Dublin 1-28
Galway 1-19
Derek Ryan at Parnell Park
Dublin's hurlers will face Wexford in the Bord Na Mona Walsh Cup Final next Saturday evening at Croke Park.
They continued their impressive early-year form with a comfortable 9 point victory over Galway this afternoon at Parnell Park.
Dublin dominated for most of the game, but it was an impressive second half showing that set them on their way to victory.
The Boys in Blue raced into an early 0-5 to 0-0 lead by the 10th minute, thanks to scores from Niall McMorrow, brothers David and Sean Treacy and Chris Bennett.
Galway came into the game then, however, led by Eanna and Niall Burke and Shane Moloney, who was named in the side in place of the injured Joe Canning.
The first half was nip & tuck after that, with David Treacy hitting 5 first half points- 3 of those from frees.
Galway levelled the game just after the half hour mark- and they had a bad mistake from Dublin keeper Conor Dooley to thank.
He tried to bat down David Burke's innocuous shot from way out the pitch.
However in doing so, he let the ball dribble over the line.
Dublin had two first half goal chances of their own, both of which were well saved by Galway 'keeper James Skehill, so the sides went in level at the break- Dublin 0-12, Galway 1-09.
Dublin boss Ger Cunningham- ©INPHO/Colm O'Neill
The westerners moved ahead for the first, and only time early in the second half, with two points in the opening minute.
However Dublin's response was emphatic.
They drew level firstly, thanks to points from Niall McMorrow and David Treacy.
Eamon Dillon then had another goal chance, which was again well saved by Skehill in the Galway goal.
However, Dillon made no mistake a short time later, racing clear and blasting a shot beyond Skehill into Galway's net to move Dublin clear.
After that, it was all Dublin, as Galway's challenge faded.
Treacy was very impressive, hitting 12 points In all, including one from a sideline cut, while Dotsy O'Callaghan notched 2 impressive scores too midway through the half.
Tempers looked set to boil over late on, with a mini-brawl on the pitch, sparking memories of the much publicised Boston Fenway Classic brawl from last November between the two sides.
However, order was soon restored as Dublin eased their way to a date with Wexford at Croke Park next weekend.
Late scores from Sean O'Reilly and Paul Ryan saw Dublin run out 9 point winners on a scoreline of Dublin 1-28, Galway 1-19.
Next Saturday's final will be the curtain-raiser to the Dublin footballers' opening Allianz League game against Kerry.
The game will also be a dress rehearsal for the sides' meeting in the Leinster Hurling Quarter Final at Croke Park at the end of May.
