U21 hurlers edged out in extra-time

GALWAY 0-21 DUBLIN 0-19 (After extra-time)

Dublin's under-21 hurlers were agonisingly edged out by Galway in extra-time of Saturday's Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21HC semi-final at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

A Cian Mac Gabhann point from played, following creative work by Cian Boland, forced extra-time for a spirited Dublin with an equalising point in the fourth minute of added time (0-16 each).

However, both sides tired and tied up in extra-time with Galway's Brian Molloy emerging as the key match-winner as he hit four points (three frees) during that period to see his side into the decider against Waterford on September 10.

The counties were level, 0-18 each, at half-time in extra-time as Eoghan McHugh pushed Dublin ahead in the fifth minute following good work by Seán Treacy before scores from Eanna Burke and Molloy pushed Galway back in front.

In the last minute of the opening period the influential Boland brought Joe Fortune's men level again with a superb point on the run.

With five minutes remaining in this titanic battle the sides had exchanged points - Molloy with a free for the Tribesmen and a Treacy free following a foul on Boland.

But it was Galway that got the last two scores with Molloy on target with two frees to seal the deal.

In normal time Dublin, backed by the wind, started well with points from AJ Murphy, Chris Bennett (a 75-metre free) and Boland to move 0-3 to 0-0 clear inside six minutes.

With the likes of Boland and Riain McBride giving their side energy and invention the Dubs led for the entire half but were to rue nine first half wides and they could have led by more than 0-10 to 0-7 at the break.

Galway, however, had the best goal-scoring opportunity but Galway senior Conor Whelan was brilliantly denied by keeper Jonathan Treacy in the 29th minute when he deflected his shot onto the crossbar.

Two minutes into the second half of normal time Chris Bennett extended Dublin's lead with a free after AJ Murphy had been fouled after good defensive work by the Dubs.

But Galway then hit the next six points in-a-row with Molloy (two, one free), Darragh Dolan, Thomas Monaghan and Conor Whelan (two) all on target to see Galway into a 0-13 to 0-11 advantage.

Dublin showed good mettle to break that momentum with Boland central to the best Dublin showed.

The St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh man fired over a fine point before showing good vision to pick out Fionn O Riain Broin who scored before James Madden nosed Dublin back in front, 0-14 to 0-13.

It was nip and tuck to the finish of normal time with Mac Gabhann's late free forcing extra-time.

With wind advantage to come in the second period of extra-time Dublin were well positioned to strike, however, it was Galway's key man Molloy who eventually inspired his team to victory.

SCORERS - Galway: B Molloy 0-10 (0-5f, 0-1 '65'), D Nevin (0-1 sideline), T Monaghan 0-3 each, C Whelan, É Burke 0-2 each, D Dolan 0-1. Dublin: C Bennett (0-3f), R McBride, C Boland 0-3 each, A Jamieson-Murphy, S Treacy (0-2f) 0-2 each, J Madden, F Ó Riain Broin, C MacGabhann, S Barrett, E Conroy, E McHugh 0-1 each.

GALWAY: C Tuohy; C Jennings, D O'Donoghue, D Cronin; F Burke, S Cooney, S Loftus; D Nevin, D Dolan; K McHugo, B Molloy, É Burke; T Monaghan, C Whelan, C Burke. Subs: B Concannon for McHugo (40), J Mannion for C Burke (45), E Brannigan for Dolan (53), S Linnane for Whelan (64), J Grealish for Mannion (70), A Morrissey for Monaghan (76).

DUBLIN: J Treacy; C MacGabhann, E O'Donnell, J Madden; F O'Riain Broin, S Barrett, J Bellew; R McBride, J Malone; C Boland, A Jamieson-Murphy, E Conroy; S Treacy, S Ó Riain, C Bennett. Subs: P O'Dea for Ó'Riain (44), C O'Neill for Bennett (46), E McHugh for Conroy (55), B Bolger for O'Riain Broin (60+1), Ó Riain for Jamieson-Murphy (69), M McCallion for Bolger (70), Bennett for McBride (72).

REF: D Kirwan (Cork).