U20 hurlers edged out by Tribe in Leinster decider

Wed, 28th July 2021

LEINSTER U20HC FINAL

GALWAY 2-15 DUBLIN 0-15

Goals proved crucial as Galway edged out Dublin in Tuesday night's Leinster U20HC final at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

The counties met only five weeks ago in the delayed 2020 provincial decider when the Dubs came out on top and many of the same players on both sides were involved in this evenly balanced contest once again.

The sides were level at half-time, 0-10 to 1-7, before John Cooney's clinically dispatched goal three minutes into the second half put the Tribesmen on their way to victory.

Dublin had started and concluded the opening half well, at times playing with impressive pace and precision.

Points from Ciarán Foley (two, one free) and Dara Purcell had Dublin 0-3 to 0-1 ahead inside five minutes.

However, a defensive fumble left the door open for Oisín Flannery's eight minute goal from close range when goalkeeper Ben Hynes failed to control a point effort from Christy Brennan, dropping short.

Hynes went on to make some fine saves, particularly in the second half, while at the other end Dublin failed to create goalscoring opportunities.

By the first water stoppage Dublin were 0-5 to 1-4 in arrears but restarted in impressive fashion with two Ciarán Foley and a great score from defender Patrick Dunleavy to go in front 0-8 to 1-4 with five minutes to play in the opening half.

Galway replied with three points in a row but Dublin closed out the half with scores from Kevin Lahiff, his second of the opening 30 minutes, and Dara Purcell to bring the sides level by the half-time interval (0-10 to 1-7).

Shortly after the restart Donal Leavy showed good pace on the way to putting Dublin in front with a fine point.

But the next score was crucial when John Cooney found the top corner of the net - to give Galway a lead they never relinquished.

In the final quarter Galway began to find scores easier to come by as they stretched their final advantage out to six points.

SCORERS - Galway: D O’Shea 0-7 (0-4f), O Flannery 1-2, S McDonagh 0-3 (0-1 sideline), J Cooney 1-0, J O’Donoghue, N Collins, S Neary 0-1 each. Dublin: C Foley 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 65), D Purcell, K Lahiff, P Dunleavy 0-2 each, D Leavy 0-1.

GALWAY: P Rabbitte; E Lawless, E Geraghty, C Brennan; S Quirke, S Neary, E Duggan; I McGlynn, J O’Donoghue; D Kilcommins, S McDonagh, J Cooney; N Collins, D O’Shea, O Flannery. Subs: A Connaire for O’Donoghue (45), G Thomas for Kilcommins (46), C Flaherty for Duggan (51), L Collins for N Collins (56), C Cunningham for McGlynn (59).

DUBLIN: B Hynes; D Crowe, B Sheehy, I Ó hEithir; P Doyle, C Ó Cathasaigh, P Dunleavy; D Power, D Leavy; D McBride, K Lahiff, P Linehan; C Foley, S Fenton, D Purcell. Subs: C Boyle for McBride (41), L Dunne for Lahiff (50), J Flanagan for Linehan (55).

REF: R Fitzsimons (Offaly).