Galway’s immense potential shone brightly at Semple Stadium when the Westerners claimed another under-age hurling title.
The Tribesmen won their tenth All-Ireland U21 hurling title with a 10-point win over Dublin in Thurles.
For the second time in a week, the Dubs suffered All-Ireland final heartbreak at the hands of the Tribesmen, having lost the minor decider at Croke Park last Sunday.
The Connacht men never looked like losing this and were always in control from the moment Tadhg Haran drilled home the first of their three first half goals from a penalty.
Dublin battled courageously from start to finish, but were always chasing the game and lacked the class and finishing power that set their opponents apart.
Dublin gave themselves an early boost with a goal after less than three minutes.
The sliothar dropped down out of the sky, onto the top of the crossbar and goalkeeper Jamie Ryan, attempting to clear first-time, only managed to reach Dublin attacker Thomas Connolly, who blasted to the net.
That score cancelled out early points from James Regan and Tadhg Haran, but the Tribesmen forged ahead in the 11th minute when Haran drilled a penalty to the net after Barry Daly had been hauled down by ‘keeper Ger McManus.
The Dubs were level again by the 23rd minute, thanks to a volley of points from Kevin O’Loughlin, who converted his third free, and Niall McMorrow.
Liam Rushe and Martin Quilty had been performing heroics to close down the danger posed by a fast-moving Galway attack, but in the closing stages of the first half, the Connacht men cut loose.
They scored 2-2 in the space of six minutes to open up an eight-point lead.
David Burke’s superb pass sent David Glennon in for a 28th minute goal, and two minuets later, Regan flew past three defenders to net a wonderful individual effort.
Galway led by 3-06 to 1-04 at the break, and with Johnny Coen and David Burke leading their charge from the central area, they refused to allow the Dubs to play their way back into the game.
O’Loughlin did tag on another couple of frees, and substitute Robbie McMahon hit two points, one of them bringing a superb save from Jamie Ryan, who stretched to deflect his shot over the bar.
Skipper Liam Rushe pushed forward in a bid to lift his side’s spirits, but it was Galway, with Glennon always a creative influence, who had all the answers.
Niall Burke powered over two frees to keep daylight between the sides, and when Dublin did threaten to get some attacking thrust going, Declan Connolly and Ger O’Halloran rose to the occasion at the back.
Right to the finish, the Galway players displayed immense hunger and passion, hunting in packs to close down their opponents as they attempted to build from deep.
And they finished the job off with two late points from David Burke, to claim their first title at this level since 2007.
In the preceeding match, Kerry claimed the Under-21 B title with a 0-16 to 1-09 victory over Westmeath.
Galway: J Ryan, D Connolly, N Donoghue, G O'Halloran, J Grealish, P Gordon, R Foy, J Coen, D Burke (0-03, 1f), B Daly (0-01), N Burke (0-03, 2f), T Haran (1-03, 1-00 pen), J Regan (1-02), C Cooney, D Glennon (1-02).
Subs: R Burke for Gordon, B Burke for Haran, D Fox for Cooney, N Quinn for N Burke.
Dublin: G McManus, B O'Carroll, D Kelly, J Doughan, D Curran, L Rushe, M Quilty, C Gough, D Sutcliffe, D Plunkett, M Schutte, T Connolly (1-02, 0-02f), K O'Loughlin (0-05, 5f), N McMorrow (0-01), E Dillon.
Subs: F Clabby for Schutte, R McMahon (0-02) for O’Loughlin, B Quinn for Connolly.
Referee: T Carroll (Offaly).
