Goals vital as senior hurlers advance past Galway

LEINSTER SHC ROUND-ROBIN ROUND 5

DUBLIN 3-19 GALWAY 0-24

What a game, what an occasion, what an atmosphere, what a conclusion as Dublin finished the stronger to edge out Galway by four points in Saturday night's Leinster SHC Round 5 clash at Parnell Park.

The Dubs advance to a All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-final against Laois or Westmeath on July 6/7. Kilkenny and Wexford will contest the Leinster final while Galway exit the Championship.

Over the past two summers Dublin have lost games in the dying moment or faded in the concluding minutes but not on Saturday night as they attacked the game to the finish and were rewarded for their courage in a game that was level on 18 occasions.

Goals were the winning of the game - Eamonn Dillon's in the opening half and two second half goals through Sean Moran and the inspirational Chris Crummey.

The two results on Saturday night meant that Kilkenny, Wexford, Dublin and Galway were level on league points and had to be separated on scoring difference.

"There was a massive game of hurling there tonight, and if we ended up with a draw or Galway winning by a point, and lads are saying, 'ah it was a great game of hurling'," said Dublin manager Mattie Kenny afterwards.

"These Dublin players would say they're tired of them moral victories.

"They want to start getting real victories, and in fairness to them, they're after delivering that tonight.

"It came down to the goal. Nothing could separate the sides, and when the goal went in I said we just need to get the next score. If Galway goes down and gets a point, they're back to two, and they'll claw it back again.

"The next score came our way, and that gave the lads the belief to push on," added Mattie.

Crummey's goal was vital after sub Ronan Hayes put him through on goal, the Lucan Sarsfields half-back might have elected for the simpler option of a point but he went for the killer blow.

In a physically intense battle both sides lost a key player through injury with Eoghan O'Donnell, who had been enjoying a superb run of form, forced out with a hamstring injury in the 14th minute while Galway lost forward Conor Whelan in the 26th minute.

The aerial exchanges were exceptional with Danny Sutcliffe and especially Conal Keaney inspiring their team.

Dillon's goal arrived in the 28th minute when his acceleration took him past the Galway defence and he batted to the net past keeper Colm Callanan for Dublin to lead 1-8 to 0-8.

However, Galway reacted well to hit four unanswered points through Cathal Mannion (two), Callanan (free) and David Burke for the Tribe to lead 0-12 to 1-8 at the interval.

Dublin made a dream restart when Chris Crummey was hauled to the ground by Daithí Burke and Seán Moran made no mistake with the penalty.

Galway introduced Joe Canning in the 47th minute and he quickly announced his presence with two points.

With the game up from grabs Dublin really put the shoulder to the wheel and with the likes of Conal Keaney and keeper Alan Nolan, from play inside his own '45', grabbing inspirational points Dublin were not going to be stopped.

Crummey's 69th minute goal sealed the deal for Mattie Kenny's men as they progress to the knockout stages.

SCORERS – Dublin: O O’Rorke 0-9 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), E Dillon 1-1, C Keaney 0-3, C Crummey, S Moran (1-0 pen) 1-0 each, C Boland 0-2, A Nolan, D Sutcliffe, L Rushe, F Whitely 0-1. Galway: C Mannion 0-9 (0-7f), J Flynn, D Burke 0-3 each, J Canning 0-2, C Callanan (0-1f), P Mannion, J Cooney, J Coen, C Whelan, B Concannon, D Glennon 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: A Nolan; P Smyth, E O’Donnell, C Hendricken; C Crummey, S Moran, S Barrett; S Treacy, T Connolly; C Keaney, C Boland, E Dillon; L Rushe, O O’Rorke, D Sutcliffe. Subs: J Madden for O’Donnell (inj, 14), F Whitely for Boland (47), D Gray for Hendricken (51), D O’Connell for Treacy (57), R Hayes for Rushe (65).

GALWAY: C Callanan; D Morrissey, Daithí Burke, A Harte; P Mannion, J Cooney, G McInerney; J Coen, David Burke; C Mannion, J Glynn, A Touhy; C Whelan, J Flynn, B Concannon. Subs: D Glennon for Whelan (inj, 26), J Canning for Touhy (47), N Burke for Concannon (54), T Monaghan for N Burke 60), S Linnane for Coen (70).

REF: C McAllister (Cork).