Senior hurlers over-powered by Galway

GALWAY 2-28 DUBLIN 1-17

Dublin will travel the qualifier road after being overcome by Galway in Sunday's Leinster SHC quarter-final at O'Connor Park, Tullamore.

A brilliantly struck goal from Ben Quinn late in first half added time, from a cushioned pass from Donal Burke, had Dublin trailing by just three points at the break, 1-10 to 1-7.

Four minutes early Eamonn Dillon had turend his marker cleverly before angling in on goal but from an angle he mis-hit his shot and a potential goal opportunity was spurned.

However, the game turned irretrievably in Galway's favour soon after the restart.

Two Conor Whelan points was followed by a third by Conor Cooney as the Tribesmen suddenly led by six points.

Then disaster struck for Ger Cunningham's men was Cian O'Callaghan was sent off on a second yellow card offence, it's looked more accidental than deliberate on Joseph Cooney as he emerged from a ruck with the sliotar.

Further points from Joe Canning (free) and David Burke moved Galway eight points clear and the Dubs were facing a real uphill struggle.

Dublin's day was perhaps summed up in the 53rd minute when Eamonn Dillon drove throught the heart of the Galway defence and looked to have been fouled in the square by centre-back Gearoid McInerney but instead ref Barry Kelly penalised the Nh Fionnbarra.

To add salt to the wound Galway immediately went up field and Conor Cooney blasted to the net, within seconds he had added a point and now it was Galway 2-19 Dublin 1-11.

Dublin introduced players off the bench with both Fergal Whitely and John Hetherton getting on the scoresheet but with Galway deploying their extra man in defence and with their superiority in the air they were never in any trouble.

In the opening half Galway settled first and led 0-4 to 0-1 within ten minutes with Canning (free), Jason Flynn, David Burke and Conor Whelan on target in reply to Chris Crummey's long-range point for the Dubs which opening the scoring.

In the 12th minute Ben Quinn had the ball in the Galway net but was whistled for steps.

But Dublin did find their feet to reel off four points in-a-row during their best sustained spell in the game.

The hard-working Eamonn Dillon fired over after Donal Burke had broken Conor Dooley's long range free into his path.

Shane Barrett found his range from over 65 metres following good interplay by Dublin out the field.

Dublin kept their momentum going with a Donal Burke point after he showed good strength and skill to control the sliotar and when David Treacy got his first score of the game his side led 0-5 to 0-4 after 17 minutes.

Then came the Galway reply with four unanswered points through Cathal Mannion, David Burke, Joe Canning and Conor Cooney and when Jason Flynn goaled in the 28th minute, after keeper Dooley had saved Joseph Cooney's initial effort, Dublin were 1-9 to 0-7 in arrears as the boys in blue struggled to win clean primary possession from the own puck-outs with regularity.

However, Ben Quinn's goal just before the interval lifted Dublin hopes. That proved to be short-lived as Galway wrestled back control on the restart to put them on their way to a provincial semi-final clash with Offaly.

SCORERS - Galway: J Canning 0-9 (0-4f), C Cooney 1-3, C Whelan 0-5, J Flynn 1-2, D Burke 0-3, N Burke 0-2, J Cooney, C Mannion, T Monaghan 0-1 each. Dublin: D Treacy 0-5 (0-4f), B Quinn 1-0, D Burke 0-3 (0-2f), E Dillon, C Crummey, J Hetherton (0-1f) 0-2 each, S Barrett, R McBride, F Whitely 0-1 each.

GALWAY: C Callanan; A Touhy, Daithi Burke, P Killenny; P Mannion, G McInerney, A Harte; J Coen, David Burke; C Mannion, J Canning, J Cooney; C Whelan, C Cooney, J Flynn. Subs: J Hanbury for Kileen (25), N Burke for C Cooney (56), S Loftus for Coen (63), T Monaghan for C Mannion (63), E Burke for David Burke (68).

DUBLIN: C Dooley; C O'Callaghan, E O'Donnell, O Gough; C Crummey, L Rushe, S Barrett; S Moran, N McMorrow; E Conroy, B Quinn, D Treacy; D Burke, R O'Dwyer, E Dillon. Subs: Rian McBride for Conroy (ht), F Whitely for Treacy (50), J Malone for McMorrow (59), D O’Callaghan for Burke (65), J Hetherton for O'Dwyer (65).

REF: B Kelly (Westmeath).