Dublin hurlers shock Galway to win

Dublin 2-7 Galway 1-8, Parnell Park

Galway were sensationally outgunned by an up-and-coming Dublin side in wintry conditions in the capital today, as second half goals from Padraig O'Driscoll and Liam Ryan maintained the Dubs' unbeaten run in NHL Division 1B.

Last year's Division Two champions shocked the men from the west as Ger Loughnane's 100% start to his Galway managerial career came to an end.

Things looked rosy for Loughnane's charges at the break as they led 0-4 to 0-1, having been far from overstretched by the visitors' attack.

Indeed, were it not for three fine saves from Dublin goalkeeper Gary Maguire, Galway may have taken a 12-point buffer into the second half.

Niall Healy hit three of Galway's first half points, the first after only 15 seconds, while Kevin Flynn, who is just back from a hamstring injury, registered Dublin's only score.

Maguire then came into his own as he denied Healy and Farragher from close range.

Incredibly, the Parnell Park stadium staff had to turn on the floodlights towards the end of the first half, as a dreary day was further darkened by heavy rain clouds and a bout of hailstones.

Loughnane sought to liven up proceedings as he sent Eugene Cloonan, Damien Hayes and Alan Kerins into the fray.

But those changes failed to have the desired effect and Dublin were soon 1-5 to 0-5 ahead.

Cloonan did boost Galway's tally to 0-5 but points from David Curtin (two frees), O'Driscoll and Kevin O'Reilly, allied to O'Driscoll's goal, saw Tommy Naughton's men hit the front.

Full-forward O'Driscoll got in for his goal when he latched onto a long ball from centre back Ronan Fallon and smashed a lovely shot past the hurl of Galway net minder Liam Donoghue.

Alan Kerins (0-2) and Cloonan both pointed in a purple patch for Galway. They recovered from O'Driscoll's goal to charge forward and grab one of their own on 54 minutes. Damien Hayes slipped the ball through for Healy to finally beat Maguire.

Cloonan's 62nd-minute point edged Galway 1-8 to 1-6 ahead but Dublin, who did their reputation no end of good by drawing with Kilkenny last month, came with a grandstand finish.

Ryan went on a mesmerising run, slashing his way through the visitors' rearguard, before booting the sliotar soccer-style past a flat-footed Donoghue.

With a lengthy injury stoppage for Dublin substitute Eoin Murphy, who was involved in an accidental collision, adding five minutes of stoppage times, Naughton's men had to dig deep to hold on.

A Stuart Mullen point nudged them further ahead before Cloonan saw a last-gasp goal chance get away from him, with both Phillip Brennan and Maguire in defiant form.