Dublin’s Minor hurling side had their All-Ireland dreams shattered as they were comfortably beaten 3-22-0-16 by defending champions Galway at Croke Park
A Dublin side full of confidence and enthusiasm opened up the scoring through Conor Murray in the first minute before Galway pegged the Dubs back.
Both counties took turns trading points Liam Dunne and Donal O’Shea Who grabbed two successive points each as the sides were tied at three apiece with just under ten on the clock gone.
Galway had the first goal chance of the game when Niall Collins was given space to threaten the Dublin goals but Finn Murphy used his defensive talent to end the threat.
After a quarter of an hour gone Dunne converted a free to the extend the Dubs out to two before O’Shea drew Galway level once more with two scores which included a point that found the posts from 60 yards.
O’Shea demonstrated he can score from distance when he put Galway into the lead for the first time from 70 yards before Ciaran Foley drew Dublin level with an impressive score.
Just as it looked like the sides would go into half-time level it was Galway who would go into the break with their tails up when Collins rose highest to catch a high ball before leaving his marker for dead with a cheeky dummy to finish in the Dublin net leaving the Dubs trailing by three to the scoreline of 1-10 at 0-10 at the break.
Galway began the second-half from where they left off in the first period and grabbed a double to push the lead out to five.
Dunne was providing the Dublin resilience but Galway were in full control and kicked on looking to put Dublin’s All-Ireland dreams to bed.
O’Shea was having a fine game and nailed a number of points in a row for the boys in maroon and white before Adam Brett reacted quickest to a long-range effort that hit the post to slot the ball home to grab Galway’s second goal of the afternoon.
Things got worse for Dublin minutes later when the back-line failed to clear and Dean Reilly scored Galway’s third stretching the lead out to 12.
With the scoreboard against them, Dunne scored two in a row as Dublin battled on with time running out and the Liffeysiders needing a miracle.
Galway kept the board ticking over in last few minutes thanks to O’Shea again who put in a man of the match performance as Galway secured a well deserved 12 point win.
Galway will now face Tipperary or Kilkenny in the final on the 19th August as they look to retain their title.
And it`s over the bar 