Conor Whelan of Galway in action against Dónal Burke of Dublin during the 2024 Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B match between Galway v Dublin at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B
GALWAY 1-23 DUBLIN 1-15
By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium
The expert finishing of St. Thomas' All-Ireland winning captain Conor Cooney proved telling as 12-man Galway struck 10 unanswered points to turn a slender third quarter deficit into a decisive victory over Dublin this afternoon.
Victory rubberstamped the home side's place in next year's top tier and sets up a de facto Division 1 quarter-final for Henry Shefflin's side when they welcome an already qualified Limerick to Salthill on Saturday lunchtime.
It arrived at a cost, however, as current and former captains, Conor Whelan and Daithí Burke, both received straight red cards late on and followed Jack Grealish who was sent off by referee Johnny Murphy on a double yellow in the 45th minute.
Dublin also finished without a full complement of players after Ronan Hayes' second booking, and the result severely dented their hopes of playing in the top division in 2025.
The visitors fell by double-digit margins to both Tipperary and Limerick but were well positioned after a post half-time surge left them 1-14 to 1-13 in front by the 50th minute.
However, they failed to trouble the score keepers again until deep in injury-time as David Burke equalised and set in train a 10-point purple patch for Galway. The leadership and accuracy of Conor Cooney was central to it on a day that brought him 11 points.
Tom Monaghan picked off four points in an industrious display at centre half-forward for the winners, while Joseph Cooney scored three in his first appearance of the campaign.
Dublin, meanwhile, leaned heavily on chief score getter Dónal Burke whose haul of 1-9 included a first half penalty, six frees and two 65s. Cian O'Sullivan, who helped himself to three points, was the only other forward to make inroads on the scoreboard for Micheál Donoghue's side.
Conor Cooney was the architect of Galway's goal, setting up Whelan to net in the 16th minute and create a 1-5 to 0-4 lead. Dublin's chances received a major shot in the arm when Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing was taken to ground under a Fintan Burke challenge four minutes later, a decision that earned Dublin a penalty and the Galway full-back ten minutes in the sin-bin for denying a goal scoring opportunity.
Dónal Burke duly dispatched to the net but with Monaghan and the Cooneys finding the target, Galway went in 1-10 to 1-8 ahead despite playing into the wind. The third quarter proved Dublin's best as Burke punished the hosts from frees and 65s and they edged ahead on three separate occasions.
Galway found an answer each time and produced a dominant final quarter that saw Conor Cooney convert from a variety of angles and distances. Brian Concannon and Cathal Mannion both made their returns from injury as a winning position rarely looked in danger despite Whelan and Daithí Burke following Grealish on red cards.
Scorers for Galway: Conor Cooney 0-11 (10f), Tom Monaghan 0-4, Joseph Cooney 0-3, Conor Whelan 1-0, Gavin Lee 0-2, David Burke, Cianan Fahy and Cathal Mannion 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dublin: Dónal Burke 1-9 (1-0 pen, 0-6f, 0-2 65s), Cian O’Sullivan 0-3, Conor Donohoe, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing and Ronan Hayes 0-1 each.
GALWAY: Darach Fahy; Jack Grealish, Fintan Burke, Padraic Mannion; Adrian Touhey, Cianan Fahy, Daithí Burke; David Burke, Seán Linnane; Gavin Lee, Tom Monaghan, Joseph Cooney; Conor Cooney, Conor Whelan, Jason Flynn. Subs: Brian Concannon for Flynn (44), Cathal Mannion for Lee (56), Ronan Glennon for David Burke (60), Evan Niland for Joseph Cooney (64), Donal O'Shea for Linnane (69).
DUBLIN: Eddie Gibbons; James Madden, Paddy Smyth, Daire Gray; Conor Burke, Chris Crummey, Conor Donohoe; Darragh Power, Brian Hayes; Seán Currie, Ronan Hayes, Dónal Burke; Danny Sutcliffe, Cian O'Sullivan, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing. Subs: Mark Grogan for Gray (24), Fergal Whitely for Sutcliffe (49), Dara Purcell for Ó Dúlaing (56), Paul Crummey for Currie (63), Seán Gallagher for Power (69).
Ref: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).