A stoppage time Aaron Byrne goal put enough daylight between Dublin and Galway to see the Dubs into the National League Semi Finals
Galway 1-15
Dublin 2-16
A Con O’Callaghan goal, bundled into the net three minutes after the restart set the tone early for Dublin’s third consecutive Football League win this afternoon in Tuam. And a stoppage time goal for substitute Aaron Byrne book ended a tough second half. Dublin advance to the League Semi Finals to face Donegal.
Galway now face a relegation battle. But the Tribesmen didn’t make it an easy game for the All Ireland Champions. By the second half water break there was five scores between the sides. Cormac Costello opened the scoring before O’Callaghan found the net. Shane Walsh kept the board ticking for the home side, while Costello, O’Callaghan and Fenton traded blows for the Dubs.
A high ball into Matthew Tierney gave Galway a lifeline as he beat Dublin keeper Michael Shiel in the head to head to score a vital goal, leaving only two scores between the sides. But it would as close as Galway would get. And when Byrne hit the name the game was all but over.
Acting Dublin boss Mick Galvin a raft some last minute to his starting 15. Michael Shiel, Eric Lowndes, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Brian Howard and Colm Basquel all started In place of Evan Comerford, Robert McDaid, James McCarthy, Tom Lahiff & Paddy Small.
And Galway started the better of the two sides with quick scores from Peadar O’Cuaig and Paul Conroy, before Brian Fenton won an converted a mark. Once Colm Basquel levelled the sides in the 12th it was pretty much score for score for the half.
Shane Walsh came into his own registering five scores for Galway after the first half water break. Cormac Costello, Basquel, Ciaran Kilkenny and Con O’Callaghan were all on target for Dublin to leave nothing separating them at the break
Galway Scorers:
Shane Walsh 0-10 (5f, 3 ’45)
Matthew Tierney 1-00
Peadar Cooke 0-02
Paul Conroy 0-01
Robert Finnerty 0-01
Dylan McHugh 0-01
Dublin Scorers:
Con O’Callaghan 1-03
Cormac Costello 0-06 (1f)
Aaron Byrne 1-00
Ciaran Kilkenny 0-03
Colm Basquel 0-02
Brian Fenton 0-02 (1 mark)
Dublin:
16. Michael Shiel
2. Michael Fitzsimons
3. David Byrne
4. Sean McMahon
5. Eoin Murchan
6. Jonny Cooper
22. Eric Lowndes
8. Brian Fenton
26. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne
21. Brian Howard
11. Con O’Callaghan
12. Niall Scully
17. Colm Basquel
14. Ciaran Kilkenny
15. Cormac Costello
Dublin Substitutes:
7. Robbie McDaid for Sean McMahon (51)
19. Sean Bugler for Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne (51)
24. Dara Mullin for Niall Scully (66)
20. Aaron Byrne for Colm Basquel (69)
10. Tom Lahiff for Jonny Cooper (72)
Galway:
1. Bernard Power
2. Sean O’Ceallaigh
3. Sean O’Maoilchiarain
4. Jack Glynn
5. Liam Silke
6. Dylan McHugh
7. Johnny Heaney
8. Peadar O’Cuaig
9. Paul Conroy
10. Pol O’Ceallaigh
20. Kieran Molloy
26. Finnian O’Laoi
13. Matthew Tierney
14. Shane Walsh
15. Robert Finnerty
Galway Substitutes:
12. Eamonn Brannigan for Pol O’Ceallaigh (45)
19. Ciaran Porter for Jack Glynn (48)
21. Mattias Bairead for Finnian O’Laoi (54)
25. Tomo Culhane for Robert Finnerty (59)
17. Johnny Duane for Peadar O’Cuaig (64)
11. Tom Flynn for Kieran Molloy (64)