Galway 2-28
Dublin 1-17
Kevin O’Brien reports from O’Connor Park, Tullamore
ON THIS FORM, Galway look full value for their billing as the top dogs in the country.
There’s a long way to go before silverware is handed out in September, but Michael Donoghue’s side gave an assured display that backed up their league victory last month.
The manner of their victory wasn’t quite as pronounced as the win over Tipperary but Galway easily accounted for the Dublin challenge this afternoon.
Michael Donoghue’s side confidently booked a Leinster semi-final showdown against Offaly on 18 June.
Dublin finished with 14 men after losing Cian O’Callaghan to a second yellow card in the 40th minute. The Metropolitans trailed by three points at half-time, but three quick fire Galway scores after the break and O’Callaghan’s dismissal – the second yellow for a trip appeared harsh – put an end to their hopes.
Galway turned up the intensity a couple of notches after the break and their forwards forced turnover after turnover.
For the second game in succession, all six of Galway’s starting forwards scored from play.
There were impressive performances everywhere you looked.
Conor Cooney announced his return to the Tribe attack in style with a tally of 1-3, but Conor Whelan (0-5) and Jason Flynn (1-2) were also in electric form for the winners.
Joe Canning looked sharp, pulled the strings from centre-forward and finished with nine points, including five from play. David Burke had a license to break forward from midfield and scored 0-3, while winning a number of scoreable frees.
Galway’s plan of attack was to arrow crossfield ball into either corner. When the right ball goes into this full-forward line with its smart movement and ball-winning ability, there’s only going to be one outcome.
Named at 14, Dublin’s Niall McMorrow played as a fourth half-forward and Paul Killeen followed him out to the middle third. It left a ton of space in the Dublin full-forward line but they couldn’t find the inside forwards with enough quality deliveries.
Killeen left the fray with a serious-looking knee injury in the 25th minute, but otherwise it was all positive from a Galway perspective.
Dublin found themselves in front by 0-5 to 0-4 after the opening quarter, before Galway eventually came to life.
The ball-winning ability of the Tribe’s forward unit was obvious as Conor Cooney, Joseph Cooney and Cathal Mannion all reeled off scores in the midway point of the first half.
On 28 minutes Jason Flynn turned the sliotar home after Joseph Cooney’s initial shot was saved by Conor Dooley. Dublin were in danger of fading out of the game but a late goal from Ben Quinn, set-up by a wonderful Donal Burke pass, left them three behind at the interval.
Eight minutes after half-time, Dublin’s goose was cooked. Five unanswered Galway points sandwiched O’Callaghan’s red card and Ger Cunningham’s young side wilted from that point.
Canning popped over the numerous frees that came his way and broke a long delivery into the path of Cooney who rifled in a three-pointer.
Dublin’s day got worse when a back injury forced David Treacy off, and substitute Niall Burke scored two of Galway’s seven points in the final ten minutes.
Scorers for Galway: Joe Canning 0-9 (0-4f), Conor Cooney 1-3, Conor Whelan 0-5, Jason Flynn 1-2, David Burke 0-3, Niall Burke 0-2, Joseph Cooney, Cathal Mannion and Thomas Monaghan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dublin: David Treacy 0-5 (0-4f), Ben Quinn 1-0, Donal Burke 0-3 (0-2f), Eamonn Dillon, John Hetherton (0-1f), Chris Crummey 0-2 each, Shane Barrett, Rian McBride and Fergal Whitely 0-1 each.
Galway
1. Colm Callanan
2. Adrian Touhy
3. Daithi Burke
4. Paul Killeen
5. Padraig Mannion
6. Gearoid McInerney
7. Aidan Harte
8. Johnny Coen
9. David Burke
14. Cathal Mannion
11. Joe Canning
12. Joseph Cooney
13. Conor Whelan
15. Conor Cooney
10. Jason Flynn
Subs
17. John Hanbury for Killeen (25)
23. Niall Burke for Conor Cooney (56)
19. Sean Loftus for Coen (63)
24. Thomas Monaghan for Cathal Mannion (63)
22. Eanna Burke for David Burke (68)
Dublin
1. Conor Dooley
2. Cian O’Callaghan
3. Eoghan O’Donnell
4. Oisin Gough
5. Chris Crummey
6. Liam Rushe
7. Shane Barrett
9. Sean Moran
11. Niall McMorrow
10. Eoghan Conroy
8. Ben Quinn
12. David Treacy
13. Donal Burke
14. Ryan O’Dwyer
15. Eamonn Dillon
Subs
22. Rian McBride for Conroy (ht)
20. Fergal Whitely for Treacy (50)
19. Jake Malone for McMorrow (59)
25. Dotsy O’Callaghan for Burke (65)
25. John Hetherton for McMorrow (65)
Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath)
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No sour grapes but Kerry won all their league games and should be playing 1b next year. How else are tier 2 county’s to progress. Sure they would have shipped a big loss or too but it might be better than easing in to a pointless league final. Offaly should be in div 2 as a kick in the a… For failing to perform all year.
Hurling league is a joke. It’s 10 times harder to get relegated than get promoted. GAA protect the traditional counties and screw those trying to make an impact
I agree completely but it’s not offaly who should be relegated it’s aintrim, they finished bottom of div 1a with 0 points. Offaly had 3 points but lost to Antrim in stupid relegation game. Kerry were hard done by for sure.
So Offaly, who have already lost a relegation play off to Antrim and should therefore have been relegated get a second chance to stay up and Kerry who won all their games (including the div 2a FINAL) have to stay in 2a? What’s the point in having a ‘final’ if there’s no reward for winning?
How is hurling in the ‘weaker counties’ supposed to improve if they’re not given a chance? Absolute farce.
Its a joke really even Brain Whealan admitted that if fair was fair this game shouldn’t have happened and Offaly should have been relegated and Kerry promoted, However its not Offaly’s fault that this is the way the league was set-up. Hopefully Offaly can kick on from here. I’m from Offaly BTW
Offaly drew with Limerick and beat Antrim in the group so had 3 points and Antrim finished bottom with 0 points so should have been relegated.
But Antrim put out a near second team for the last day of the league against Offaly as there was nothing to play for and out their strongest team to beat them in the play off. They wouldn’t have rested players for the final league game otherwise.
There was a barrow load wrong with the way league was set up this year, first of all Antrim brought the game into disrepute by resting 14 player for the last league game against Offaly in Tullamore (Which Offaly won at a canter).
Then why was the playoff played in Ballycastle uo in the very north of Antrim even though Offaly had 3 points and Antrim finished with 0 points.
Surly the game should have been in a neutral venue.
Also if you win Division 2A as Kerry did then surly to God that team deserves to get promoted. I mean Who D Funk put this system together, my kids junior infants class would have done a better job
Offaly finished the league with 3 points Antrim with none, antrim should be gone, I fail to see the point of playoffs at all. Completely unnecessary.
Offaly deserved to remain in Div 1B – it was Antrim who failed to register a single point all year and should be in Division 2 with Kerry taking their place in 1B next year.
Offaly lost the relegation play off against Antrim so therefore they don’t deserve anything, you really are clueless just like the people who decided this second play off should have happened.
FDL is correct. Offaly new their fate was to be decided in that playoff.
There should have been no playoff finish bottom of the group you should be relegated. What’s the purpose of these playoffs?
I wonder do we get a cup!? #fishing
Opportunity missed to expand hurling counties in Ireland. But don’t worry Sky are going to bring brilliant exposure to it in the UK.