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Late Ryan free earns hurlers victory over Galway

November 8, 2018

Late Ryan free earns hurlers victory over Galway

02 Feb 2013 | hill16.ie

DUBLIN 2-19 GALWAY 1-21

A Paul Ryan free two minutes from time earned Dublin victory in this well contested Bord na Mona Walsh Cup semi-final at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Dubs had a numerical advantage from the 18th minute of the first half after Andy Smith was straight red-carded but the Dubs still had to come from behind with points from Shane Durkin and that Ryan free to earn a spot in the final.

Dublin also had to thank a brilliant late save from keeper Gary Maguire when he denied Aidan Harte from point blank range when a goal would surely have secured the win for the visitors.

Galway lead at the interval 1-11 to 1-9 but Anthony Daly’s men looked to have stolen a march on the Tribemen when points from Eamon Dillon, Ryan (two frees) and Danny Sutcliffe were followed by a fine Sutcliffe goal to push the Dubs 2-14 to 1-14 clear.

Sutcliffe showed great determination to break the tackle of two defenders before his low shot found it’s way to the net to lift his team.

But typical of the game Galway seemed to be able to create and take their scores when they needed with Niall Healy giving a very lively display from corner-forward.

Heading into the conluding minutes the game remained in the balance with a Healy ‘65’ edging Galway a point in front, 1-21 to 2-17, before Durkin and Ryan came up with the winning scores.

In the first half Dublin, with Johnny McCaffrey playing a central role, began impressively with early scores form the Dublin captain (two) and a third from Paul Ryan to move 0-3 to 0-0 clear inside four minutes.

Dublin put together their best move of the day in the seventh minute when McCaffrey placed Ryan who sent an angled drive to the net to open up a 1-4 to 0-2 lead.

By the 15th minute the boys in blue lead 1-7 to 1-2 after Jonathan Glynn had goaled for Galway but for the remainder of the half the men from the west held the upperhand and exploited some slack marking to be in front by two points at half-time.

Dublin will face the winner of the Wexford v Kilkenny semi-final away next Sunday in the Walsh Cup decider.

SCORERS – Dublin: P Ryan 1-7 (0-4f, 0-1 ‘65’), D Sutcliffe 1-3, J McCaffrey 0-3, E Dillon 0-2, K Byrne, C Keaney, J Boland, S Durkin 0-1 each. Galway: N Healy 0-12 (0-6f, 0-1 ‘65’), J Glynn 1-0, A Harte, D Hayes, D Glennon 0-2 each, P Breheny, T Haran, A Callanan 0-1 each.