Brian Hayes' late goal snatches crucial victory for Dublin in Galway

MATCH WINNER: Brian Hayes scores the decisive goal. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Dublin 3-16 Galway 0-21

Dublin at the death. Just when Galway thought they’d secured a share of the spoils, their winning start was torn to smithereens.

In the fourth of four injury-time minutes allotted at the end of the second-half, sub Colm Molloy, sprayed possession by another sub Darragh Neary, brought the home side level. A draw was sufficient to send Galway into the Leinster final with a round to spare.

Hurling into the usual Salthill gale and having managed just three points from the 55th minute onwards, the hosts would have been more than grateful for half the loaf of bread.

Turns out we weren’t half finished in Salthill.

Eddie Gibbons’ subsequent restart was sent long. Possession spilled out from amid a large cluster of bodies. Brian Hayes snapped up the sliotar and took flight. His finish to the bottom left corner - 10 seconds past the allotted four minutes - sunk the locals.

A quick Galway restart went awry. Cian O’Sullivan capitalised to land the insurance point. It was not required.

The Dubs move to the top of the Leinster round-robin table. They’ll still need to mine something from Kilkenny’s final-day visit to make certain of Leinster final progression.

Niall Ó Ceallacháin called only two Dublin subs from the stand. Ronan Hayes and John Hetherton imparted sizable impact.

Hayes, introduced on 55 minutes, was superb. His first touch yielded his opening point. His second strike drew a superb save from Darach Fahy and a converted Donal Burke free.

Hayes’ goal chance stemmed from a trademark Hetherton fetch. When the same pair combined in exactly the same sequence on the hour-mark, there was to be no denying them on this occasion.

Hayes pointed in the ensuing play for a 2-14 to 0-19 Dublin lead.

It was a blue wave now. Another Hayes strike, blocked by Padraic Mannion, plated up a 65 converted by Donal Burke. That completed an unanswered 1-3 for the Dubs. It had the look of being decisive until Molloy levelled. The later unanswered 1-1 was absolutely decisive.

Their efficiency was astonishing. Just three wides in the entire game.

For the first time in this championship, Galway hurled with the elements in the first half. It was not their choice and it did not suit them. They did finish the half in front, but there was far more left after them than was converted. 12 wides and one half-hooked Jason Rabbitte point attempt outnumbered 11 white flags.

Within the dozen wides, there were two Aaron Niland missed frees. The youngster injured his ankle midway through the opening half and only returned to the fray after having it heavily strapped. He was relieved of dead-ball duties after missing the second free. A ‘65 in the final minute of second-half stoppages was stood over and sent over by Cathal Manion.

Two of the four frees Niland did convert were for fouls on Galway’s inside pair of Conor Whelan and Jason Rabbitte. They enjoyed the better of ferocious exchanges with Paddy Smyth and Paddy Doyle respectively. Rabbitte, who was central to the extra-time U20 victory midweek, had the final assist for two further Galway white flags.

Dublin did not engineer their first shot until the ninth minute. Galway had managed six by this juncture. Conor Donohoe’s opening attempt on behalf of the visitors fell short.

From their second attempt, three minutes later, the sliotar wound up in the opposition net. Darach Fahy deflected Brian Hayes’ goal drive around the post. Donal Burke’s subsequent 65 was sailing over until Daithí Burke decided to get involved. His attempt to take down the sliotar only redirected the ball to the net for a wholly avoidable green flag and a leg into proceedings for the up-to-then dominated Dubs.

Conal Ó Riain provided the first Dublin score by a Dublin player on 14 minutes. It was the first time they led too.

They’d climb in front on three separate occasions as a first half of terrible handling and first-touch - on both sides - played out. This was championship by name and nothing else.

Four-in-a-row from Niland, Padraic Manion, and brother Cathal sent Galway back down the tunnel 0-11 to 1-5 in front. 17 wides in total hurt them. As did the absence of Rory Burke.

Only a second ever home defeat in the short history of the round-robin means they now need points below in the south-east to ensure Leinster final involvement.

Scorers for Dublin: Donal Burke (0-9, 0-7 frees, 0-1 ‘65); R Hayes (1-2); B Hayes (1-0); Daithí Burke (1-0, OG); C Burke, C Donohoe, D Purcell, C Ó Riain, C O’Sullivan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Galway: A Niland (0-5, 0-4 frees); C Mannion (0-4, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘65); T Monaghan (0-3); P Mannion, C Whelan, D Neary (0-2 each); C Daniels, J Rabbitte, C Molloy (0-1 each).

DUBLIN: E Gibbons; L Rushe, P Smyth, P Doyle; C McHugh, C Crummey, C Burke; C Groarke, B Hayes; C Donohoe, F Whitely, D Burke; C O’Sullivan, D Purcell, C Ó Riain.

SUBS: J Hetherton for Groarke (51); R Hayes for Purcell (55).

GALWAY: D Fahy; R Glennon, C Trayers, D Morrissey; P Mannion, G Lee, D Burke; C Daniels, T Killeen; J Fleming, C Mannion; A Niland; J Rabbitte, C Whelan, T Monaghan.

SUBS: D Neary for Niland (39, inj); J Ryan for Trayers (63); C Molloy for Fleming (65); C Fahy for Daniels (68); O Lohan for Killeen (74).

REFEREE: C Lyons (Cork).