Last minute goal secures win for Senior Hurlers

DUBLIN 3-16 

GALWAY 0-21

Dublin picked up the third successive win in their Leinster Senior Hurling Championship campaign as they overcame group leaders Galway by four points in their Round 4 encounter at a typically damp and blustery Pearse Stadium, Salthill on Saturday afternoon. 

With the contest looking destined for a share of the spoils, Brian Hayes received a pass from his brother Ronan Hayes and fired clinically to the net from ten yards to complete a superb win for the Dubs. 

Following a draw against Offaly and subsequent wins over Kildare and Wexford, the Dubsmade three late changes to their starting line-up with Paddy Doyle, Conor McHugh and Conal Ó Riain selected in place of Eoghan O’Donnell, Darragh Power and John Hetherton. 

The hosts enjoyed a wind-assisted 0-11 to 1-5 interval lead with Galway’s Daithí Burke accounting for Dublin’s goal in the 13th minute as he deflected a Dónal Burke ‘65’ past goalkeeper Darach Fahy. 

The introduction of Hetherton and Ronan Hayes after the break brought a fresh dimension to the Dublin attack with the latter netting in the 60th minute to set up a grandstand finish.  

With the wind at their backs, the hosts took the lead through a 2nd minute free by Aaron Niland before Cian Daniels doubled that advantage thanks to midfielder Cian Daniels three minutes later. 

While Niland added another free soon after, the visitors impressed at the back and struck for their first score in the 13th minute as Daithí Burke inadvertently flicked the ball into his own net as he attempted to stop Dónal Burke’s ‘65’ from going over the crossbar. 

Ó Riain edged the Dubs in front with an excellent solo point soon after as the scores began to arrive more freely, with Padraic Mannion levelling matters in an instant. 

Galway added points through Niland and Conor Whelan either side of the first-quarter mark but Kilmacud’s Ó Riain continued to impress as he doubled his tally by the 20th minute. 

A second Burke free restored Dublin’s narrow lead as their opponents registered a series of poor wides before Tom Monaghan restored parity by the 26th minute. 

Niland popped over a couple of debatable frees as the half evolved with a Cathal Mannion ‘65’ in injury time helping Galway into a three-point lead by the turnaround.

The contest resumed in a similarly tight manner as two Burke frees were cancelled out at the opposite end through points from play by Whelan and substitute Darragh Neary. 

A cracking effort from distance by Conor Burke added momentum to the Dublin challenge with Donal Burke’s third free of the half leaving two points between the teams by the 46thminute. 

However, two Cathal Mannion frees saw Dublin facing a four-point deficit by the end of the third quarter and while Donal Burke replied with a glorious point from play, the increasingly influential Monaghan and Neary ensured that Galway remained on the front foot. 

Up stepped Hetherton with a brilliant catch to Ronan Hayes, with his well-taken goal levelling matters before the visitors edged in front through points by Hayes and Donal Burke (‘65’). 

Galway responded via Cathal Mannion and Colm Molloy to leave the teams deadlocked deep into added time but Dublin had the final word with Brian Hayes’ goal preceding an insurance point by Cian O’Sullivan.  

Dublin conclude their group campaign when they host Kilkenny in Parnell Park next Sunday afternoon (2pm). 

Scorers – Dublin: Dónal Burke 0-9 (7f, 1 ’65); R Hayes 1-2; B Hayes, Daithí Burke (o.g.) 1-0 each; C Ó Riain 0-2; C Burke, C Donohoe, C O’Sullivan 0-1 apiece. Galway: A Niland 0-5 (4f); C Mannion 0-4 (3f, 1 ’65); T Monaghan 0-3; P Mannion, C Whelan, D Neary 0-2 each; C Daniels, J Rabbitte, C Molloy 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: E Gibbons; C McHugh, P Smyth, P Doyle; C Crummey, L Rushe, C Burke; B Hayes, C Groarke; F Whitely, C Donohoe, D Burke; C O’Sullivan, David Purcell, C Ó Riain. Subs: J Hetherton for Groarke (51), Ronan Hayes for Purcell (55).

Galway: D Fahy; R Glennon, C Trayers, D Morrissey; P Mannion, D Burke, G Lee; C Daniels, T Killeen; J Fleming, C Mannion, T Monaghan; J Rabbitte, C Whelan, A Niland. Subs: D Neary for Niland (39), J Ryan for Trayers (63), C Molloy for Fleming (65), C Fahy for Daniels (68), O Lohan for Killeen (74). 

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).