Leinster senior hurling championship semi-final

DUBLIN 1-18 GALWAY 1-14

By Paul Keane at Croke Park, Dublin

Two years on from lighting up their 2019 Leinster SHC campaign with a landmark win over Galway, Dublin repeated the feat at Croke Park to secure a first final spot since 2014.

Chris Crummey's 53rd minute goal was crucial but leaders stood up all over the field for Dublin with Alan Nolan, Conor Burke, captain Danny Sutcliffe and top scorer Donal Burke all outstanding on a memorable day.

Goalkeeper Nolan pulled off a series of saves, including two early on as Galway started by going for goals which didn't arrive.

Conor Burke excelled at midfield and was named Man of the Match while Sutcliffe scored three important second-half points when the 2013 provincial winners were turning the screw.

It was an emotional afternoon for Dublin defender James Madden too who played following the recent passing of his father, Noel.

Dublin will return to Croke Park on July 17 for the final while Galway will have the opportunity to redeem themselves in the qualifiers.

Shane O'Neill's side will rue the 14 wides they struck with six of those surprisingly coming from talisman Joe Canning.

Canning returned to the Galway team after missing their last league game with a mixture of thumb and rib injuries.

He was a key figure early on, rotating throughout the forward line and occupying three different positions in the first five minutes alone.

During that period he was involved in no less than three goal chances though failed to capitalise on any of them.

Canning went for goal with a second minute free though that was blocked, like his shot in open play soon after and it was the Portumna man that played a quick free to Conor Cooney for a fifth minute goal effort that was blocked again by Alan Nolan.

Nothing went right for Galway in the opening quarter and Canning racked up four consecutive wides in that period, three from placed balls, as Dublin hit the water break with a 0-4 to 0-1 lead.

Another trademark Gray point from long range on the left, followed by a Conor Burke score, left Dublin 0-6 to 0-1 clear after 20 minutes.

Canning ended the half with five wides though did find his range for long enough to convert three points in a row and another from Conor Whelan hauled Galway back into it.

Joseph Cooney had Galway's fourth goal attempt of the half before the break, Nolan once again coming to Dublin's rescue to leave the Sky Blues 0-8 to 0-6 ahead.

The second-half panned out upon similar lines; Dublin starting the brighter, Galway eventually gaining a foothold and the Dubs ultimately finishing on top.

Few expected that outcome beforehand though Dublin deserved it and were far more efficient when it counted.

They stretched their lead to five during the third quarter with Ronan Hayes among the scorers and opening his account for the afternoon.

Ex-All-Star Sutcliffe then struck his first and second points and Dublin led 0-13 to 0-8 with 43 minutes played.

Kenny's side were within touching distance of a memorable win when they were rocked by a Galway goal.

Whelan burst into life when he gathered up a low ball in from the left, burst beyond Paddy Smyth and struck low to the Dublin net.

That reduced Galway's deficit to just two points but they couldn't kick on from there as Dublin remained cool and calm and picked off enough points to maintain a comfortable lead.

The loss of full-back Eoghan O'Donnell with an apparent hamstring injury after 58 minutes was a real blow to Dublin but they weathered the storm and finished strongly, points from Donal Burke and Sutcliffe sealing the highly significant win.

Dublin scorers: Donal Burke 0-6 (0-4f), Chris Crummey 1-0, Daire Gray 0-2, Danny Sutcliffe 0-3, Ronan Hayes 0-2, Cian O'Sullivan 0-1, Cian Boland 0-1, Rian McBride 0-1, Conor Burke 0-1, Alan Nolan 0-1 (0-1f).

Galway scorers: Joe Canning 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1 65), Conor Whelan 1-2, Evan Niland 0-2 (0-1f), Conor Cooney 0-1, Cathal Mannion 0-1, Padraic Mannion 0-1, Aidan Harte 0-1.

DUBLIN: Alan Nolan; Cian O'Callaghan, Eoghan O'Donnell, Paddy Smyth; James Madden, Liam Rushe, Daire Gray; Rian McBride, Conor Burke; Donal Burke, Chris Crummey, Danny Sutcliffe; Cian Boland, Ronan Hayes, Cian O'Sullivan.

Subs: Mark Schutte for Boland 30-f/t (blood), Oisin O'Rorke for O'Sullivan 52, Andrew Dunphy for O'Donnell 58, Jake Malone for Madden 68, Paul Crummey for C Crummey 72, Fergal Whitely for Hayes 75.

GALWAY: Eanna Murphy; Shane Cooney, Gearoid McInerney, Darren Morrissey; Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Fintan Burke; Sean Loftus, Cathal Mannion; Conor Cooney, Joe Canning, Adrian Tuohey; Conor Whelan, Joseph Cooney, Brian Concannon.

Subs: David Burke for Tuohey 34, Evan Niland for Loftus h/t, Aidan Harte for S Cooney 56-60 (blood),TJ Brennan for F Burke 58, Harte for J Cooney 61, Niall Burke for C Cooney 67.

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)