Galway lay down summer marker
GALWAY 1-22 DUBLIN 1-15
GALWAY laid down a marker for the 2010 Leinster Championship by seeing off Dublin to claim the Walsh Cup on Saturday. The westerners put some poor recent Parnell Park form behind them to secure an impressive seven-point win. Callanan and David Burke nailed early points for Galway, but Dublin responded, reeling off four without reply courtesy of the polished Alan McCrabbe.
Then Galway netted a 14th-minute goal. Donnellan pulled on a loose ball, Joe Gantley gathered possession, escaped from Sean O'Sullivan, and rattled the net with a blistering finish.
Moments later, Niall Corcoran, a Galway native but now a regular in the Dublin set-up, switched into full-back in an attempt to curb Gantley's influence.
Farragher, effective at centrefield, and Callanan stretched Galway's advantage with points from distance, but Dublin continued to toil diligently. Another Farragher long-range score edged Galway 1-6 to 0-6 ahead 23 minutes in, but McCrabbe and Ryan pointed from play before the All Star split the uprights with a sublime sideline cut.
Galway concluded the half with a real flourish. Substitute Eanna Ryan released Niall Cahalan, and the raiding midfielder steered Galway in front, and Farragher then delivered a delightful sideline as Galway went in at the break armed with a 1-9 to 0-10 advantage.
The third quarter carried significance for Dublin, but it was Galway who were the sharper outfit. In the 12 minutes immediately after the restart, Galway outscored the locals by seven points to two courtesy of Callanan, Farragher (3), Gantley, David Burke, and Niall Hayes as the Tribesmen edged 1-16 to 0-12 clear. Farragher's midfield promptings were splendid as the Castlegar star was drilling points from distance as well as providing ammunition to a lively forward line. Shane Durkin nicked a consolation goal for the Dubs, but Galway were full value for their success.
