Senior hurlers must do it all again after late Galway equaliser

DUBLIN 0-20 GALWAY 1-17

Dublin and Galway will have to meet again next Saturday (O'Connor Park, Tullamore, 4.45) after this Leinster SHC quarter-final ended in stalemate at Croke Park on Sunday.

Galway snatched the equaliser in the last minute of normal time when Aidan Harte fired over, seconds earlier David Treacy missed a free that may have pushed Dublin into the winner’s enclosure, after Liam Rushe’s 65^th minute point had Dublin 0-20 to 1-16 to the good.

It was the only blip from the Cuala marksman whose radar had been ‘on the money’ all day.

Dublin trailed by a point at half-time but restarted the better with points from Mark Schutte, his third of the game, a Treacy free and Danny Sutcliffe when he showed great presence of mind to strike off his left when tailed by two Galway defenders.

The opening half was a slow-burner, eventually warming towards Championship pace.

At the break the Tribemen had edged in front, 1-9 to 0-11, thanks to late points from Cathal Mannion and Jason Flynn in first half injury time.

Joseph Cooney’s clinically taken goal in the 19^th minute propelled Galway 1-6 to 0-3 clear but Dublin responded brilliantly and with half-time approaching briefly led 0-11 to 1-7.

Following Cooney’s strike when he accelerated through on goal to rifle past Alan Nolan Dublin replied with points form Danny Sutcliffe, Johnny McCaffrey, the influential Mark Schutte and Liam Rushe.

Dublin had not found the tempo with the likes of Schutte, David O’Callaghan and Ryan O’Dwyer working hard to lift Dublin’s overall play.

Ger Cunningham’s men went close to gaoling themselves in the 26^th minute but Colm Cronin was brilliantly denied by Galway keeper Colm Callanan, David Treacy putting the resulting ‘65’ over the bar.

Goalmouth incidents were more frequent at the other end during the first half with Alan Nolan stopping a Jason Flynn attempt in the 27^th minute.

It was not the first time in the half the St Brigid’s clubman’s reflexes saved his side.

Towards the close of the half further points from Sutcliffe, following good graft by David O’Callaghan, and a Treacy free following a foul on Schutte to bring the sides level, 0-10 to 1-7, by the 32^nd minute.

Schutte’s excellent 35^th minute point nosed Dublin in front before scores form Mannion and Flynn closed out the half to see Galway in front.

It wasn’t just the late scores that cost Dublin late on in the first half as Peter Kelly limped off having enjoyed a good first half on Joe Canning.

This coming after Paul Schutte was ruled out in advance of the game – robbing Dublin of one of their most impressive players during the League.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Treacy 0-11 (0-8f, 0-2 ‘65’), M Schutte, D Sutcliffe 0-3 each, L Rushe 0-2, J McCaffrey 0-1. Galway: J Canning 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1 ‘65’), C Donnellan, C Mannion 0-3 each, J Cooney 1-0, J Flynn, A Harte 0-2 each, A Smith 0-1.

DUBLIN: A Nolan; C O’Callaghan, P Kelly, S Durkin; C Crummey, C Keaney, S Lambert; J McCaffrey, R O’Dwyer; D Sutcliffe, C Cronin, L Rushe; D O’Callaghan, M Schutte, D Treacy. Subs: M Carton for Kelly (36 inj), D O’Connell for Cronin (49), P Ryan for O’Dwyer (65), S Barrett for C O’Callaghan (72 inj).

GALWAY: C Callanan; P Mannion, J Coen, J Hanbury; D Collins, I Tannian, G McInerney; J Cooney, A Harte; A Smith, C Donnellan, J Glynn; C Mannion, J Canning, J Flynn. Subs: G Lally for McInerney (53), P Brehony for Cooney (59), D Burke for Smith (66), P Killeen for Tannian (69), N Healy for Canning (72).

REF: J McGrath (Westmeath).

ATTENDANCE: 33,544.