Galway storm to Leinster title with 14-point win over Dublin

Goals for Neary, Niland, Fleming and Cooney

Galway 4-29

Dublin 4-15

To 2012, '17 and '18, now add 2026 to the list of Leinster title winning years for the Galway hurlers.

They suffered extensively at Kilkenny's hands since entering the province all of 17 seasons ago, but their performance in toppling a previously unbeaten Dublin proved a statement one as their new-look team led from pillar to post in a 14-point final victory in front of 46,463.

Their manager Micheál Donoghue ripped it up and started again last winter and his rebuild has been validated with provincial silverware, his third at the helm of the Tribesmen.

Darragh Neary scored the first of their goals after a dozen minutes. Just four minutes of normal time remained when Aaron Niland drilled home a penalty to ice the game. Conor Cooney and John Fleming also netted late on to add even further gloss to their runaway result.

Tom Monaghan and Conor Whelan clocked up 12 points between them. New faces such as Cillian Trayers, Cian Daniels, Jason Rabbitte, Niland and Rory Burke, until injury intervened, made their first provincial final a winning one. For experienced hands like Daithí Burke, brothers Padraic and Cathal Mannion, Whelan and Cooney, it was another cherished medal.

Dublin will look back with regret at a missed opportunity. The route one approach that yielded rich dividends late in their round-robin victory in Salthill was shut down. The in-form Dónal Burke was restricted, with only Fergal Whitely and Conal Ó Riain, with 3-4 between them, making headway from play up front. Injuries to Chris Crummey and Liam Rushe were further setbacks to Niall Ó Ceallachain's side.

Slow starts were a valid criticism of Galway of late, but they led by 1-7 to 0-3 on the back of Darragh Neary's goal. A flying Darach Fahy save denied John Hetherton and Dublin a much-needed green flag in reply, but the men from the capital grew in stature and were right on Galway's coattails when O Riain netted to cut the deficit to 1-9 to 1-8 on 25 minutes.

Galway's response was telling as they reeled off six of the half's closing nine points and went in with a 1-15 to 1-11 advantage, Monaghan and Whelan continuing to accumulate steadily.

There was no let-up after the restart either with Mannion cutting over a sideline and Niland accurate from placed balls as they moved 1-21 to 1-13 clear entering the final quarter.

Dublin needed a spark and they finally found one when Whelan was black carded for pulling down Eoghan O'Donnell and Dónal Burke tucked away the resulting penalty.

Galway remained composed, though, with Niland adding pointed frees and then a controversial penalty after Andrew Dunphy was sin-binned after tangling with Conor Cooney.

1-26 to 2-15 ahead with four minutes of normal time remaining, Galway were within touching distance. Cooney netted their third and sub John Fleming their fourth in a frantic endgame that also brought Dublin goals for Ó Riain and Fergal Whitely.

An All-Ireland semi-final awaits Galway in four weeks' time. Dublin must lick their wounds and ready themselves for a quarter-final with Clare.

GALWAY: D. Fahy; C. Trayers, D. Burke, D. Morrissey; R. Glennon (0-2), P. Mannion, C. Daniels; T. Killeen (0-1), C. Mannion (0-2, 0-1 sideline cut); T. Monaghan (0-7), A. Niland (1-8, 1-0 penalty, 0-6 frees), D. Neary (1-1); R. Burke (0-1), C. Whelan (0-5), J. Rabbitte (0-1). Subs: C. Cooney (1-1) for R. Burke (14), G. Lee for Daniels (53), J. Ryan for Glennon (53), J. Fleming (1-0) for Killeen (60), F. Burke for D Burke (69).

DUBLIN: E. Gibbons; P. Doyle, P. Smyth, C. McHugh; C. Crummey, L. Rushe, C. Burke (0-2); B. Hayes, C. Donohoe (0-1); F. Whitely (1-3), D. Burke (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-3f), D. Power; B. Kenny (0-2), J. Hetherton (0-1), C. Ó Riain (2-1). Subs: R. Hayes (0-1) for Power (28), D. Purcell for Kenny (35), E. O’Donnell for Crummey (40), S. Currie (0-1) for Donohoe (48), A. Dunphy for Rushe (temp, 49), D. Ó Dúlaing for Purcell (63).

REFEREE: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH:

Tom Monaghan (Galway).