The Dublin U20 hurlers made history on Wednesday night when they became the first team from the county to defeat Galway in an underage hurling championship.
The victory was in 2020 Leinster U20 hurling final, a fixture long delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a close game, level six times in the second half alone, but Dublin emerged winners 1-20 to Galway's 1-18 at O'Connor Park in Tullamore.
Whitehall Colmcille forward Lee Gannon - scorer of four points from play - was named Man of the Match. Six months previous, Gannon lined out for the Dublin footballer's as they lost the All-Ireland U20 football final to Galway.
"It's amazing - from the lows of last December to the highs of now," Gannon told TG4.
"It's just a credit to all them boys out there. I only joined up about four weeks ago. I'm in a seriously privileged position at the minute. They're the boys who've done all the hard work. They were unbelievable.
"We knew what was at stake. It's a Leinster final. They don't come around too often. I was only looking back at an U17 Leinster final last night when we beat Kilkenny. I'm lost for words even just thinking of it, that performance tonight; it is a blur. It was an unbelievable performance. I don't even know what to say."
Dublin U20 hurlers make history vs Galway
#DUBvGAL Lán Ama
Gaillimh 1-18 (21)
Áth Cliath 1-20 (23)Stair déanta ag @DubGAAOfficial lena 7ú corn Laighin buaite acu inniu!🏆
The dubs have beaten the Tribesmen for the first time in underage hurling history!💯
BEO ar @TG4TV
#HurlingToTheCore | #GAA | #Hurling@GAA_BEO pic.twitter.com/Ydtk44zOOt— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) June 23, 2021
Wednesday's victory was Dublin's seventh provincial title at the U21/U20 grade. They will face Cork in next month's decider, knowing Dublin has lost all four of its appearances in the grade's final. The most recent of those defeats was in 2011 against Galway.
"We'll enjoy tonight, see what tomorrow brings, and then we'll start analysing Cork," said Gannon.
"We've had a good few games against Cork over the years. It's time we finally get over the line against them.
"We're not the same Dublin team as before. This is a different animal. We know how good we are. We know each other inside out. We're like a band of brothers. Whatever happened before, doesn't happen today. Dublin hurling will start pushing on from this. Hopefully, in two weeks time, we'll win."
Is é Lee Gannon @DubGAAOfficial Laoch na hImeartha BGE/TG4 anocht!
Nach air atá an happy head :-) #HurlingToTheCore | #GAA | #Hurling | #COYBIB | #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/pgsNRry1WI
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) June 23, 2021
Picture credit: Sportsfile
See Also: 'He Was Playing A Good Bit Of Soccer, He Wasn't Playing As Much Football'
