Galway 1-15 Dublin 2-16
Dublin have moved into the Allianz League semi-finals after holding off Galway at Tuam Stadium.
With two wins and a draw from their three outings in Division One South, Dublin finish second to Kerry on scoring difference and will play Donegal in the last four on the weekend of June 12/13.
It’s a relegation play-off for Galway, however, with Padraic Joyce’s side facing Monaghan to preserve their top flight status.
Despite the result, Galway maintained the upward trajectory following their humiliation at the hands of Kerry in the opening round and started brightly in Tuam with the opening two points and after Brian Fenton got Dublin off the mark, the home side missed a double goal chance as Matthew Tierney’s shot was saved by Michael Shiel before Davy Byrne stopped Sean Mulkerrin’s follow-up.
With Ciaran Kilkenny’s influence increasing, Dublin got the grips with things approaching the midway point of the half and took the lead for the first time in the 21st minute as Colm Basquel slotted his second of the day.
But Shane Walsh was enjoying a fine afternoon from placed balls and after Dublin had pulled two clear coming towards the break, he slotted three of the last four points of the half, a 45, his first from play and another free in reply to a Cormac Costello point at the other end to ensure the sides were level, 0-8 each, at half-time.
A dominant start to the second half effectively won the game for Dublin as they built an advantage that kept Galway at arm’s reach for the rest of the afternoon.
Having won a free from the throw-in, Dublin effectively held possession without interruption for more than six minutes, eventually drawing Galway out after three minutes of that for Costello to kick a point and, having won Bernard Power’s kickout, it was swiftly followed by a goal.
It wasn’t a thing of beauty as Power saved Niall Scully’s shot but failed to gather the loose ball as Con O’Callaghan pounced to stab the ball to the net at the second attempt.
Dublin’s lead stretched to six with another O’Callaghan point in the 17th minute but Galway made inroads and Matthew Tierney’s goal, fisted in over the advancing Shiel, brought them back within two in the 58th minute.
That was as close as they got, however, as Dublin absorbed their best efforts and then sealed the victory in injury time with sub Aaron Byrne’s goal.
GALWAY: Bernard Power; Jack Glynn, Sean Mulkerrin, Sean Kelly; Kieran Molloy, Dylan McHugh (0-1), Liam Silke; Finnian O Laoi, Paul Conroy (0-1); Paul Kelly, Peter Cooke (0-2), Johnny Heaney; Matthew Tierney (1-0), Shane Walsh (0-10, 0-5f, 0-3 ‘45’), Robert Finnerty (0-1).
Subs: Eamonn Brannigan for Kelly (45), Ciaran Potter for Glynn (48), Matias O Bairead for O Laoi (54), Tomo Culhane for Finnerty (59), Tom Flynn for Cooke (64), Johnny Duane for Molloy (64).
DUBLIN: Michael Shiel; Michael Fitzsimons, David Byrne, Jonny Cooper; Eoin Murchan, Sean McMahon, Eric Lowndes; Brian Fenton (0-2, 0-1m), Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne; Niall Scully, Ciaran Kilkenny (0-3), Brian Howard; Colm Basquel (0-2), Con O’Callaghan (1-3), Cormac Costello (0-6, 0-1f).
Subs: Sean Bugler for O Cofaigh Byrne (52), Robert McDaid for McMahon (52), Dara Mullin for Scully (66), Aaron Byrne (1-0) for Basquel (67), Tom Lahiff for Cooper (70+2).
REFEREE: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).
