Leinster SHC: Dublin finish with a flourish

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Dublin 3-16 Galway 0-21

By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium

Dublin leapfrogged Galway at the top of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship standings and sealed qualification for the All-Ireland series after Brian Hayes struck a sensational match-winning goal in the fifth minute of injury-time in Pearse Stadium.

Colm Molloy's equaliser looked to have earned a draw that the previously unbeaten Tribesmen needed to reach the provincial decider. But a late, late Dublin surge delivered 1-1 and secured a victory that leaves them unbeaten ahead of a final round clash with Kilkenny.

Molloy's point in the 74th minute was one of only two scored by Galway in the closing 19 minutes of action as Dublin, who hit 2-4 during the same spell, finished with a flourish with a point from All-Star Cian O'Sullivan following Hayes' goal in a thrilling finale.

Chief score getter Dónal Burke led the way for Dublin with 1-9 and their defence was magnificent up against a Galway attack missing the injured Rory Burke. The impact of subs John Hetherton and Ronan Hayes, who struck 1-2, on their inside line was also instrumental for Niall Ó Ceallacháin's side in the match-defining moments.

Five Aaron Niland points and two from Padraic Mannion helped Galway into a 0-11 to 1-5 lead at the end of a low-key opening 35 minutes. The standout statistic was the dozen wides they accumulated along the way - Galway finished with 17 to Dublin's three - and led to an inadequate return while playing with the elements.

Conal Ó Riain sent over two from play at the opposite end, while the remainder of Dublin's tally came courtesy of Dónal Burke placed balls with his goal coming from a 13th minute 65 that finished in the net off Daithí Burke's stick.

The third quarter brought much-improved fare and Galway maintained an edge with scores from Tom Monaghan, sub Darragh Neary, Jason Rabbitte and Cathal Mannion, who took over the place ball duties from the injured Aaron Niland, helping them to a 0-19 to 1-12 lead on 56 minutes.

Though Conor Burke and Conor Donohue struck wind-assisted points, Dublin relied mainly on Dónal Burke for scores until the introduction of Ronan Hayes and John Hetherton to their inside line turned the game.

Hayes' goal, from a Hetherton assist, levelled matters at 2-13 to 0-19 on the hour mark while the former's second point was followed by a Dónal Burke 65 to leave two between the sides late on.

Cathal Mannion halved the deficit and when Colm Molloy levelled in the 74th minute, Galway looked to have rescued a draw. But there would be a late twist in the seconds that remained.

Eddie Gibbons launched a booming puckout towards Hetherton, Ronan Hayes collected the break and Brian Hayes was soon racing clear to net Dublin's match-winning third goal in the fifth added minute.

O'Sullivan's last-gasp point would cap a huge result for Dublin and also hand Galway their first defeat on the championship.

Scorers for Dublin: Dónal Burke 1-9 (1-1 65s, 7f); Ronan Hayes 1-2, Brian Hayes 1-0, Conal Ó Riain 0-2; Cian O'Sullivan, Conor Donohue and Conor Burke 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Aaron Niland 0-5 (4f); Cathal Mannion (3f, 165) 0-4; Tom Monaghan 0-3; Padraic Mannion, Conor Whelan and Darragh Neary 0-2 each; Cian Daniels, Jason Rabbitte and Colm Molloy 0-1 each.

Dublin: Eddie Gibbons; Conor McHugh, Paddy Smyth, Paddy Doyle; Chris Crummey (captain), Liam Rushe, Conor Burke; Conor Groarke, Brian Hayes; Conor Donohoe, Fergal Whitely, Dónal Burke; Conal Ó Riain, David Purcell, Cian O'Sullivan.

Subs: John Hetherton for Groarke (51), Ronan Hayes for Purcell (55).

Galway: Darach Fahy; Ronan Glennon, Cillian Trayers, Darren Morrissey (captain); Padraic Mannion, Daithí Burke, Gavin Lee; Cian Daniels, Tiernan Killeen; John Fleming, Cathal Mannion, Aaron Niland; Jason Rabbitte, Conor Whelan, Tom Monaghan.

Subs: Darragh Neary for Niland (39), Joshua Ryan for Trayers (63), Colm Molloy for Fleming (65), Cianan Fahy for Daniels (67), Oisín Lohan for Killeen (70+4).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).