Dublin fight to beat Galway in All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final

DUBLIN 1-25 GALWAY 1-21

Dublin delivered a thrilling final-quarter comeback as they got the better of Galway by four points in their All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon. 

The spirit that was such a part of last week’s win against Donegal was once again in evidence as the Dubs clawed their way back from a six-point deficit to cruise home by the final whistle.  

It was Dublin that held a narrow 0-14 to 0-13 lead at half-time but they would have been disappointed not to be further ahead given the dominance they enjoyed for the large part against a more clinical Galway outfit, who kicked no wides in the first-half. 

Galway enjoyed a greater amount of possession in the second-half and they pushed six points clear in the 55th minute as their captain John Maher was in the right place at the right time to sweep to the net. 

However, a black card for Liam Silke and the subsequent penalty by Con O’Callaghan turned the momentum back in Dublin’s favour with a two-pointer by Niall Scully a critical score in the dying minutes. 

There was an even enough to start proceedings as Matthew Finnerty’s 3rd minute free was cancelled out in an instant by Cormac Costello. 

While Ballyboden’s Céin D’Arcy briefly restored Galway’s lead, Dublin began to click through the gears with captain O’Callaghan turning sharply to level matters in the 7th minute.   

A two-pointer from Paddy Small edged the Dubs in front for the first time while O’Callaghan clipped over another well-taken score to push his side three points clear. 

Given the attacking talent at their disposal, it was of no surprise to see Galway reply in kind and they restored parity by the 14th minute through a classy two-pointer by Finnerty. 

Points either side of the first-quarter mark by Small and Colm Basquel allowed Dublin to regain the lead but some errant shooting undermined the control that they enjoyed at centrefield. 

So it proved as Galway hit back through Dylan McHugh and Finnerty before D’Arcy added a two-pointer to leave Dublin trailing by two points. 

A trio of Costello scores as the half evolved left the Dubs in close contention while Niall Scully raised an orange flag in the 31st minute to reward Dublin’s control with a late O’Callaghan point earning a marginal advantage by the turnaround.   

That margin was overturned within three minutes of the restart as Finnerty kicked his second two-pointer and Galway pushed two points ahead by the 40th minute through Cillian McDaid. 

Fatigue appeared to become an issue for Dublin as the third-quarter progressed but they were handed a boost as Basquel kicked another two-pointer to leave the bare minimum between the sides. 

Goal chances were spurned at either end as McHugh and Basquel lacked the required composure when put through on goal while O’Callaghan’s two-pointed free effort cannonedback off the upright. 

A brace of Molloy points saw Galway move three points clear and they looked to have made a decisive push for home as Maher bundled home after Evan Comerford had raced out well to deny Shane Walsh.

Back came Dublin with O’Callaghan’s brace sandwiching a Small point and they were handed a lifeline as Silke fouled Basquel and O’Callaghan just about got the better of Connor Gleeson from the penalty spot. 

Dublin used their extra-man to telling effect in the closing ten minutes with Scully, Basquel, O’Callaghan and Seán Guiden availing of the open spaces to see their side into the last four.  

Scorers – Dublin: C O’Callaghan 1-7 (1-0pen, 0-3f); C Basquel 0-6 (2 P2); C Costello (2f), P Small (1 P2) 0-4 each; N Scully (P2) 0-2; E Kennedy, S Guiden 0-1 apiece. Galway: R Finnerty 0-6 (2 P2, 1f); C D’Arcy 0-4 (1 P2); K Molloy 0-3; J Maher 1-0; D McHugh, P Conroy (P2), F Ó Laoi 0-2 each; C McDaid, S Walsh 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: E Comerford; S MacMahon, T Clancy, D Byrne; E Kennedy, C McMorrow, L Gannon; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, B Howard; N Scully, C O’Callaghan, C Kilkenny; P Small, C Basquel, C Costello. Subs: R McGarry for Costello (49), J Bannon for MacMahon (55), T Deering for Kennedy (59), S Guiden for Small (65), L Smith for McMorrow (69).  

Galway: C Gleeson; J Glynn, C Hernon, L Silke; D McHugh, K Molloy, J Daly; P Conroy, J Maher; C D’Arcy, M Tierney, C McDaid; R Finnerty, S Walsh, F Ó Laoi. Subs: D Comer for McDaid (46), J McGrath for Glynn (Temp, 60-64), S Mulkerrin for Molloy (61), S McGrath for Ó Laoi (65), J McGrath for Conroy (67). 

Referee: David Gough (Meath).