It’s the end of the road for Mattie Kenny’s Dublin Hurlers losing to Galway tonight in Pearse Stadium
Galway 0-27
Dublin 0-21
Pearse Stadium, Salthill
After tonight’s results in the final round of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, Galway and Kilkenny will contest the Championship decider. Sadly for Dublin, with Wexford beating Kilkenny this evening, it’s Wexford who will advance to an All Ireland Qualifier. That means Dublin’s season comes to an end for this year, which must be disappointing for manager Mattie Kenny after a promising start to both the league and championship.
Despite having the wind advantage in the opening half, Dublin trailed by 0-11 to 0-12. But the conditions didn’t suit either side in quite an uneventful first period. Galway eventually pulled away, even missing a penalty with Sean Brennan saving Conor Cooney’s shot.
In the tight first half the sides were level as many as 8 times. Many will blame referee Johnny Murphy’s whistle for the lack of flow to the proceedings.
Conor Cooney rose to Galway’s second top scorer in the championship behind Joe Canning when he landed the second of his 13 points.
Dublin depended too heavily on Donal Burke for scores. And while he landed five from play in addition to nine frees, they rarely looked like getting that goal that could have driven them on to try steel a win.
A free from Burke four minutes from the break leveled the sides. But Cooney struck three in a row for Galway giving them the edge.
Just when it looked like they would pull away though, Dublin finished the half strongly with a couple of points from Burke to leave the minimum between them at the break.
Galway took over after the from the start of the second half. Conor Cooney, Whelan, Cathal Mannion and Joseph Cooney hit great points. Despite Eamon Dillon and Chris Crummy responding for Dublin, Galway pushed on even after Cooney’s penalty was blocked after Whelan was fouled by Eoghan O’Donnell.
Donal Burke did as much as he to keep Dublin in the hunt. But Galway were able to land eoungh scores to ease their way to victory and set up another date with Kilkenny.
Scorers for Galway:
Conor Cooney 0-13 (12f)
Conor Whelan 0-05
Cathal Mannion 0-03
Joseph Cooney 0-02
Fintan Burke 0-02 (1 sideline)
Cianan Fahy 0-01
Brian Concannon 0-01
Scorers for Dublin:
Dónal Burke 0-14 (9f)
Rian McBride 0-02
Chris Crummey 0-01
Paul Crummey 0-01
Danny Sutcliffe 0-01
Conor Burke 0-01
Eamonn Dillon 0-01
Galway
1 Éanna Murphy
2 Jack Grealish
3 Daithí Burke
4 Darren Morrissey
5 Padraic Mannion
6 Gearóid McInerney
7 Fintan Burke
8 Joseph Cooney
9 Tom Monaghan
10 David Burke
11 Conor Cooney
12 Cianan Fahy
13 Cathal Mannion
14 Conor Whelan
15 Brian Concannon
Galway Substitutes
26 Jason Flynn for Fahy (57)
21 Johnny Coen for Monaghan (60)
20 Ronan Glennon for David Burke (62)
18 Tiernan Killeen for P Mannion (67)
22 Evan Niland for Concannon (69).
Dublin
1 Seán Brennan
2 John Bellew
3 Eoghan O’Donnell
4 Cian O’Callaghan
5 James Madden
6 Paddy Smyth
7 Daire Gray
8 Conor Burke
9 Chris Crummey
10 Dónal Burke
11 Rian McBride
12 Danny Sutcliffe
13 Fergal Whitely
18 Andrew Dunphy
15 Eamonn Dillon
Dublin Substitutes:
14 Ronan Hayes for Madden (10, blood)
Madden for Hayes (10)
Hayes for Madden (15)
Madden for Dunphy (40)
23 Paul Crummey for Sutcliffe (56)
26 Colin Currie for Whitely (56)
17 Donnacha Ryan for Gray (61)
