Seán Currie, Dublin, and Daithí Burke, Galway, in Leinster SHC action. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Dublin 2-27 Galway 1-24
By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium
Chris Crummey and Dónal Burke were the stars of the show as Dublin qualified for their first Leinster final since 2021 and sent 14-man Galway crashing out of the Championship.
The Tribesmen were in 'must win' territory coming to Salthill, but finish the round-robin in fourth position, below Wexford by virtue of their head-to-head result with the Slaneysiders in Round Three.
2017 All-Ireland winning captain David Burke's 18th minute dismissal was a key moment in the game. Backed by a stiff wind blowing from the Árus Bóthar na Trá end, Galway had absorbed the concession of an opening minute Seán Currie goal to move 0-9 to 1-2 in front when it arrived.
Down a man, they were unable to kick on and Dublin struck for their second three-pointer, Burke drilling low to the net in the 32nd minute following great work by Paddy Doyle and Dara Purcell.
Evan Niland struck five points, Conor Cooney three, and Joseph Cooney and Cianan Fahy two apiece in establishing Galway's 0-19 to 2-11 lead after an incident-packed opening half.
With Crummey and Ronan Hayes sending over quickfire Dublin points and Dara Purcell adding another, Micheál Donoghue's side hit the front for only the second time in the 39th minute.
Burke was in imperious form on his way to a personal haul of 1-10 and the winners stretched 2-19 to 0-21 clear by the three-quarter mark with Danny Sutcliffe and the influential Darragh Power also hitting wind-assisted scores.
Scores from play dried up for Galway and they relied heavily on Niland placed balls until they received a lifeline when sub Declan McLoughlin fired to the net in the 62nd minute to leave three in it. Henry Shefflin also introduced Cathal Mannion and Johnny Glynn, though the latter was forced off through injury only four minutes later.
On a day when a remarkable 27 different players scored, Dublin refused to be shaken and closed out a memorable win with defenders Paddy Smyth and Conor Donohue were among the late scorers as they advanced to a provincial decider with Kilkenny.
Scorers for Dublin: Dónal Burke 1-10 (3fs, 2 65s), Chris Crummey 0-4, Darragh Power 0-3, Seán Currie 1-0, Fergal Whiteley, Conor Burke, Brian Hayes, John Bellew, Ronan Hayes, Dara Purcell, Danny Sutcliffe, Paddy Smyth, Conor Donohue and Colin Currie 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: Evan Niland 0-8 (5fs, 1 65), Conor Cooney 0-3, Declan McLoughlin 1-0, Joseph Cooney, Tom Monaghan and Cianan Fahy 0-2 each, Gavin Lee, Seán Linnane, Jason Flynn, David Burke, Conor Whelan, Padraic Mannion and Adrian Tuohey 0-1 each.
Dublin: Seán Brennan; John Bellew, Eoghan O'Donnell, Paddy Smyth (captain); Chris Crummey, Conor Donohoe, Paddy Doyle; Brian Hayes, Conor Burke; Danny Sutcliffe, Donal Burke, Sean Currie; Fergal Whitley, Dara Purcell, Ronan Hayes.
Subs: Colin Currie for Whitely temporary (18-20), Darragh Power for Whitely (47), Colin Currie for Purcell (57), Mark Grogan for Ronan Hayes (68), Liam Murphy for Brian Hayes (70+3).
Galway: Darach Fahy; Jack Grealish, Daithí Burke, Fintan Burke; Adrian Tuohey, Padraic Mannion, Cianan Fahy; Seán Linnane, David Burke; Joseph Cooney, Conor Whelan (captain), Gavin Lee; Jason Flynn, Conor Cooney, Evan Niland.
Subs: Jonathan Glynn for Flynn (44), Cathal Mannion for Linnane (44), Tom Monaghan for Glynn inj (49), Declan McLoughlin for Joseph Cooney (60), Ronan Glennon for Cianan Fahy (67).
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).
