oneills.com Leinster U-20 Hurling Championship

Dublin 1-19 Galway 1-17

Wexford 2-17 Kilkenny 0-20

Westmeath 2-14 Antrim 3-8

By Paul Keane

It's early days yet in the oneills.com Leinster U-20 hurling championship but Dublin have placed themselves in a strong position after a dramatic opening day win over Galway.

Trailing by nine points at one stage late in the first-half, and by six at the interval, the Dubs came roaring back to secure a 1-19 to 1-17 win in Birr.

The concession of a goal inside the opening two minutes rocked Dublin and they didn't get back to level terms until the 56th minute when Jamie Conroy tied the game up at 1-16 apiece.

They only took the lead for the first time with three minutes of normal time remaining with Diarmaid O Dulaing, who featured for Dublin in the Allianz League this season, pointed.

Ollie Gaffney and Conroy again then pointed as Dublin outscored Galway by 1-7 to 0-3 in the final 20 minutes to put themselves in pole position in the Tier 1 table, alongside Wexford who impressively defeated holders Kilkenny.

Conroy, who finished with 1-3, was also the Dublin player who hit the crucial 43rd minute goal that gave them real hope of pinching the comeback win.

James O'Brien, Conal O'Riain and Niall Clerkin were on the mark too with important points throughout the hour for Dublin.

Meanwhile, Wexford pulled off a similar come from behind win over holders Kilkenny, beating the Cats by 2-17 to 0-20 at Chadwicks Wexford Park this afternoon.

Cian Byrne and Luke Murphy struck the crucial goals for the Slaneysiders but it was far from a straightforward win with Kilkenny initially soaring 0-6 to 0-0 clear after a bright start.

Luke Connellan, with a brace of points, was among the early scorers for visiting Kilkenny who won the All-Ireland title under Derek Lyng in 2022.

Wexford eventually tuned in their radar and with county senior Corey Byrne Dunbar and Cian Byrne splitting the posts they fought back to level terms at half-time, 0-9 apiece.

Killian Doyle, who featured for Kilkenny in the Allianz League and also starred for St Kieran's College in last month's Croke Cup final success, struck two points.

Free-taker Darragh Queally finished with five for Kilkenny, all from placed balls, while Ted Dunne and 2022 All-Ireland U-20 medallist Harry Shine pointed too.

But Byrne's 42nd minute goal put Wexford ahead and Murphy's 56th minute major, leaving the hosts seven points clear at that stage, effectively sealed the win.

The two early table toppers, Dublin and Wexford, will clash in Round 2 while Galway will host Kilkenny.

In Tier 2, Westmeath bounced back from their opening round defeat to Offaly with a battling 2-14 to 3-8 win over Antrim.

David O'Reilly struck the first Westmeath goal in the 22nd minute following a thrilling solo run at TEG Cusack Park.

And David Williams followed up on Brian McGrath's blocked shot to rifle home Westmeath's second goal three minutes later.