It may be chilly for the June bank holiday weekend, but this is summer hurling. Where else would you be?
Throw in is 2pm in Drumcondra and we’re going strike for strike all afternoon. Get in contact in the usual ways – email adrian@the42.ie or comment below.
We have GAA editor Fintan O’Toole at Croker as always so he’ll have plenty of reaction and analysis throughout. For those of you at home, the RTÉ broadcast begins at 1.30pm.
Eoin Kelly is on Newstalk ahead of throw-in and the Tipperary great doesn’t ‘expect much to be in this’. How do you see it going?
This is the Galway team as selected by Anthony Cunningham yesterday:
1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)
2. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)
3. John Hanbury (Rahoon-Newcastle)
4. Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
5. David Collins (Liam Mellowes)
6. Iarla Tannian (Ardrahan)
7. Gearoid McInerney (Oranmore-Maree)
8. Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields)
9. Aidan Harte (Gort)
10. Andrew Smith (Portumna)
11. Cyril Donnellan (Padraig Pearses)
12. Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)
13. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
14. Joe Canning (Portumna)
15. Jason Flynn (Tommie Larkins)
And the Dublin XV:
1. Alan Nolan (St Brigid’s)
2. Cian O’Callaghan (Cuala)
3. Peter Kelly (Lucan Sarsfields)
4. Paul Schutte (Cuala)
5. Shane Durkin (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
6. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields)
7. Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
8. John McCaffrey (Lucan Sarsfields)
9. Simon Lambert (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
10. Ryan O’Dwyer (Kilmacud Crokes)
11. Liam Rushe (St Pat’s, Palmerstown)
12. Danny Sutcliffe (St Jude’s)
13. David O’Callaghan (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
14. David Treacy (Cuala)
15. Mark Schutte (Cuala)
Are Dublin hurlers about to unleash a huge attacking star this summer? Jackie Cahill reckons Mark Schutte may be about to make a real impression this summer.
Here’s the Dublin subs:
16. Gary Maguire (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
17. Niall Corcoran (Kilmacud Crokes)
18. Michael Carton (O’Tooles)
19. Shane Barrett (Na Fianna)
20. Darragh O’Connell (Cuala)
21. Colm Cronin (Cuala)
22. Daire Plunkett (St Brigid’s)
23. Cian Boland (St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh)
24. Paul Ryan (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
25. Conor Dooley (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
26. Oisin O’Rorke (Kilmacud Crokes)
And here’s the Galway subs:
16. James Skehill (Cappataggle)
17. Fergal Moore (Turloughmore)
18. Paul Killeen (Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry)
19. Ronan Burke (Turloughmore)
20. Greg Lally (Gort)
21. Padraig Brehony (Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry)
22. Brian Molloy (Kilnadeema-Leitrim)
23. Niall Healy (Craughwell)
24. Davy Glennon (Mullagh)
25. Shane Maloney (Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry)
26. David Burke (St Thomas)
Ger Loughnane is up and running, ladies and gentlemen:
“The secret to negotiating yourself through any jungle is to find the right path. Winning is the right path. Your’re guaranteed to be playing in two months’ time.”
He’s now about wolves and packs as Eddie Brennan looks on.
Anthony Cunningham sounds like he and his Galway charges mean business this afternoon.
It’ll be some challenge but this is why we play and we’ve prepared well, is the crux of his chat with Clare McNamara.
Eddie’s gone for the ‘Rory McIlroy at Old Trafford’ look today.
Former Dublin hurler Shane Ryan is being interviewed pitchside on RTÉ and he’s just coined the term ‘scoreability’.
Marty’s ready to go with Donal O’Grady:
There’s not too many more in Croker at present, in truth.
We’ve an interested spectator in the Hogan Stand:
Galway 0-1 Dublin 0-0 Cyril Donnelan opens the scoring for the westerners before Colm Cronin puts it wide for Dublin.
Cyril Donnellan had a few bites at trying to raise a green flag but Alan Nolan and the Dublin defence managed to hold firm under intense pressure. Joe Canning is on the 40 and marked by Conal Keaney at the moment, incidentally.
David Treacy looked like he might get Dublin on the scoreboard but his good effort from the left into the Davin was just wide.
Galway 0-5 Dublin 0-2 Andy Smith was on the end of a move he started with an interception. He tapped it over when Donal O’Grady complains he could have passed inside to Canning.
Galway 0-6 Dublin 0-3 David Treacy and Aidan Harte exchange points. The Gort man’s on-the-run effort was the pick.
Galway 1-06 Dublin 0-5 Cooney bore down on goal with the ball on his hurley and gave Nolan no chance. Galway have been impressive so far. Dublin respond with two quick points though.
Galway 1-6 Dublin 0-7 ‘Mark Schutte is asking real questions of the Galway defence’ says Marty, as he tacks on another point. As I type, Liam Rushe opens his account.
Galway have hitthe snooze button since that goal.
Galway 1-7 Dublin 0-7 Joe Canning brings it back to a three-point game with a converted free. Galway’s keeper Callinan makes a great diving save from Colm Cronin.
Alan Nolan gets Peter Kelly out of a hole after he gives the ball away cheaply in the corner. The Dublin netminder makes a good save subsequently.
Galway 1-7 Dublin 0-9 A pop pass sees Donal O’Grady talk about rugby’s offload after Dotsy O’Callaghan nails his second score of the day.
Galway 1-7 Dublin 0-10 Johnny Coen picks up a yellow which is something he’ll have to consider now when he’s chasing after Mark Schutte for the rest of the afternoon.
David Treacy makes no mistake with the free.
What a let off! Peter Kelly gets pickpocketed by Joe Canning in front of the goal but the Portumna man lashes it wide.
Dublin 0-11 Galway 1-8 Mark Schutte is running rampant and Anthony Cunnigham will have to do something soon. Cathal Mannion adds his second point, as I type.
We’re in first half garbage time and it’s level.
Half-time - Galway 1-9 Dublin 0-11 Galway go in a point ahead thanks to a late Jason Flynn score. What did you make of that (Joe Brolly)?
Fintan O’Toole here in Croke Park. Interesting first-half, Galway ahead by a point but Dublin must be satisfied considering their poor start to the game. Biggest source of optimism for Dublin is Mark Schutte, he’s giving Johnny Coen a torrid afternoon and that match-up looks like it needs to change. Dublin’s rearguard look anxious. Galway hit one goal and could have had three.
Dublin 0-12 Galway 1-9 Mark Schutte draws Dublin level with a great score form the left. He flicked the ball out of traffic and then lofted it over.
Dublin 0-13 Galway 1-9 David Treacy edges the Dubs in front with another free in front of the posts.
Dublin 0-14 Galway 1-9 Danny Sutcliffe collects a sideline ball in and around the box. He’s forced away from goal but doesn’t panic and manages to get the ball over the bar.
Dublin 0-14 Galway 1-10 Joe Canning had a free in front of the posts. With six men on the line he tapped it over.
Dublin 0-15 Galway 1-10 As the rain buckets down David Treacy adds to his tally for the day.
Dublin 0-15 Galway 1-11 Cathal Mannion has showed some great stuff today. He got a head of steam and headed goalwards there before taking his point.
Dublin 0-16 Galway 1-11 David Treacy has been unerring in his accuracy today. He’s stretched Dublin’s lead to two points with a 65.
It’s been nip and tuck for a few minutes with both sides working hard but no score for some time. Plenty of hooking though.
Dublin 0-17 Galway 0-12 The westerners had a few opportunities to score but instead that intense passage of play results in David Treacy again standing over a free. He knocks over his ninth point of the day.
Joe Canning then does similarly moments later.
Dublin 0-17 Galway 1-13 Joe Canning nails his fifth point of the day and he looks to be getting hot, as they say in the NBA.
Dublin 0-18 Galway 1-13 David Treacy brings his tally to double figures and it’s a beauty from play.
Dublin 0-18 Galway 1-14 Jason Flynn points but he looked to be going for the goal. With a shortened grip he charged at Alan Nolan’s goal but couldn’t find the net.
Dublin 0-18 Galway 1-15 It’s a draw game with 11 minutes or so to go. Cyril Donnellan with the score.
Dublin 0-19 Galway 1-16 We’re level again thanks to Joe Canning’s sixth point, a free. The replay will be next Saturday if needs be, adds Marty Morrissey.
Dublin 0-20 Galway 1-16 Liam Rushe on the run off his left and no mistake. We’re goign to have a big finish here.
Dublin 0-20 Galway 1-17 An equaliser! Aidan Harte gets it done after David Treacy misses a free. Seconds left.
Free for Dublin as Cyril Donnellan fouls an under-pressure Michael Carton. Alan Nolan will launch this and Galway must keep discipline.
“That Leinster failed to score a try and only twice came within obvious striking distance – through Jamie Heaslip in the first half and Zane Kirchner in the second – might be cause for concern, but O’Connor felt that was simply the nature of this game.”
Yep. That’s been the nature of a lot of Leinster games this season.
Such a contrast to the quarter final against Cardiff 3 years ago when leinster carved them apart with their backplay. Yesterday they looked so toothless and lateral in attack. O’Connor really is destroying Leinster.
Can joe take charge of leinster for 1 game?
Maybe 2?
Delusional I’m afraid. No expectation for semi if it’s against Toulon.If Joe Schmidt was leading them i’d give us a good chance.
I’m sick of reading Leinster fans moaning about MOC. The guy won the league last year, got to a Heineken QF and now this year the champions cup semis. As BOD said on TV yesterday. “He’s doing allright”. You guys are, to quote John Inverdale, lookin at Joe Schmidt era through rose c*n+ed glasses. In case you missed the six nations, Ireland under Joe didn’t play a whole lot of champagne rugby and not many complained. Leinster yesterday were more entertaining than Ireland v France. Also if you take the likes of Sexton, BOD, Necewa, Darcy, Elsom, Leo, Shaggy, Thorn and for most of season, SOB and Healey out of any squad they will struggle to maintain same levels. This Leinster squad is nowhere near as good as Heineken winners but they are doing allright. Leinster fans need to get real and enjoy where they are. Other fans only dream of winning leagues and Euro semis
Just like Munster under McGahan, Leinster’s problem is how they are doing the basics, not the flash stuff:
> Slow line speed in defence and gaps in close;
> Slow kick chase (& poor organisation)
> Passive defensive rucking
> Limited options in attack (making them easier to defend against)
> Ineffective kicking
Leinster made the breakthrough with high intensity rugby (and not champagne rugby). The minute before half time they showed how effective they could be in defence if they took this approach.
I would prefer to see Kurt McQuilkin back in the set up than Joe S, as Joe is doing quite a good job for Ireland.
There are lots of Irish coaches who could improve Leinster (Bradley would be my preference). But I think Shaun Edwards would probably make the quickest improvement.
Alan.
We may have lost a few of our talismen in the past couple of years, but there is a genuine gripe to be had. We could accept a dip in performance, but we’ve all seen how well THESE players are capable of playing. They set their own standards which we came to expect, now they’ve dropped them under MOC and seem to be just making excuses for him. Joe’s régime was built on honesty, and now there’s a lack of honesty which the supporters find distasteful.
You guys do understand that you are in a semi final right?
It’s remarkable that some fans will only be happy when their team reached their unrealistic expectations
Leinster are not as strong as a couple of seasons ago but c’est la vie its the way of things
It’s your only
job as a supporter to support them.
Then again
I’ve been a connacht supporter for the last few years so maybe I have a different perspective…
Don’t get leinster fans wrong we’re delighted to be in the semi’s but you can’t deny were lucky to be here, arguably the easiest pool and we scraped through it scoring the least amount of tries of any of the quarter finalists, we’ve lost players such as sexton, BOD, isa etc. so obviously we aren’t going to be as good as we were a few seasons ago but we still expect better than what we’re seeing, yes we’re in a semi final but there’s also a very realistic chance we won’t get into the playoffs of the rabo which simply isn’t good enough.
Reg would you accept if Conaught finished bottom of the pro 12 or would you not expect to get better year on year.
I will not accept Leinster playing poorly with no plan for the future and a seriously lack of any attacking ability in the backline.
For all the huha regarding Luke coming back we still can’t score a try with our Backline.
Mark as you said we have lost seriously great players over the past few seasons but is it not the coaches job to one plan for continuity and replace from outside if he needs to.
MOC had spent a vast amount of money replacing those players.
We signed a current aus secondrow
A current springbok to replace Isa
and a top rugby league player to play 13 not to mention The vast amount spent on a temporary deal for a winger who hardly played a game for us.
None of these players can be considered a success do far but who’s fault is that? Personally I believe it’s the coach Job to get the best from his team.
We have the best academy by a long way in our league if not Europe ( if you consider the schools system that feeds it).
He has not done his job simple as that.
Did Sean o’brien carry any ball today? If he did he didn’t do enough and that appears to be tactical….
Good win, but baths mistakes helped and a hiding awaits in the semi if the performance is similar
Sometimes he can have equal use my having 2 players mark him in defence. Plus he did an awful lot of heavy clearing out today at ruck time.
The face on Heaslip in the top picture…bemused looking to say the least.
What was the plan in the second half? Kick the ball away aimlessly and hope the opposition aren’t good enough to make you pay?
I fear it would take something like Toulon getting an early red card for Leinster to have a realistic chance in the semi
Funny enough john that was the tactic the last time we faced them, everytime we got the ball we kicked it away.
I would argue that Leinster will have a good chance because we are in a semi final with nothing to lose and with our backs to the wall. Sort of like Ireland vs All Blacks. We have a few weeks to learn from our mistakes against Bath also. Tighten up defence etc.
Here’s for hoping… We can beat Toulon, but not on the back of today’s performance. No penetration & purpose in attack. Thankfully we’ve Madigans boot.
Toulon are favourites, Leinster have to eliminate f*uckups to have a chance
Great win, as all wins at this stage of a major competition usually are, how you do it becomes incidental the win is the only answer.
All points from scrum penalties.it’s a step in the right direction albeit a small one
I think part of the problem lies with the headline. If our coach thinks that we did a “pretty good job” then we are in trouble. We played against a really poor pack at home with a big crowd in support and were hanging on at the end. We should have put 20 points on them and anything less was an underperformance.
You can’t expect to win with the old men at half back.
There’s no reason whatsoever to play Gopperth as madigan takes all the kicks from hand and tee and we could shore up our midfield with darcy at 12.
We need someone somewhere on the pitch that can defend.
We’re are the try’s gone that was such apart of Leinster game ? Same players different coach . Let’s hope they bring back their attacking game for the semi , well done on result today guys