-
-
Author: John McIntyre
~ 2 minutes read
Galway 4-14
Dublin 0-10
ON a formline through Offaly, it was difficult to imagine such a gulf in standard emerging between Galway and Dublin U-20 hurlers at O’Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday.
Dublin had been slightly unlucky in falling to a one-point defeat against Offaly in the opening round, while Galway needed a late scoring flurry to force a draw in their encounter with the reigning Leinster champions.
When you throw in that the Dubs had edged out Galway in this same competition in Birr 12 months ago, the stage looked set for a tight encounter. Instead, we got something of a mismatch as Fergal Healy’s charges cantered to a 16-point victory.
Galway stepped forward significantly from their clash with Offaly at the same venue a week previously and, once again, they had to contend with a swirling wind which naturally impacted on the quality of action.
If you take Aaron Niland out of the equation, this is not a flashy Galway team, but they are a hard-working outfit, characterised by the likes of the towering Oisín Lohan and half-forward Michael Power, together with midfielder Matthew Tarpey.
That asset will stand to them deeper in the championship – the scale of this win has secured them direct passage to the provincial semi-finals, even if it’s not ideal that the game will be a month away from this fixture.
Little did we realise that Dublin’s best spell would be in the opening seven minutes when they trailed Galway by 0-4 to 0-3 despite facing the strong wind. Using Liam Garrigan as a sweeper, they were moving the ball neatly through the lines, with full-forward David Purcell and midfielder Jamie Conroy swinging over quality points.
Two of Galway’s opening four points came from the strong-starting Diarmuid Davoren, with Niland adding a classy score from play to his second minute long-range free. So far, expectations of a tight affair were being met.
In the eighth minute, however, Niland threw a big spanner in the Dublin works by catching them off-guard when his low effort from a 20m free found the net. Niland did this a lot in his minor days: taking on the hard option with no shortage of success.
Pictured: Galway’s Oisín Lohan comes under pressure from Dublin defender Cathal Kennedy during Saturday’s Leinster U-20 hurling championship clash in Tullamore. Photo: Paul Dargan.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune:
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
More like this:
Tanaiste pledges to raise potential Minor Injuries Unit at Merlin Park with Health Minister
Tanaiste Micheal Martin has pledged to raise the lack of a Minor Injuries Unit in Galway with Hea...
Dublin event to discuss crafting connections between Galway and Dublin
Galway Chamber is to partner with Galway Convention Bureau to host a discussion event in Dublin l...
Local councillor concerned expected Ash Dieback funding won’t include roadside ash
Loughrea area councillor Geraldine Donohue says she is ‘cautiously optimistic’ over f...
Poor take-up in County Galway for national business support grant
Only twenty nine per cent of businesses in County Galway have signed up so far for a once-off gra...
Oughterard Post Office potentially facing closure later this year
Oughterard’s Post Office is potentially facing closure later this year. The building is set...
Former Esker Monastery and lands at Athenry on the market
In February 2022 the Redemptorist Order announced the closure of its Monastery at Esker, near Ath...
Hail and thunderstorms warning issued for Galway this afternoon
Met Eireann has issued a hail showers warning for Galway this afternoon. It’s anticipating ...
University of Galway Students’ Union raises record amount for charities
University of Galway’s Students’ Union has raised its highest-ever figure in a single year for it...
Daughter’s Connemarathon run raises €25,000 and counting in support of hospital units
An Irish dancing teacher who ran the Connemarathon for the first time has raised €25,000 to buy e...