his ability to glide through from midfield when pushing Dublin 0-4 to 0-2 clear soon after.

His Kilmacud Crokes clubmate, Alex Considine, stretched the hosts three points clear in the 15^th minute but that proved a false dawn for Dublin as their opponents began to get the upper hand.

Niland added three points in quick succession, two from placed balls, to restore parity by the 18^th minute before Dublin edged back in front briefly soon after as Ciarán Foley- split the uprights from the left flank.

That score proved a brief moment of positivity for the hosts as Galway continued to control matters and they took the lead for the first time in the 23^rd minute thanks to Declan McLoughlin’s facile score.

From the resultant puck-out, Dublin could well have regained the lead as O’Sullivan turned sharply close to goal but his finish lacked composure as he could only find the side netting.

Niland continued to punish Dublin’s ill-discipline with two further frees and the visitors finished the half on a high as Jason Flynn found sufficient room to plant a low shot beyond the helpless Eddie Gibbons from eight yards.

Trailing by seven points at the break, Dublin took little time in eating into their arrears with Dara Purcell and O’Sullivan scoring from play before the latter made it three points on the bounce when popping over a 39^th minute free.

However, Galway regained the initiative quickly enough with Niland adding a brace by way of riposte and further points from McLoughlin and Donal O’Shea helped extend the visitors’ advantage.

Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing offered the hosts some hope with a fine solo score in the 47^th minute but Thomas Monaghan, and Niland, inevitably, ensured that Galway remained on the front foot as the half evolved.

Sean Currie converted a trio of frees and there were consolation points from O’Sullivan and Hayes but Niland’s personal tally of seventeen points proved the telling factor by the final whistle.

Scorers – Dublin: C O’Sullivan 0-7 (5f), S Currie 0-3 (3f), B Hayes 0-2, C Foley, D Leavy, D Purcell, D Ó Dúlaing, A Considine 0-1 apiece. Galway: E Niland 0-17 (11f, 1 ‘65’), D McLoughlin 0-3, J Flynn 1-0, R Glennon, T Monaghan, D O’Shea, M McManus 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: E Gibbons; J Bellew, P Smyth, R Smith; D Leavy, C Burke, D Gray; B Hayes, D Power; D Sutcliffe, C O’Sullivan, C Foley; D Purcell, E O’Donnell, A Considine. Subs: D Ó Dúlaing for O’Donnell (35+1), S Currie for Sutcliffe (half-time), P Crummey for Considine (half-time), C Donohoe for Leavy (45), M Grogan for Gray (47), F Whitely for Foley (47), J Madden for Smith (50), J Malone for Purcell (60),

Galway: D Fahy; J Grealish, G McInerney, S Morgan; S O’Hanlon, C Fahy, R Glennon; D O’Shea, P Mannion; T Monaghan, J Flynn, J Cooney; E Niland, M McManus, D McLoughlin. Subs: D Loftus for McInerney (half-time), I McGlynn for Glennon (50), A Connaire for Flynn (51), M Walsh for Fahy (56), T Killeen for Monaghan (61-65), E Lawless for Grealish (63), Monaghan for Morgan (65),

Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford).