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Dublin crowned BGE Leinster U-20 hurling champions

Donal Leavy of Dublin celebrates after his side's victory in the 2020 Bord Gáis Energy Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship Final match between Dublin and Galway at Bord na Móna O'Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. 

Donal Leavy of Dublin celebrates after his side's victory in the 2020 Bord Gáis Energy Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship Final match between Dublin and Galway at Bord na Móna O'Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. 

Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U-20 Hurling Final

DUBLIN 1-20 GALWAY 1-18

By John Fallon

Dublin captured the 2020 Bord Gáis Leinster U-20 final when they finished strongly to claim the crown after an exciting clash at Bord na Mona O’Connor Park in Tullamore.

They will now go on to meet Cork in the All-Ireland final and will be boosted by the manner of this victory when they picked off some excellent points.

The sides were level three times in the opening half but Dublin went in leading by 1-11 to 1-9 at the break.

Galway did a lot of the early running and led by 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes but then Dara Purcell pointed for Dublin before midfielder Mark Sweeney soloed through and drilled the ball low into the net for an excellent goal.

Mark Kennedy, who scored 0-4 from play in the opening quarter, responded for Galway and he also replied when Micheal Murphy pointed for Dublin and Liam Murphy hit two frees leave it 1-4 to 0-6 at the first water break.

Another free from Murphy and one from the left wing by Lee Gannon pushed Dublin 1-6 to 0-6 in front but then a cross from the right from Donal O’Shea was collected by John Cooney and he batted to the net after executing a sidestep which reminiscent of his father Joe, the former All Star, to tie the sides after 20 minutes.

The sides continued to trade points but Dublin, having played with the breeze, edged two in front at half-time after another free from Murphy and one from distance from goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons.

Galway started the second-half with three quick points before Dara McBride equalised, and then Dublin’s Micheal Murphy and Ian McGlynn exchanged points.

Galway led by 1-15 to 1-13 at the second water break after two more pointed frees from O’Shea but the superb Lee Gannon landed two in a row and then after another O’Shea free, Dara Purcell struck for two more points.

Kennedy’s sixth point for Galway narrowed the gap to one but two more frees from Murphy kept Dublin in control and he maintained their two points advantage after Fionn McDonagh responded for Galway and they held on for victory after a shot for a goal in the dying moments from Sean McDonagh went the wrong side of the right post.

Scorers for Dublin: Liam Murphy 0-7 (0-7f), Dara Purcell 0-4, Lee Gannon 0-4, Mark Sweeney 1-0, Micheal Murphy 0-2, Darach McBride 0-2, Eddie Gibbons 0-1 (f).

Scorers for Galway: Donal O’Shea 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1’65), Mark Kennedy 0-6, John Cooney 1-0, Dylan Shaughnessy 0-1, Ian McGlynn 0-1, John Fleming 0-1, Fionn McDonagh 0-1.

DUBLIN: Eddie Gibbons; Tommy Kinnane, Andrew Dunphy, Alan Murphy; Enda O’Donnell, Kevin Burke, Iain Ó Heither; Mark Sweeney, Darragh Power; Darach McBride, Michael Murphy, Lee Gannon; Dara Purcell, Kevin Desmond, Liam Murphy. Substitutes: Michael Conroy for Kinnane (33), Donal Leavy for O Heither (45), Luke McDwyer for O’Donnell (50), Ciaran Foley for Desmond (52), Billy Ryan for Power (60+4).

GALWAY: Darach Fahy; Eoin Lawless, TJ Brennan, Jason O’Donoghue; Diarmuid Kilcommins, Conor Flaherty, Dylan Shaughnessy; Adam Brett, Ian McGlynn; Conor Walsh, Mark Kennedy, Sean Neary; John Cooney, John Fleming, Donal O’Shea. Substitutes: Fionn McDonagh for Brett (40), Sean McDonagh for Cooney (48), Oisin Salmon for O’Donoghue (58),

Referee: David Hughes (Kilkenny).