Galway ease past disappointing Dublin

National Hurling League/ Galway 3-19 Dublin 0-12: Galway never had to raise their game at Pearse Stadium yesterday.

Even without the Athenry contingent, Conor Hayes' men were too strong for a Dublin side who looked lively but offered little by way of direct hurling.

Hayes and his selectors, whose last competitive match was the championship hiding by Kilkenny, know there will be stiffer tests ahead - not least next week's trip to Nowlan Park - but recording such a high score was particularly encouraging.

Galway led by 1-9 to 0-8 at the end of the opening half, with all six forwards finding the range from play.

They dominated midfield, where Tony Óg Regan, a pre-match change for the injured Ollie Canning, was in good form. As a result, the Dublin attack, particularly right corner forward Emmett Carroll, did not get enough ball to do damage.

Dublin led by 0-3 to 0-2 after seven minutes before Ger Farragher, Damien Hayes and Kevin Broderick hit points in a four-minute spell.

But just when Galway looked like pulling away, Dublin responded with three unanswered points, two of them coming from Stuart Mullen, who was handed the free-taking duties after Tomás McGrane fluffed his first effort after four minutes.

Galway finally punished a slack Dublin defence after 17 minutes when Broderick hand-passed to the unmarked David Forde who scored the opening goal.

Dublin goalkeeper Gary Maguire produced two good saves to deny full forward Farragher, but two points from Fergal Healy and one from Broderick saw Galway open up a 1-8 to 0-6 lead after 21 minutes.

Mullen landed another free and wing forward Eoin Moran got his second point to keep Dublin in touch.

But Healy's third point gave Galway a deserved four-point interval advantage.

Dublin needed a solid start to the second half, but points from Damien Hayes and Farragher were followed by a trademark goal from Broderick, who squeezed through two defenders before dispatching to the net.

Galway were now 2-11 to 0-9 in front and there was no way back for Dublin as the home side sprayed the ball all over the field, shooting four points without reply before a long delivery from impressive centre back Liam Hodgins put Damien Hayes through for Galway's third goal with 14 minutes remaining.

That left Galway leading by 3-15 to 0-11 and they finished in style with wing-forward Fergal Healy taking his tally to six points from play. Subs Kevin Hayes and Adrian Cullinane also registered points.

GALWAY: L Donoghue; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, F Moore; D Collins (0-1), L Hodgins, C Coen; T Óg Regan, David Hayes; A Smith (0-2), D Forde (1-0), F Healy (0-6); Damien Hayes (1-2), G Farragher (0-4, three frees), K Broderick (1-2). Subs: A Cullinane (0-1) for Broderick (55 mins), D Hardiman for Regan (55 mins), K Hayes (0-1) for David Hayes (57 mins), A Callanan for Collins (67 mins), N Healy for Damien Hayes (67 mins).

DUBLIN: G Maguire; G O'Meara, T Russell, S O'Shea; C Meehan, R Fallon, D O'Reilly; M Carton, G Bennett; S Mullen (0-7, five frees, one 65), J Kingston (0-1), E Moran (0-2); E Carroll (0-2), S Hiney, T McGrane. Subs: T Sweeney for O'Reilly (half-time); K Elliott for McGrane (46 mins). P Bergin for R Fallon (57 mins).

YELLOW CARD - Dublin: - R Fallon (57 mins), replaced by P Bergin.

Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick).