GAA – SHC round-up:Dublin marched into the final of the Leinster hurling championship with a comfortable win over a misfiring Galway outfit in Tullamore this evening. The league champions were reduced to 14 men in the second half but still ran out 0-19 to 2-7 winners.
Galway squandered countless chances in the first half, with Joe Canning having a rare off day, but the young marksman did manage an early goal for the Tribesmen. But that was as good as it got before the break as Dublin’s more cohesive unit opened up a seven point lead.
That was stretched to nine midway through the second half, but when Joe Gantley scrambled the ball home and Ryan O’Dwyer was dismissed for striking Galway briefly threatened a comeback.
John McIntyre’s side continued to miss the target, however, and Dublin were able to keep them at arm’s length and set up a provincial decider with Kilkenny.
Cork and Antrim both made it safely through to Phase I of the hurling qualifiers after respective wins over Laois and Westmeath in the preliminary round today. Cork were particularly impressive, crushing the home side by a remarkable 34 points.
When Noel Costelloe knocked over a point for Laois just after half-time, there were just six points between the sides (3-10 to 1-10) and fans at O’Moore Park allowed themselves dare to dream of an unlikely upset.
Any such hopes were snuffed out in brutal fashion as Denis Walsh’s young side cut loose, hammering another seven goals past the unfortunate Patrick Mullaney in the Laois goal. Pat Horgan was the tormentor in chief, his personal tally of 3-10 more than the entire Laois team could muster.
And Horgan was aided and abeted by Paudie O’Sullivan, who scored an impressive hat-trick of his own, while Jamie Coughlan (2), Luke O’Farrell and Bill Cooper also claimed goals as Cork ran out 10-20 to 1-13 winners to set up a clash with Offaly next weekend.
Antrim weren’t quite as emphatic winners against Westmeath but proved more than capable of putting down the challengers at Casement Park.
Manager Dinny Cahill won’t have been happy the way a 10-point lead at the break was reduced to just three in the second half but Antrim, with Neil McManus pulling the strings, hit back to secure a 2-25 to 1-19 win and a Phase I meeting with Carlow.
Saturday’s results
Leinster SHC semi-final
Dublin 0-19 Galway 2-7
All-Ireland SHC preliminary round
Antrim 2-25 Westmeath 1-19
Laois 1-13 Cork 10-20