Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing and David Purcell were the scoring stars for Shane O’Brien’s side, with 3-7 between them, but in Conal Ó Riain, Conor Dolan and Brendan Kenny, they had influential performers all over the field.

Galway were depleted, and the absence of key men Aaron Niland, Micheal Power and Darren Shaughnessy was keenly felt, but the Dubs took full advantage.

They were a different animal from the off, with senior panellist Ó Dúlaing latching onto a break to raise a green flag after just 21 seconds.

They nearly got in for a second goal three minutes later, with only Darragh Walsh’s sharp reflexes denying Dublin’s industrious full forward Neil Hogan.

Corner forward John Cosgrove was alive to the breaking ball to get Galway off the mark after five minutes but Dublin struck back instantly as the blue wave continued to take over Portlaoise.

Dolan was again involved in the build-up to their second goal but it was all about David Purcell who beat two Galway defenders before turning back on his right and finishing sublimely.

Galway were shell-shocked. Oisin Lohan and Cillian Whelan (two) stemmed the Dublin tide before Jamie Conroy got his first of the day to leave the scores 2-3 to 0-4 after 12 minutes.

Influential midfielder Conal Ó Riain set up Neil Hogan for the score of the day before Ó Dúlaing tacked on his first free.

Conor Dolphin responded with two frees in a row for Galway but for them, the trouble was down the other end.

Walsh made another sublime save, this time from Ó Dúlaing but the respite was brief.

Conal Ó Riain scored a point from play and when David Purcell stroked a sideline from all of 45 metres, it seemed as if Dublin could do no wrong.

Tarpey hit two for Galway but Fionn Murphy and Ó Riain hit back to give Dublin a six point cushion at the break, 2-10 to 0-10.

Galway worked hard to eat into Dublin’s advantage in the second half and with Cillian Whelan again prominent, they pared it back to three with six minutes to go.

But then, just as the pressure began to mount, Dublin finished with a flourish with two more goals, one from the lively sub Conor Newton and the other from Purcell, to cap off a brilliant individual display.

It sets up a novel Leinster final, with Offaly lying in wait for the Dubs.

Scorers for Dublin: D Ó Dúlaing (1-6, 0-4f, 0-1 65), D Purcell (2-1, 0-1 sideline), C Newton (1-1), C Ó Riain (0-2), J Conroy (0-2), F Murphy (0-2), C Dolan (0-1), N Hogan (0-1), C Kennedy (0-1) 

Scorers for Galway: C Dolphin (0-4, 0-3f, 0-1 65), C Whelan (0-3), M Tarpey (0-3), J Cosgrove (0-2), O Lohan (0-1), C Killeen (0-2), P Mac Carthaigh (0-1), V Morgan (0-1), M Burke (0-1), R Burke (0-1), J Rabbitte (0-1) 

DUBLIN: K Hogan; C Groarke, D Lucey, C Kennedy; B Kenny, C Dolan, E Keys, J Behan; C Ó Riain; O Gaffney, D Ó Dúlaing, D Purcell, B Kenny; F Murphy, N Hogan, J Conroy.

Subs: C Newton for N Hogan (39), C Stacey for O Gaffney (50), D Bannan for E Keys (56, inj), C Donovan for F Murphy (59), C Rock for D Purcell (60) 

GALWAY: D Walsh, C Lawless, S Murphy, J Ryan, T Leen, R Burke, C Whelan, O Lohan, M Tarpey, D Davoren, C Killeen, D Neary, C Dolphin, P Mac Carthaigh, J Cosgrove.

Subs: J O’Connor for T Leen, J Rabbitte for D Neary (both HT), V Morgan for J Cosgrove (41), M Burke for D Davoren (43), C Trayers for C Dolphin (53) 

Referee: Eamonn Furlong.