Niland leads Galway to Walsh Cup final
Evan Niland struck a magnificent 17 points at Parnell Park as Galway advanced to the final of the Walsh Cup with a convincing triumph over Dublin.
Leading by seven points at the beginning of the second half, Henry Shefflin’s men continued to play with confidence on the break and will now look to defend their title next weekend against the winners of today’s other semi-final featuring Kilkenny and Wexford. Cian O’Sullivan did finish with seven points for Dublin – who are in their second season under former Galway manager Micheal Donoghue – but the Metropolitans were ultimately second best on the day.
In their first meeting since a thrilling draw in the round robin phase of last year’s Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, it was Dublin who initially hit the ground running with points from Donal Leavy and dead-ball specialist Cian O’Sullivan.
Evan Niland eventually opened Galway’s account with a successful free on the stroke of 10 minutes, before O’Sullivan, Brian Hayes and Alex Considine found the target to help the hosts into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. Yet the dependable Niland got Galway back on level terms with three unanswered scores and following traded points between the Clarinbridge attacker and Dublin’s Ciaran Foley, the westerners moved three ahead themselves with additional efforts from Declan McLoughlin and Niland (two).
Even though O’Sullivan responded for Dublin with another free, points by Niland (his ninth of the opening period) and wing-back Ronan Glennon were supplemented by Jason Flynn’s clinically-struck goal in stoppage-time to leave Galway 1-11 to 0-7 in front at the interval.
While Dublin cut into their deficit on the resumption with unanswered scores from Dara Purcell and O’Sullivan (two), Niland moved into double figures with his latest successful free in the 40th minute.
He also found the range from play to cancel out O’Sullivan at the opposite end and with McLoughlin and Donal O’Shea also knocking over points, Galway remained in control of the contest. Further contributions by Tom Monaghan and Niland (‘65’) left the Tribesmen eight to the good moving into the final-quarter.
Niland enhanced his already impressive tally with a routine point on 55 minutes, before Dublin belatedly fired back through substitute Sean Currie moments later. However, the relentless Niland continued to prosper from both placed balls and open play as he split the uprights three more times on the bounce.
The Sky Blues did have a slew of points of their own from Currie (two), O’Sullivan and Brian Hayes in the closing stages, but Niland, McLoughlin and Martin McManus also shot between the posts to ensure Galway were still able to ease their way over the line.
E Niland (0-17, 11f, 1 ‘65’), J Flynn (1-0), D McLoughlin (0-3), R Glennon, D O’Shea, T Monaghan, M McManus (0-1 each).
: C O’Sullivan (0-7, 5f), S Currie (0-3, 3f), B Hayes (0-2), C Foley, D Purcell, D Leavy, A Considine, D O Dulaing (0-1 each).
: D Fahy; J Grealish, G McInerney, S Morgan; R Glennon, C Fahy, S O’Hanlon; D O’Shea, P Mannion; T Monaghan, J Flynn, J Cooney; E Niland, M McManus, D McLoughlin.
D Loftus for McInerney (h-t), I McGlynn for Glennon, A Connaire for Flynn (both 50), M Walsh for Fahy (56), T Killeen for Monaghan (60-65), E Lawless for Grealish (63), Killeen for Morgan (65).
E Gibbons; J Bellew, P Smyth, R Smith; D Leavy, C Burke, D Gray; B Hayes, D Power; D Sutcliffe, C O’Sullivan, C Foley; D Purcell, E O’Donnell, A Considine.
D O Dulaing for O’Donnell (35+1), S Currie for Sutcliffe, P Crummey for Considine (both h-t), C Donohoe for Leavy (45), M Grogan for Gray, F Whitely for Foley (both 47), J Madden for Smith (50), J Malone for Purcell (60)
E Furlong (Wexford).