All-Ireland SFC: Gutsy Galway triumph at Croke Park
All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final
Galway 0-17 Dublin 0-16
By Cian O’Connell at Croke Park
This was one of Galway’s sweetest ever Championship wins.
Dublin, who had delivered so many scary tutorials to Galway throughout the decades, were beaten by a stirring maroon and white performance.
Trailing 0-11 to 0-7 at the interval, Galway summoned a response brimful of grit and guile to secure a place in the last four.
Injuries have plagued Galway throughout 2024, with captain Seán Kelly and the splendid Shane Walsh forced off at GAA headquarters, but Pádraic Joyce’s team found a way.
Substitutes contributed handsomely and at the end Joyce hugged Tomo Culhane, who had landed a critical score in the dying embers to nudge Galway two clear. Johnny Heaney and Céin D’Arcy were others, who mined points for Galway during a chaotic second half.
Inevitably there was a late Dublin rally with Con O’Callaghan narrowing the gap to the minimum, but Galway survived. Not long after the Saw Doctors’ tunes were blaring and the All-Ireland race was blown wide open.
Early on Dublin were in the groove, accumulating a 0-8 to 0-3 advantage by the 21st minute, but Galway battled.
The hard running John Maher and Walsh, who clipped some delightful efforts, replied trimming the deficit.
O’Callaghan was effective inside for Dublin, kicking a point from a mark, while Seán Bugler and Cormac Costello added further scores as Dessie Farrell’s charges departed at the break armed with a four point cushion.
Inevitably there was a late Dublin rally with Con O’Callaghan narrowing the gap to the minimum, but Galway survived. Not long after the Saw Doctors’ tunes were blaring and the All-Ireland race was blown wide open.
Early on Dublin were in the groove, accumulating a 0-8 to 0-3 advantage by the 21st minute, but Galway battled.
The hard running John Maher and Walsh, who clipped some delightful efforts, replied trimming the deficit.
O’Callaghan was effective inside for Dublin, kicking a point from a mark, while Seán Bugler and Cormac Costello added further scores as Dessie Farrell’s charges departed at the break armed with a four point cushion.
After the restart Galway enjoyed a productive spell. Within seconds Cillian McDaid rifled over a gorgeous score before Ciarán Kilkenny replied for Dublin.
Damien Comer subsequently supplied assists for Walsh and McDaid to score prior to a Paul Conroy point, moving Galway to within one, 0-12 to 0-11.
John Small (mark) and Con O’Callaghan guided Dublin three in front, but Galway ploughed on defiantly.
A Walsh free was followed by another McDaid beauty, and then Galway levelled courtesy of D’Arcy as the tempo increased.
Dublin replacement Ross McGarry edged Dublin ahead again, but once more Galway came thundering back. The excellent Dylan McHugh restored parity with five minutes remaining. Then Heaney edged Galway into the lead with Culhane, released by Comer, putting Galway into a 0-17 to 0-15 advantage late on.
Five minutes additional time followed, but Dublin could only muster a pointed free from O’Callaghan. The evening belonged to Galway.
Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 0-7 (4fs), Cillian McDaid 0-3, Dylan McHugh, Paul Conroy, John Maher, Céin D’Arcy, Johnny Heaney, Tomo Culhane, and Matthew Tiernay (m) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dublin: Cormac Costello (2fs, 1 45) and Con O’Callaghan (1f, 2ms) 0-4 each, Seán Bugler and Ciarán Kilkenny 0-2 each, Brian Fenton, Ross McGarry, Paul Mannion, and John Small (m) 0-1 each.
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin; Paul Conroy, Seán Kelly; Matthew Tierney, John Maher, Cillian McDaid; Rob Finnerty, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.
Subs: Céin D’Arcy for Kelly (22), Liam Ó Conghaile for Finnerty (47), Johnny Heaney for Tierney (54), Cian Hernon for Fitzgerald (60), Tomo Culhane for Walsh (65).
Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Eoin Murchan, Seán MacMahon, Michael Fitzsimons; John Small, Brian Howard, Jack McCaffrey; Brian Fenton, James McCarthy; Niall Scully, Seán Bugler, Ciarán Kilkenny; Paul Mannion, Con O’Callaghan, Cormac Costello.
Subs: Colm Basquel for Mannion (48), Ross McGarry for Scully (54), Tom Lahiff for McCaffrey (59), Paddy Small for Costello (66), Lorcan O’Dell for Murchan (70+2).
Referee: Seán Hurson (Tyrone).
