Dublin for the drop as Galway cruise on

Two games and two defeats for Dublin and the chances of Kevin Fennelly's team staying in the top flight of the league for next season are becoming quite tenuous. This game at Parnell Park illustrated the shortcomings of Dublin hurlers when pitched against more established counties.

A physically stronger Galway strolled through the second half after they found themselves 12 points ahead within three minutes of the restart. Indeed, only for wasteful shooting by the westerners throughout the first 35 minutes - 11 wides, two with goal chances - and Dublin could have been well and truly trounced on the home pitch.

Dublin did, however, open the scoring after three minutes when Emmet Carroll put over a fine point from the left. But that lead would be short-lived, as points by Kevin Broderick and free taker Darren Shaughnessy would have Galway ahead by 10 minutes of play. Corner forward Alan Kerins scored the only goal of the half on 32 minutes when an attempted point from distance by Darren Shaughnessy came off the crossbar and goalkeeper Brendan McLoughlan, who otherwise was having a fine game, failed to clear. Kerins pounced.

Added to earlier points from Gordon Glynn, Broderick and Cathal Moore and a free by Shaughnessy, the score read 0-2 to 1-7 going into the break.

After the second Galway goal and a point from Kerins early in the second half things began to get scrappy. Substitute Ger Ennis deflected a long ball from Tomas McGrane past Liam Donoghue to get Dublin's first goal. But points from Shaughnessy, Mark Kerins, Moore and substitute John Culkin reinstated the daylight between the teams.

Liam Ryan put over a point for Dublin from the centre with 10 minutes remaining for the last score before both teams were reduced to 14 men. Gregory Kennedy came across substitute Kevin O'Donoghue with his stick in a challenge for a high ball. Referee Tom McIntyre made no hesitation in brandishing the red card to the Galway captain for the foul. Although O'Donoghue did briefly remain on the pitch, he finally had to come off, and because Fennelly had used his five substitutes, Dublin too were down to 14.

Of course at this stage the contest was already gone out of the game. Emmet Carroll scored his fourth for Dublin, and teammate Damian Russell kicked in another consolation goal. Substitute Gordon Glynn and Darren Shaughnessy closed the scoring for Galway.

DUBLIN: B McLoughlin; S Duignan, S Power, S Donnelly; D Wyse, S Perkins, J Cullen; S Ryan, D Spain; T McGrane, L Ryan (0-1), D Henry; D Donnelly, D Russell (1-0), E Carroll (0-3, 1 free). Subs: G Ennis (1-0) for Henry (33 mins), C McCann for Cullen (half-time), D McCullen for Duignan (40 mins), K O'Donoghue for McGrane (45 mins), K Flynn for D Donnelly (52 mins).

GALWAY: L Donoghue; G Kennedy, M Healy, O Canning; F Gantley, L Hodgins, C Moore (0-2, two 65s); P Walsh, D O'Brien; D Shaughnessy (0-3, all frees), D Tierney (1- 0), G Glynn (0-2); A Kerins (1-2), M Kerins (0- 1), K Broderick (0-2). Subs: J Culkin (0-1) for Tierney (50 mins), N Shaughnessy (0-1) for O'Brien (56 mins).

Referee: T McIntyre (Antrim).