Ryan has the vital final say for Dublin

WALSH CUP SEMI-FINALS: Dublin 1-20 Galway 3-13:A SHANE Ryan point deep into injury-time helped 14-man Dublin record a battling one-point victory over Galway in their Walsh Cup semi-final at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

Dublin played the more composed hurling in the opening half with points from Peadar Carton, Conal Keaney and Ryan Dwyer helping the the hosts into a 0-12 to 0-6 lead by the 30th minute.

However, the half finished negatively for the Dubs following the concession of a soft goal to Éanna Ryan with John McCaffrey’s sending-off in injury time another blow as they led by just 0-13 to 1-9 at the break.

Keaney’s frees kept Dublin marginally ahead during the third quarter but the first of Iarla Tannian’s goals in the 51st minute brought the Tribesmen level and although Ryan O’Dwyer replied with a solo effort for the hosts, Tannian struck again two minutes from time to push Galway a point ahead.

A grandstand finish ensued and after Keaney had pointed delightfully from a sideline ball, his former footballing colleague Ryan secured Dublin’s final berth with a well-taken score right at the death.

DUBLIN:G Maguire; R Trainor, S Hiney, S Lambert; N Corcoran, J Boland, S Durkan; J McCaffrey (0-2, one '65'), M O'Brien; C McCormack (0-1), R O'Dwyer (1-3), S Ryan (0-3); D O'Callaghan, C Keaney (0-8, seven frees, one sideline), P Carton (0-3) . Subs:D Plunkett for O'Callaghan (53 mins), D O'Dwyer for McCormack (59 mins), R Walsh for Carton (63 mins), L Ryan for O'Dwyer (72 mins).

GALWAY:J Grealish; D Collins, J Lee, D Hayes; D Barry, T Óg Regan (0-3, frees), A Cullinane; N Cahalan (0-1), J Coen (0-1); G Farragher (0-6, three frees), K Kilkenny, A Smith; I Tannian (2-0), E Ryan (1-1), N Healy. Subs:D Burke (0-1) for Kilkenny (45 mins), A Callanan for Cahalan (56 mins).

Referee:Barry Kelly (Westmeath).