Rising Blue tide engulfs Tribesmen

OF all the games Dublin have won this year, and that includes the 0-22 to 1-7 shellacking of injury-hit Kilkenny in the Allianz Hurling League final, this win in Tullamore on Saturday evening was the most impressive.

A Leinster senior hurling semi-final, facing a physically-imposing Galway side that was back to near full-strength, their first-choice centre-back (Joey Boland) out through injury, their first-choice full-back (Tomás Brady) forced off in the 11th minute after injuring his knee, centre-forward Ryan O’Dwyer sent off in the 57th minute. And yet still they won, still they imposed themselves physically and mentally on a Galway team that truly disappointed.

From the first minute Dublin were in gear. Paul Ryan drilling a nerveless free from wide right to get them up and running, the same player putting Dublin two points ahead two minutes later.