LAST UPDATE | 27 Jul 2021

Galway 2-15

Dublin 0-15

John Fallon reports from MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise

GALWAY CAPTURED THE Leinster U20 hurling title thanks to goals in either half to gain revenge for losing the 2020 final to the same opposition just five weeks ago.

Galway had seven survivors from that side which lost in Tullamore last month, Dublin had four, and they never looked back after hitting their second goal just after the restart.

The sides went in level at the break thanks to a superb point from the right wing by Dara Purcell for Dublin when he landed his second of the match to leave it 1-7 to 0-10 at the interval.

The only goal of the half fell to Galway after eight minutes when Oisin Flannery pounced to flick the ball to the net after goalkeeper Ben Hynes failed to hold an effort from distance from Christy Brennan.

That pushed Galway 1-2 to 0-4 in front after Dublin, backed by the slight breeze, had started well with Ciaran Foley hitting a couple of points and Purcell and Kevin Lahiff also finding the range.

Sean McDonagh and a second free from Donal O’Shea extended Galway’s lead to 1-4 to 0-4 at the end of the opening quarter.

Dublin's Paddy Doyle and Padhraic Linehan tackle John Cooney of Galway. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

But three frees in a row from Foley tied the sides for the second time in the match before Patrick Dunleavy edged them in front with a fine shot from the right after 24 minutes.

Flannery followed up his goal with a point to level and two more from O’Shea, one of them from play, saw Galway lead by two but Dublin finished the half well and both Lahiff and Purcell got their second points of the contest to tie the game at the break.

Donal Leavy edged Dublin in front just after the restart but then John Cooney, son of former All Star Joe, soloed through for Galway to dispatch a superb shot to the top left corner of the net.

📽Undoubtedly the highlight of the night and possibly the year.

🎯John Cooney with an amazing strike for @Galway_GAA in tonight’s Leinster GAA U20 Hurling Final.#LeinsterGAA | #U20Hurling pic.twitter.com/xt77UpRcrQ

— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) July 27, 2021

Galway never relinquished the lead after that even though they didn’t make the game save until the closing moments, with ten second-half wides and a string of good saves from Dublin goalkeeper Hynes ensuring it went down to the wire but a couple of late points from Sean McDonagh and seventh of the evening from O’Shea securing a second ever Leinster title in the U-20/21 grade for the Tribesmen.

Scorers for Galway: Donal O’Shea 0-7 (0-4f), Oisin Flannery 1-2, Sean McDonagh 0-3 (0-1 sideline), John Cooney 1-0, Jason O’Donoghue 0-1, Niall Collins 0-1, Sean Neary 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: Ciaran Foley 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), Dara Purcell 0-2, Kevin Lahiff 0-2, Patrick Dunleavy 0-2, Donal Leavy 0-1.

Galway

1 Paddy Rabbitte (Athenry)

2 Eoin Lawless (Athenry)
3 Eoghan Geraghty (Oranmore-Maree)
4 Christy Brennan (Clarinbridge)

5 Shane Quirke (Athenry)
6 Sean Neary (Castlegar)
7 Evan Duggan (St Thomas’s)

8 Ian McGlynn (Kilconieron)
9 Jason O’Donoghue (Gort)

10 Diarmuid Kilcommins (Annaghdown)
11 Sean McDonagh (Mountbellew-Moylough)
12 John Cooney (Sarsfields)

13 Niall Collins (Cappataggle)
14 Donal O’Shea (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
15 Oisin Flannery (St Thomas’s)

Subs:

23 Alex Connaire (Sarsfields) for O’Donoghue (45)
22 Greg Thomas (Castlegar) for Kilcommins (46)
19 Conor Flaherty (Carnmore) for Duggan (51)
18 Liam Collins (Cappataggle) for N Collins (56)
24 Colm Cunningham (Moycullen) for McGlynn (59)

Dublin

1 Ben Hynes (Kilmacud Crokes)

2 Davy Crowe (Kilmacud Crokes)
3 Brian Sheehy (Kilmacud Crokes)
4 Iain Ó Heither (Ballinteer St. John’s)

5 Paddy Doyle (Naomh Barróg)
6 Cian Ó Cathasaigh (Kilmacud Crokes)
7 Patrick Dunleavy (Ballyboden/St. Endas)

8 Darragh Power (Fingallians)
9 Donal Leavy (Naomh Olaf)

10 Darach McBride (St. Vincent’s)
11 Kevin Lahiff (St. Jude’s)
12 Pádhraic Linehan (Kilmacud Crokes)

13 Ciaran Foley (Naomh Olaf)
14 Seamus Fenton (Ballinteer St. John’s)
15 Dara Purcell (Kilmacud Crokes)

Subs:

20 Cian Boyle (Castleknock) for McBride (41)
21 Liam Dunne (Raheny) for Lahiff (50)
24 Joe Flanagan (Clara) for Linehan (55)

Referee: Richie Fitzsimons (Offaly)

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