HURLING: WALSH CUP SEMI-FINAL
Niland’s 17-point haul downs the Dubs
Flynn finds the net in easy win
Galway 1-24
Dublin 0-17
By Daire Walsh At Parnell Park
EVAN Niland helped himself to an outstanding tally of 0-17 at Parnell Park last Saturday afternoon, 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 after the break and will now face Wexford in the showpiece of this pre-season competition for a second year running this coming weekend – following the Slaneysiders’ narrow win against Kilkenny in Callan on the same day.
Now in their second season under the guidance of former Galway manager Micheal Donoghue (who, like Niland, hails from Clarinbridge), Dublin fought hard throughout the course of the action.
Centre-forward Cian O’Sullivan contributed seven points to complement a 0-2 salvo by midfielder Brian Hayes, but the Metropolitans were ultimately second best to their Connacht counterparts.
There were a couple of late alterations to the Galway starting line-up with Shane Morgan and Martin McManus drafted in to replace TJ Brennan and Kevin Cooney.
Even though a number of fringe players were offered a chance to impress, Shefflin was able to call upon established figures such as Niland, Gearoid McInerney, Padraic Mannion and Jason Flynn.
Dublin didn’t have any changes to their first 15, but there was one key positional switch from Donoghue and his selectors. Despite being named at full-forward, Donal Leavy was picked at right half-back for the hosts.
This freed up key defender Eoghan O’Donnell to feature at the edge of the far square, which put him in direct opposition to McInerney. Yet O’Donnell was withdrawn prior to the end of the opening period, having picked up a knock early and he was therefore relatively quiet during his time on the pitch.
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 the versatile Leavy and dead-ball specialist O’Sullivan.
Niland eventually opened Galway’s account with a successful free on the stroke of 10 minutes and he went on to trade scores with O’Sullivan as the first-quarter wore on. Dublin had been the dominant force for much of that provincial championship showdown between the sides at Croke Park in 2023 and moved 0-5 to 0-2 in front by the 15th minute after Hayes and Alex Considine found the target in fine style.
Yet the dependable Niland got Galway back on level terms with three unanswered scores and, following traded points between the elusive attacker and Dublin’s Ciaran Foley, the westerners moved three ahead themselves with additional efforts from Declan McLoughlin and Niland (two).
While O’Sullivan responded for Dublin with another free, points by Niland (his ninth of the opening period) and 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.
Dublin cut into their deficit on the resumption with unanswered scores from Dara Purcell and O’Sullivan (two), but 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 (whose father Eamon is part of the backroom team this year) 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 then 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 placed balls and 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 Hayes with the final whistle fast approaching, but Niland, McLoughlin and Martin McManus also shot between the posts to ensure Galway were still able to ease their way over the line and set up a Walsh Cup final meeting with Wexford at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, this Sunday (1.30pm).
GALWAY: D Fahy; J Grealish, G McInerney, S Morgan; R Glennon (0-1), C Fahy, S O’Hanlon; D O’Shea (0-1), P Mannion; T Monaghan (0-1), J Flynn (1-0), J Cooney; E Niland (0-17, 11 frees, 1 ‘65’), M McManus (0-1), D McLoughlin (0-3).
Subs: D Loftus for McInerney, half-time; I McGlynn for Glennon, A Connaire for Flynn, both 50 mins; M Walsh for Fahy, 56 mins; T Killeen for Monaghan, 60-65 mins; E Lawless for Grealish, 63 mins; Killeen for Morgan, 65 mins.
DUBLIN: E Gibbons; J Bellew, P Smyth, R Smith; D Leavy (0-1), C Burke, D Gray; B Hayes (0-2), D Power; D Sutcliffe, C O’Sullivan (0-7, 5 frees), C Foley (0-1); D Purcell (0-1), E O’Donnell, A Considine (0-1).
Subs: D O Dulaing (0-1) for O’Donnell, 35+1 mins; S Currie (0-3, 3f) for Sutcliffe, P Crummey for Considine, both half-time; C Donohoe for Leavy, 45 mins; M Grogan for Gray, F Whitely for Foley, both 47 mins; J Madden for Smith, 50 mins; J Malone for Purcell, 60 mins.
REFEREE: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford).
HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH: Evan Niland (Galway).