Dublin show spirit, but late Brian Callanan strike seals victory for Galway minor hurlers
Leinster MHC: Galway 2-16 Dublin 1-14
Late goal: Brian Callanan of Galway proved pivotal. Photo: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
A late Brian Callanan goal proved telling as Galway held off a spirited Dublin by five points in their Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship Tier 1 Round 2 encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.
There was very little to separate the teams in a cagey first half that saw Dublin control matters for the large part, despite falling behind to an early point from Eoghan Mulleady.
Scores by Cathal Barrett, Conor Quinn and Darragh Kilduff were just reward for the home side but Galway remained in touch through a brace of frees from Cillian Roche.
A fine Fionn Daly point and a Rory Flannery ‘65’ saw Dublin move two points clear early in the second quarter with Ronan Cahalan replying with a smart score at the opposite end for Galway.
The hosts were undermined by some errant shooting at times as they racked up nine first-half wides but still managed to build a three-point lead by the 27th minute through scores from Cathal O’Flynn and Tom Higgins.
However, some defensive uncertainly was punished two minutes later as Ciarán Leen pounced for the game’s opening goal, leaving the teams deadlocked at 0-8 to 1-5 by the interval.
Despite Flannery edging Dublin back in front in the 34th minute, Galway were beginning to find more space in attack and they duly overtook their opponents in scant time through scores by Leen, Callanan and Roche.
The hosts were handed a lifeline when Flannery converted a 52nd-minute penalty following a foul on Kilduff but Callanan was on hand to poke home in added time to ensure Galway bounced back well from their heavy loss to Kilkenny a week previously.
Scorers – Galway: B Callanan 1-4 (0-2f), C Leen 1-2, C Roche 0-3 (3f), E McGlynn, J Ryan 0-2 each, J Donnellan, E Mulleady, R Cahalan 0-1 apiece. Dublin: R Flannery 1-4 (1-0pen, 0-2f, 0-1 ’65), D Kilduff 0-3, C Quinn, C O’Flynn, F Daly, T Higgins, J Norris, C Barrett, E Brennan 0-1 apiece.
Galway: S Kelly; C Maloney, D Burke, G Maher; B Fox, J Donnellan, R O’Connor; E Mulleady, S Moran; C Leen, R Murphy, E McGlynn; B Callanan, R Cahalan, C Roche. Subs: J Ryan for Cahalan (43), J Shaughnessy for Roche (45), S Keane for McGlynn (55), R Burke for O’Connor (59).
Dublin: P Ryan; C Fitzgerald, S Dunphy, R Duffy; C Quinn, C O’Flynn, T Cullen; F Codd, F Daly; T Higgins, J Norris, R Flannery; A Ryan, C Barrett, D Kilduff. Subs: C O’Sullivan for Ryan (37), E Brennan for Daly (40).
Referee: Ciarán Flynn (Meath).
