David Treacy against Galway
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION IA: DUBLIN 1-17 GALWAY 0-13
By Cian O'Connell
Dublin delivered a much improved display to secure a vital Allianz Hurling League Division IA victory at Parnell Park on Saturday night.
Soundly beaten by Tipperary a week previously at Semple Stadium Dublin were primed for this battle and Galway struggled. David Treacy struck 0-10 for Dublin while Sean McGrath's 45th minute goal proved to be a critical score on a disappointing evening for the Tribesmen.
With Niall McMorrow highly effective at centre forward a gritty Dublin outfit impressed during a physical opening period.
Dublin were clinical early on as David O'Callaghan, Treacy (2), McMorrow, and Darragh O'Connell all contributed points. That encouraging burst meant Dublin led by 0-5 to 0-2 before Joe Canning trimmed the deficit with two frees for the visitors.
Treacy was similarly sharp for Dublin at the opposite end, while the bustling McMorrow continued to cause Galway problems. Eamon Dillon came close to grabbing a 28th minute goal for Dublin, but Galway survived the scare before Canning clipped three points on the spin.
A Treacy free on the stroke of half-time ensured Ger Cunningham's team departed at the interval armed with a 0-10 to 0-7 advantage. After the restart Cathal Mannion converted a free for Galway, but Dublin responded by hitting 1-5 without reply.
McMorrow was instrumental, nailing two points and then Mark Schutte crafted a goalscoring chance which was buried by Sean McGrath in the 45th minute.
Colm Cronin and Treacy (2) subsequently added efforts as a determined Dublin pulled 1-15 to 0-8 clear by the 50th minute. From then until the finish all that needed to be decided was the winning margin as Dublin adequately dealt with Galway's challenge.
Scorers for Dublin: D Treacy 0-10 (9f, 1 '65), N McMorrow 0-4, S McGrath 1-0, D O’Callaghan 0-1, C Cronin 0-1, D O’Connell 0-1.
Scorers for Galway: J Canning 0-5 (4f), C Mannion 0-3 (2f), N Burke 0-1, A Harte 0-1, P Brehony 0-1, A Smith 0-1, D Burke 0-1 (1f).
** DUBLIN: **C Dooley; E O’Donnell, C O’Callaghan, O Gough; C Crummey, L Rushe, J McCaffrey; D O’Connell, D Plunkett; S McGrath, N McMorrow, D Treacy; D O’Callaghan, M Schutte, E Dillon. Subs: C Cronin for McGrath (46 mins), S Treacy for O’Callaghan (70 mins), J Madden for McCaffrey (70 mins).
GALWAY: J Skehill; F Moore, J Hanbury, P Hoban; P Mannion, G Lally, A Harte; David Burke, A Tuohy; P Brehony, N Burke, C Mannion; C Whelan, J Canning, D Glennon. Subs: C Flynn for Moore (25 mins), A Smith for Lally (36 mins), J Cooney for Canning (36 mins), D Collins for Tuohy (43 mins), P Claffey for Hanbury (54 mins).
**Referee: **F Horgan (Tipperary).
