All square after thrilling Minor Hurling clash

Image Courtesy Matthew lysaght

DUBLIN 3-15 

GALWAY 1-21

It proved an encouraging hour for Dublin as they shared the spoils with a talented Galway side in their cracking Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Round 3 encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Having beaten Wexford and lost to Westmeath in their opening two fixtures, the hosts led by 2-6 to 0-11 at the break with Dan Ward bagging a brace of goals for a spirited Dublin outfit. 

Galway looked to have made the decisive move as substitute Cillian Power netted in the 55thminute but the Dubs finished strongly with late points from Joey Davy and Richie Hession securing a deserved draw. 

The visitors wasted little time in troubling the Dublin defence with Michael Coen and Gus Lohan both pointing within the opening minute. 

An excellent Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh score extended the Galway lead soon after before the hosts settled into the encounter through a 5th minute point from influential midfielder Corey Kelly. 

Mac Cárthaigh doubled his personal tally in an instant but the Dubs were growing in confidence, as reflected in a superb solo score at the opposite end by Hession. 

The hosts were further buoyed as Ward pounced for the game’s opening goal in the 9thminute, collecting a sideline delivery from Hession before arrowing a low finish inside the left-hand corner of Mark Walsh’s goal. 

Ward and Kelly added to the Dublin tally as the contest evolved but their opponents remained in touch through a brace of Anthony Poniard frees and another by goalkeeper Mark Walsh. 

Points from Eoghan McClearn and Coen brought the teams level but that stalemate didn’t last too long as Jack Ledwidge caught the ball superbly in the 25th minute before transferring to Ward, who powered a shot under the body of Walsh. 

Galway controlled the remainder of the half but were errant with a number of frees before scores by Poniard and Tom McAdam left the bare minimum between the sides at the turnaround. 

The tightness of the exchanges continued upon the restart as Galway regained the lead thanks to points by Lohan (free) and Jamie Egan while Hession restored parity when popping over a 34th minute free.

Ward, Hession and Henry Greene kept the home scoreboard ticking over but Galway levelled matters through Poniard and McAdam before they awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute. 

The decision to black card Peter Cashin for the offence was marginal at best but whatever misfortune Dublin felt with that call was corrected instantly as Poniard’s well-struck penalty rebounded to safety off the upright. 

The initiative returned to Dublin as Brian Farrell netted from Marc Dempsey’s pass at the end of the third quarter but Power’s goal following Poniard’s strong run looked to have turned the tide irrevocably in Galway’s favour. 

Davy’s point in the second minute of added time halved Dublin’s deficit and after Tommy Dillon’s storming run down the right flank was unceremoniously ended, Hession was on hand to pop over the resultant free, ensuring an equitable result by the final whistle.

Scorers – Dublin: D Ward 2-2; R Hession 0-7 (6f); B Farrell 1-1; C Kelly, H Greene 0-2 each; J Davy 0-1. Galway: G Lohan 0-6 (4f); A Poniard 0-5 (4f); C Power 1-0; M Coen, T Mac Cárthaigh, T McAdam (0-1 sideline), E McClearn 0-2 each; M Walsh (f), J Egan 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: D Stynes; F Reville, C Nevin, P Cashin; D Ware, J O’Keeffe, T Dillon; P Batten, C Kelly; S Gavigan, H Greene, J Ledwidge; D Ward, B Farrell, R Hession. Subs: A Ferguson for Reville (half-time), M Dempsey for Gavigan (44), E Forde for Ward (51), H Homan for Batten (57), J Davy for Greene (59).  

Galway: M Walsh; J McMahon, D O’Shaughnessy, E Whyte; C Donoghue, C Lynskey, E Leen; G Lohan, J Egan; E McClearn, C Larkin, T McAdam; M Coen, A Poniard, T Mac Cárthaigh. Subs: K Boyle for Mac Cárthaigh (41), C Power for Larkin (50), C O’Neill for McMahon (57).

Referee: Conor Dawson (Wexford).