Holders Dublin suffer league defeat in Galway
Galway 0-20 Dublin 0-13
Dublin suffered an early setback in the defence of their Allianz Hurling League title with a seven-point defeat to hosts Galway in Salthill this afternoon.
The Tribesmen, under new manager Anthony Cunningham, turned in an impressive opening performance in Division 1A with newcomer Niall Burke scoring 0-10.
Half of Burke's personal haul came from play, while another debutant Conor Cooney (0-4) and James Regan (0-3) also cracked over some well-taken scores for the hosts.
Dublin, with league debutant Danny Sutcliffe showing well, were only 0-9 to 0-8 behind at half-time.
They might have been ahead at the break had full-forward Shane Stapleton been able to tuck away a 20th minute goal chance. But his marker David Collins did brilliantly to thwart him from point blank range.
Despite that missed opportunity and others, a run of late points from Conor McCormack and Paul Ryan (0-2) gave Anthony Daly's men a good chance of overhauling Galway in the second period.
However, by the end of the third quarter, this new-look Galway team had kicked for home with Burke, Iarla Tannian, Cooney and Damien Hayes all registering points for them during a crucial purple patch.
Cunningham’s charges outscored the Dubs by 0-07 to 0-01 during a 15-minute period, with new wing back Niall Donoghue helping to solidify the home defence.
Oranmore-Maree clubman Burke, who was part of Galway's All-Ireland Under-21 winning side last year, nudged his tally into double figures late on.
By that stage, Dublin were left hunting for goals and they never came with two Ryan O'Dwyer points their only response.
The Metropolitans’ woes were compounded in the dying minutes. Full-back Peter Kelly suffered a knee injury and they had to finish the game with 14 men, as they had used all their substitutes.
Scorers:
Galway: N Burke 0-10 (0-3f, 0-2 ‘65’), C Cooney 0-04, J Regan 0-03, C Donnellan, I Tannian, D Hayes 0-01 each
Dublin: P Ryan 0-06 (0-05f, 0-01 ‘65’), C McCormack, R O’Dwyer (0-02f) 0-02 each, S Durkin, D Sutcliffe, L Rushe 0-01 each
GALWAY: J Skehill; D Connolly, D Collins, G O'Halloran; T Óg Regan, F Moore, N Donoghue; D Burke, C Donnellan; C Cooney, N Burke, I Tannian; D Hayes, B Daly, J Regan.
Subs used: J Coen for Daly (35 mins), E Ryan for Donnellan (60), B Burke for J Regan (62), J Cooney for C Cooney (70).
DUBLIN: G Maguire; N Corcoran, P Kelly, R Treanor; M Carton, J Boland, S Durkin; J McCaffrey, D Sutcliffe; L Rushe, R O'Dwyer, C McCormack; D Treacy, S Stapleton, P Ryan.
Subs used: A McCrabbe for Rushe (half-time), D O'Dwyer for Stapleton (46 mins), S Lambert for Treacy (49), M O'Brien for Boland (50), E Dillon for Ryan (59).
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork).