Walsh Cup round-up: Micheál Donoghue avoids defeat in first Galway outing

By Kevin Egan

New Galway manager Micheál Donoghue narrowly escaped an embarrassing defeat in his first competitive outing in charge of the Tribesmen this afternoon when a late surge from DCU fell just short of securing a positive result in their Walsh Cup clash.

Joe Canning struck 1-5 for the home side, including two sideline cuts and a first-half goal, as Galway moved into a comfortable 1-6 to 0-4 lead at half time in Ballinasloe's Duggan Park.

They were dealt a crucial blow, however, when All-Star David Burke was sent off for a second bookable offence before half-time, opening a window of opportunity for the students.

Galway manager Micheal Donoghue speaks to referee James McGrath at half-time. Photo: INPHO/James Crombie

Eanna Burke, younger brother of David, came off the bench to chip in with four points from play and keep Galway in front and it looked as if they had victory secured when they led by 1-11 to 0-7 going into the final quarter.

But the Dublin trio of Seán Gray, Danny Sutcliffe and Niall O’Connor all scored well and they helped cut the gap to just two points, 1-16 to 0-17, at the final whistle.

Antrim’s Niall McKenna moves past Dublin’s Niall McMorrow at St Clare's, Ballymun. Photo: Dáire Brennan / SPORTSFILE

The Dublin county side had no such difficulty in their clash with Antrim at DCU, cutting loose after half time to record a 3-25 to 1-17 win.

A tight game appeared to be in prospect at half-time when Dublin led by a solitary point, 1-11 to 1-10, the goals coming from Paul Ryan and Eddie McCloskey.

However Dublin’s control of the puck-out at both ends of the field was to prove crucial as they won over two-thirds of all restarts and created 45 scoring chances, eventually racking up a fourteen point win.

Some of the Dublin hurlers make their way out before the game against Antrim in the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup! pic.twitter.com/umVUqC5ezH

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Dublin will meet Laois in what will be effectively a knockout tie next Sunday after the O’Moore county edged past UCD at Heywood Community school this afternoon, prevailing by 1-19 to 0-17 on the astroturf surface at the south Laois venue.

Oisín O’Rorke of Dublin and Offaly’s Padraig Guinan pointed in the early stages to give UCD an advantage but Laois reeled them in and took the lead in the 23rd minute through a close range Eoghan Fennelly goal. The sides were still deadlocked at half time, 1-8 to 0-11.

O’Rorke and PJ Scully traded frees early in the second half before the Laois finally cut loose, picking off four of the last five points to secure their win.

Harry Kehoe, Wexford, in action against Meath’s Shane Brennan and Tom Clarke at Páirc Tailteann. Photo: Seb Daly / SPORTSFILE

Wexford enjoyed a 3-18 to 2-7 win over Meath in the lunchtime throw in at Páirc Tailteann, though the Model County conceded an early goal and relied heavily on Ian Byrne’s free-taking to build up their 0-12 to 1-4 interval lead.

Meath cut the gap to three at the start of the second half but that was to be as good as it got for them as Byrne (penalty) and Harry Kehoe goaled to push Wexford out into a comfortable lead.

IT Carlow came through by 2-15 to 0-14 in their local derby match with Carlow this afternoon, while the students of NUIG were also victorious in this round of games, racking up 3-26 to Westmeath’s 0-11 at St Loman’s GAA grounds in Mullingar yesterday afternoon thanks to strong contributions from Conor Whelan (Galway) and Bobby Duggan (Clare), as well as Niall O’Brien who was hurling against his native county.