Molloy to the fore as Dubs fall short in extra-time
BRIAN MOLLOY played a captain’s part as Galway booked their place in a first Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland Under 21 hurling final since 2011.
In what was a repeat of the final five years ago, the Tribesmen needed extratime to see off Dublin in yesterday’s lastfour clash in Thurles.
The sides were deadlocked at 0-16 each after the regulation hour but Molloy collected four points in extra-time – including three in the second period – to edge Galway past the Leinster champions.
But Galway will have to tighten up considerably before facing a formidable Waterford outfit in the September 10 decider.
The Westerners racked up a massive tally of 16 wides but Dublin were even worse over the 80 minutes – collecting 21.
It was an error-strewn encounter in general but Molloy came up trumps when his team needed him most.
For Galway in the first half of normal time, it appeared to be very much a case of hanging in there as they battled against a strong breeze.
And they did so to a large degree, going in at the interval very much in contention, trailing by 0-7 to 0-10.
Dublin didn’t help themselves by registering nine wides in that opening period but they had a let-off on the stroke of half-time when Galway senior star Conor Whelan lashed a shot that Johnathan Treacy somehow managed to deflect off the crossbar.
Galway also had an earlier goal chance in the eighth minute but Éanna Burke’s effort cleared the bar after he cut through from the left touchline.
Dublin didn’t create any real goal chances of note but some of their point-taking was eye-catching, with Rian McBride particularly impressive as he roved out from his nominal corner-forward position to the middle third. The Sky Blues moved into an early 0-3 to 0-0 lead as Andrew Jamieson-Murphy, Chris Bennett (free) and Cian Boland registered early scores and it was a lead they would hold until the break. Galway did cut the margin back to a single point but that was as close as they got for the remainder of the half, as Dan Nevin and captain Brian Molloy led the Tribesmen’s quest to remain in touch. Dublin moved four points clear on the resumption, but six points on the spin from Galway put them in a commanding position, as Molloy’s point in the 43rd minute had the Westerners ahead for the very first time. But in a rip-roaring final ten minutes, the sides were level four times as the pendulum swung one way and then the other. A Molloy block-buster from inside his own half had Galway a point clear, Sean Treacy’s free restored parity and while Thomas Monaghan looked to have won it for Galway, back came Dublin as Cian MacGabhann held his nerve after being blocked down to regain possession and fire over the leveller.