Match Preview

The eagerly anticipated Group 1 clash in the GAA Gaelic football championship features Westmeath taking on Galway. Both teams have had contrasting fortunes in their initial outings, setting the stage for a fascinating encounter. Galway will secure a place in the quarter-finals if they win.

Live Scores for Westmeath v Galway

Previous Encounters

Westmeath and Galway have met only twice previously in the championship. Westmeath claimed a narrow victory in an All-Ireland qualifier tie back in 2006, winning 1-8 to 0-10 in Pearse Stadium. However, Galway exacted revenge last year, securing a comfortable 0-20 to 0-12 win in Mullingar during the All-Ireland round robin series.

Championship Journey So Far

Galway

• Galway 5-21 London 0-9 (Connacht quarter-final)
• Galway 1-13 Sligo 0-14 (Connacht semi-final)
• Galway 0-16 Mayo 0-15 (Connacht final)
• Galway 2-14 Derry 0-15 (All-Ireland round robin)

Galway have showcased their offensive prowess and defensive solidity, highlighted by their remarkable run of not conceding a single goal in their four championship games to date.

Top Scorers for Galway

• R Finnerty: 1-21 (0-8 frees, 0-1 mark)
• C Darcy: 2-4
• P Conroy: 1-6
• J Heaney: 0-7
• T Culhane: 2-0

Westmeath

• Wicklow 2-9 Westmeath 1-11 (Leinster first round)
• Armagh 0-16 Westmeath 0-11 (All-Ireland round robin)

Westmeath’s journey has been more challenging, with a narrow defeat to Wicklow in the Leinster first round and a five-point loss to Armagh in their initial All-Ireland round robin match.

Top Scorers for Westmeath

• L Loughlin: 0-6 (0-3 frees)
• J Heslin: 0-5 (0-2 frees)
• J Lynam: 1-0
• R Forde: 0-3 (0-1 free)
• R O’Toole: 0-3

Key Insights

• Galway’s stellar defense has not conceded any goals in their four championship games so far.
• Rival managers, Pádraic Joyce (Galway) and Dessie Dolan (Westmeath), were both players in the first championship clash between these teams in 2006, with Dolan captaining Westmeath to a one-point win.
• Westmeath is still seeking their first victory in the ‘round robin’ series introduced last year, having lost to Galway, Armagh, and drawing with Tyrone previously, and losing again to Armagh this year.

Team News

Westmeath: Jason Daly; Jamie Gonoud, Kevin Maguire, James Dolan; Sam McCartan, Ronan Wallace, David Lynch; Ray Connellan, Andy McCormack; Jonathan Lynam, Ronan O’Toole, Conor Dillon; Luke Loughlin, John Heslin, Robbie Forde.

Subs: Jack Connaughton, Shane Allen, Charlie Drumm, Eoin Mulvihill, Matthew Whittaker, Daniel Scahill, Senan Baker, Lorcan Dolan, Stephen Smith, Kieran Martin, Conor McCormack.

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Johnny Heaney, Matthew Tierney, Céin D’Arcy; Liam Ó Conghaile, Shane Walsh, Cillian McDaid.

Subs: Conor Flaherty, Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin, Eoghan Kelly, Daniel O’Flaherty, Kieran Molloy, Cian Hernon, Patrick Egan, Cathal Sweeney, Cillian Ó Curroain, Tomo Culhane, Niall Daly.

Betting

Galway 1/8 Westmeath 6/1

Handicap – Galway -6 10/11

Conclusion

As Westmeath seek to register their first round robin win and Galway aim to continue their winning streak with both teams eager to secure vital points in Group 1. Expect Westmeath to get within 6pts.

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Mayo Team

Current Odds are Mayo evens Galway 6/5 with a draw 13/2

Galway’s Allianz Football League campaign will kick off with a strong lineup that includes 11 players who played in last year’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final.

Despite the absence of Footballer of the Year nominee Shane Walsh and defender Liam Silke, the team is poised for a strong performance against Mayo in their Division 1 opener.

Head coach Pádraic Joyce will be without Walsh, who is still recovering from a lengthy club season with Kilmacud Crokes, and defender Kieran Molloy, who has a long-term cruciate injury.

Patrick Kelly will also miss the game due to personal reasons. The team will still feature three Kelly siblings, with captain Seán Kelly at fullback and Eoghan Kelly at midfield.

However, the team will still feature three Kelly siblings, with captain Seán Kelly at full-back, Eoghan Kelly making his NFL debut at corner-back and Paul Kelly at wing-forward. Other notable inclusions include Salthill-Knocknacarra’s Daniel O’Flaherty, who will also be making his league debut at wing-back, and Dessie Conneely and Peter Cooke who recently led Moycullen to a Connacht conquest. With Bernard Power of Corofin returning as a substitute goalkeeper, the team is poised for a strong start to their league campaign. Expectations are high as they look to maintain their Division One status while also aim to make it to the All-Ireland final again.

Mayo team news to follow when available

Live Scores Available at IrishScores.com

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Kieran Molloy of Corofin, who is recovering from a knee injury, Finnian O Laoi of An Spideal, who has relocated to Australia, and All Star corner-back Liam Silke, who has been working as a doctor in New Zealand, will be unable to play.

“It looks like Liam Silke is going to be (staying) in New Zealand for the year, so we won’t be having him, which is a big loss to us,” Tribe boss Padraic Joyce is widely reported to say

Mayo lost a few players, but I believe Liam Silke and Kieran Molloy are a bigger loss for us.

I don’t think people realise how important Molloy was to us last year.

He can play anywhere and is a huge loss for us.

To be fair to Kieran, he is working extremely hard.

Knowing him, he’ll probably defy logic and return sooner than expected.”

In addition, two more players who participated in the loss to Kerry last year have been added.

Cillian McDaid, All Star midfielder, and reigning Young Footballer of the Year Jack Glynn are also doubts for the game.

McDaid’s fitness is rated as ’50-50,’ while Glynn has been dealing with a groyne issue that has kept him out of Sigerson Cup action with UL.

Mayo will be without Lee Keegan and AFL player Oisin Mullin as Kevin McStay takes charge for the first time in the league.

Both teams will face difficulties, but it promises to be an exciting match to begin the league season.

Live scores available at IrishScores.com

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Kerry’s 37 All-Ireland crowns ensures that the Kingdom are rightly feared and respected by footballing purists wherever the game is played. Their status as the kingpins of the game is due to generation after generation of fast, strong and stylish footballers. This legacy has created an aura around Kerry sides in the past, particularly for final opponents. Despite this reputation, Kerry hold no fears for the current Galway squad.

One of the counties most scarred by the sight of the Green and Gold jerseys are Galway’s near neighbors to the north, Mayo. They lost out to the Munster aristocrats in the finals of 1997, 2004 & 2006. The 1997 final in particular makes for a good study in sports psychology. A far-from vintage Kerry side overcame a Mayo team who had lost to Meath after a replay the previous year. Maurice Fitzgerald kicked 0-9 and was by far the most impressive player for either side. Their winning total of 13 points was one of the lowest winning totals in the last forty years. Pre-game favourites Mayo meanwhile repeatedly failed to find the target. Shooting wide after wide as the pressure and expectation of winning an All-Ireland title got the better of them. 

The crop of 2022

This year the Kerry men have finally beaten a Dublin side who have had the edge over them in big games in recent history. After Sean O’Shea’s dramatic semi-final injury-time free, the bookies have installed Jack O’Connor’s side as 1/3 favorites to lift their 38th All-Ireland title. (Technically it will be their 31st Sam as their first seven titles pre-date Sam’s first appearance. The first Sam Maguire trophy was presented to Kildare in 1928 after their win over Cavan. This trophy was then replaced by an identical Sam in 1989. I just thought I’d clear that up for the pedants out there!). 

Kerry Confidence

Despite an almost decade-long dominance from the Dubs, Kerry sides still consider themselves superior to every other county in the land. This confidence comes from their success not just at Senior All-Ireland level, but also from countless victories at all levels of the game. Current superstar, David Clifford’s eye-catching 4-04 in the 2017 minor final win over Derry earmarked the Fossa youngster for greatness. Five minor titles in a row from 2014-18 and a runners-up spot in 2020 has continued on the green and gold production line.  

In recent years, however, that air of invincibility has lost some of its lustre at Senior level. Kerry’s most recent All-Ireland title came in the 2014 win over Donegal. Eight years is practically a famine by the standards of their illustrious past. Defeats to Dublin in the finals of 2015 and 2019 have created doubts in their previously unparalleled levels of self-belief. Particularly the 6-point defeat in the replayed 2019 final. 

In the first half of the drawn match, the dismissal of Jonny Cooper handed a sizeable advantage to Peter Keane’s side. They had come from five points in arrears to edge ahead in the closing stages. A converted free from Dean Rock four minutes into stoppage time gave Jim Gavin’s Dublin a second bite at securing their historic five in a row. It was a game that the Kerry fans felt they left behind them. 0-8 from 17 first-half scoring chances, which included a Paul Geaney penalty saved by Stephen Cluxton, was a poor return by their standards. 

Kerry hold no fears for the current Galway squad

Sunday’s final opponents Galway have none of the big game experience on All-Ireland final day that their opponents have. This is the Tribesmen’s first final since their 2001 victory over Meath. Current manager Padraig Joyce kicked ten points in a comprehensive 0-17 v 0-8 win. Despite the lack of exposure to the pressures that a final appearance can bring, this crop of Galway players are unlikely to be overawed.

Galway football is riding the crest of a wave at the moment. Last Friday week their minors lifted the Tommy Markham cup defeating Mayo in the All-Ireland final in Hyde pk, Roscommon. Earlier this year a NUI Galway side defeated University of Limerick 0-12 to 1-6 in the Sigerson Cup final in Carlow. The aforementioned David Clifford ended up on the losing side despite scoring 1-2. An IT Tralee side with a large Kerry contingent had been beaten in the semi-final in Rathkeale 0-18 v 0-15 a week previously. 

Galway’s Matthew Tierney was part of that victorious side and he also enjoyed success at u20 level in 2020. That Galway side defeated Kerry in the semi-final in the Gaelic grounds in Limerick before beating Dublin in the final. When reminded of his track record against some of the opponents he’ll face on Sunday he said “That’s not down to me, it’s down to the teammates as well. We have a load of leaders out there, ….It’s very enjoyable at the moment, so hopefully we’ll keep the success going”.

Tierney’s mother Marie hails from Castleisland in Kerry. When questioned about the loyalties of his mum Matthew said “I won’t talk to her now for the week”. Coincidentally Marie went to school with David Clifford’s mother Eileen. “I have the phone taken off her, don’t worry!” Matthew joked as he shot down any possibilities of a Kerry mole within the camp.

Relevance of past battles

When questioned on whether previous underage success bore any relevance to facing some of the same faces at Croke Park on Sunday Matthew said “I suppose you get a bit of confidence every time you win. But, it’s a different competition and a different Kerry side”. John Concannon a selector with this year’s team then interjected, “The belief that these young lads have from winning the Sigerson, from winning the under 20 All-Ireland, even the lads in 2017 that beat Kerry with a lot of the current team on it. These lads growing up now have a belief that they are winners”. Concannon went on to add “They fear no one, which is great and that’s one thing I’ve learned from them since we came in”. 

John Concannon was first involved alongside current manager Padraig Joyce and fellow selector John Divilly at under 20 level in 2019. Five of the current side played for them at that grade. Concannon is impressed by the attitude he sees within the current squad. “Every county is the same to them, they go out with the belief they can win”. He added, “We’re going to believe we can win on Sunday and they are going to go in with that attitude”.   

Galway’s captain on Sunday is Moycullen’s Sean Kelly. Alongside Tierney, he was also part of this year’s victorious Sigerson Cup team. He also spoke of the belief instilled in this group of players. “Padraig spoke to us and we believe we should be fighting for All-Irelands. Thankfully, this year now we’ve kicked on an extra step and we are in one”.  He was involved in the 2017 u21 semi-final win over Kerry (the final year at that age grade before it changed to u20 in 2018). “We got over the line that day, a lot of those young lads have come through” (to the senior squad). On the prospect of facing Kerry Kelly said “It’s not something we’re scared of, you can’t be scared of someone else. We’re looking forward to it. We know it’s going to be a tough battle”.

Shock on the cards?

Galway will go into Sunday’s final as outsiders.  As mentioned earlier Kerry are strong favourites with the bookies offering the westerners at 10/3. It’s a similar price to what was being offered for Andy Farrell’s Irish side ahead of the third test in Wellington last weekend. I see similar value based on this growing and maturing Galway side. 

They have shown that they can win games in different ways and have grown as the championship has progressed. Obviously, the instant classic quarter-final penalty shoot-out win over Armagh grabbed the most column inches. It also put the team in the national spotlight. The win over Mayo in Castlebar gave the squad the belief that they could compete with the best. The Connacht final win over Roscommon gave them the silverware to back that up. The Derry semi-final saw them grind out a convincing victory after a very poor start. 

The swagger is back in Galway football and red-hot favourites Kerry will hold no fears for Padraig Joyce’s side. Kerry may be the All-Blacks of Gaelic football. But just as the All-Blacks invincible aura was shattered in Chicago, Kerry hold no fears for the current Galway squad. The Tribesmen believe that the time has come to bridge a gap of 21 years. Padraig Joyce’s men are primed to lift the Sam Maguire this Sunday. 

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O’Brien took charge of the club in 2016 after previously working under Stephen Rochford as a selector and became one of the most decorated club managers in the sport.

The esteemed club manager then took the reins and built on Rochford’s three Galway titles in a row, extending the streak to seven in his time, and led them to an unprecedented three All-Ireland titles in three seasons.

The club also won four Connacht Senior Football Championships in his time with them.

“It’s been a phenomenal journey and a great period of success for the club,” O’Brien told Galway Bay FM yesterday.

Rival club Mountbellew-Moylough proved to be their kryptonite and the last two years have yielded no titles as a result, with the team’s two losses in the Galway Senior Football Championship since O’Brien took charge coming at the hands of the current county champions.

Mountbellew-Moylough also drew with Corofin in the 2018 county final but lost the replay in what was to be the first of three All-Ireland triumphs for O’Brien’s team.

However, Corofin’s almost-spotless record under O’Brien remains a fantastic feat – the side won 51 of their 56 Championship games with their former selector holding the reins.

“I think you have to be very grateful. There were days on the sideline where games were gone from us, and we got the luck that day. Teams evolve as well, and last Sunday was the pinnacle of that with Mountbellew’s success – and fair play to them.

“I’ve been very proud, in winning three All-Irelands, everybody in that dressing-room was from Corofin and that really, really shows the success we have within the club and the calibre of people.

“I’ve no doubt the position will be filled, and I certainly will be there to support them in whatever way I can.”

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Shefflin was confirmed as the new manager of the side by Galway GAA on Wednesday evening.

The duo have joined the inter-county side on a three-year term with a review expected at the end of the second year.

The rest of the new Galway backroom will be finalised in the coming weeks following the appointments of Shefflin and O’Neill.

Galway GAA are delighted to announce the appointment of Henry Shefflin as the new Galway Senior Hurling Manager. Statement below pic.twitter.com/qR0sbTE7F1

— Galway GAA (@Galway_GAA) October 20, 2021

“Managing the Galway Senior Hurlers presents a unique opportunity, and we relish the exciting challenge ahead as we begin the journey,” Shefflin said in the statement released by Galway GAA.

“We look forward to working with the players, the county board, and the wider Galway GAA community over the coming years.”

King Henry won 10 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship titles during his playing career with the Cats and complemented that with 13 Leinster triumphs, six National Hurling League titles and 11 All-Stars.

Shefflin also won three All-Ireland titles with the club in a 20-year playing career that saw him pick up another six Kilkenny titles and four more provincial crowns.

He also won two Fitzgibbon Cups in his five years with the Waterford IT hurling team.

Richie O’Neill played alongside Shefflin during Kilkenny’s golden era and was part of his backroom at Ballyhale Shamrocks, where the pair led the side to Kilkenny, Leinster and All-Ireland glory in the space of two years.

The club went 17 games undefeated in a period that saw them reach the pinnacle of club hurling twice.

O’Neill also has been involved with the Kilkenny intermediate side in the past while Shefflin has most recently been in charge of Thomastown.

“The appointment of Henry Shefflin to lead our flagship team underpins both our immediate ambition for Galway hurling as well as a commitment to building a sustainable pathway for our young hurlers.

“This will be followed by the appointment of our U20 and Minor Management teams, as well as the Head of our newly constituted Adult Development Squad for 2022.”

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O’Neill joins Padraic Joyce’s Galway backroom after leaving the Cork senior football setup following the end of the 2021 season.

The upcoming season will be Joyce’s third in charge and the team will aim to go one further than the final of the Connacht Senior Football Championship.

They will also hope to return to Division One of the National Football League at the first time of asking.

The Kildare native left the Cork setup after their Munster Senior Football Championship final collapse led to the departure of manager Ronan McCarthy.

He had previously been in charge of his home county’s senior footballers from 2015 until 2019.

It was a period that saw the Lilywhites reach the Leinster Senior Football Championship final in 2017 and knock All-Ireland finalists Mayo out of the Championship the next year in the ‘Newbridge or Nowhere’ game.

O’Neill made a name for himself as a trainer on Liam Sheedy’s backroom in the manager’s first stint with the Tipperary hurlers.

He was involved with the Kerry senior footballers as part of Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s backroom and has also worked with the Limerick and Mayo footballers.

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Tyrone’s camogie team missed out on silverware for the county while their Men’s football side went one step closer to the Sam Maguire.

The goals were crucial with two of them coming from Ciara Delaney, having been set up by player of the match Áine Charlton. Captain Helen O’Malley also raised a green flag but Tyrone almost pulled off a spectacular comeback, getting to within one of the westerners having trailed by 11 but they just could not get over the line.

Mayo led by 2-6 to 0-4 at half-time thanks to Delaney and O’Malley’s majors, the latter part of a run of 1-5 without reply as Tyrone failed to score in the second quarter. When Delaney finished after another strong run by Charlton 15 seconds after the restart, it seemed like curtains.

But with Reagan Fay in inspired form and bringing her tally to eight points, the Red Hand women rallied. Niamh McNulty’s goal after an excellent catch was a real boost but when it seemed like momentum was in their favour, Mayo dug deep and Orla Hession pointed to leave Tyrone needing a goal that they couldn’t get.

Meanwhile, champions Armagh, who beat Clare in their semi-final by 2-13 to 1-6 on Saturday, will play Wexford in the All-Ireland premier junior final at Croke Park on September 12, as a result of the Yellowbellies’ 3-18 to 0-8 victory over Roscommon.

Roscommon had two early chances but two wides resulted and once Wexford got to grips with the excellent opposition sweeper, Rachel Fitzmaurice by playing the wings, they began to make hay.

Megan Cullen got an eighth-minute goal and it was 1-2 to 0-0 at the water break. On the resumption, all the Wexford inside forwards, Emma Tompkins, Emma Codd and Lisa Firman registered points and  Ailis Neville scored to make it 2-7 to 0-1 at half-time.

The Roscommon point came from a long-distance free by Shauna Fallon just before the short whistle.

The Connacht side were awarded a penalty early in the second half but Fallon’s shot was too central and goalkeeper Lara O’Shea was able to make the stop.

With that, any hope of a spectacular comeback dissipated.

When Roscommon removed Fitzmaurice from her sweeping role as they needed to chase the game, it opened space and Wexford profited. Chloe Cashe, who had been kept to a point in the first half, got a goal at the end of an excellent move on 41 minutes and finished with 1-8.

Fitzmaurice and Niamh Watson tried hard for Roscommon but it was all about Wexford, Clodagh Jackman, Aideen Brennan, Cashe, Neville and Cullen among those to shine.

Elsewhere, the talented Áine Magill completed 24 hours she won’t forget in a hurry as she played for Antrim in the intermediate semi-final against Galway and then against Laois in the Tesco All-Ireland B semi final.

She up a star outing for Antrim in their win over Galway by scoring 1-3 from midfield as the Saffrons’ minors as they came out on top of a thriller against Laois by 3-19 to 3-12 to reach the Tesco All-Ireland B final.

Antrim will face Offaly in the final, who defeated Derry by 4-12 to 1-8 in the other semi-final.

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The fund – a total of €1,817,500 – will be spread across fifty-two events over the course of a week.

Each day will have a feature race with a minimum prize fund of €100,000 per race.

The hotly contested Tote Galway Plate, a race synonymous with Galway, will take place on Wednesday, July 28th.

The Tote Galway Plate is a race awash with quality, with experienced chasers taking on emerging youngsters, and has produced some high-class recent winners including, Balko Des Flos and Road To Riches.

This year’s edition of the race will have a prize fund of €250,000 after receiving an increase of €50,000.

The race cards on Thursday, July 29th and Friday, July 30th are sponsored in full by the Galway Races long-standing partner, Guinness, with Thursday’s Guinness Galway Hurdle now worth €250,000, having also received a boost of €50,000.

Each year for the Summer Festival, the Galway Racecourse hosts the Leading Jockey and Leading Trainer Championships sponsored by the Rooney Family and Chanelle Medical respectively.

This year, the Galway Race Committee are proud to announce that in association with the Rooney Family, they will be unveiling a new Pat Smullen Perpetual Trophy for the winner of the Flat Jockey Championship in memory of the jockey.

Smullen was linked with the Galway Festival through his partnership with Dermot Weld and a regular recipient of this prize.

Commenting on this award, Anthony Ryan, Chairman of Galway Race Committee said, “Pat was a true gentleman, a champion, a warrior and a regular to the winner’s enclosure here in Ballybrit. Pat has a huge number of fans and support here in Galway so it’s only fitting that we honour him in this way”.

Galway Racecourse have submitted plans for 5,000 spectators per day at the outdoor event, and are waiting for an imminent decision in relation to this.

Should they get approval, an announcement of their ticketing policy will be released shortly.

The first four action-packed days of the Galway Races will be broadcast on RTÉ from Ballybrit at 5 pm for two hours.

That includes the feature race on each day plus three supporting races each day.

TG4 will also broadcast the event for the first time in sixteen years, Galway Racecourse have announced.

The live coverage on TG4 will include fifteen action-packed races on Friday, July 30th and Saturday, July 31st.

It will feature races such as The Guinness Galway Blazers Steeplechase, The Guinness Galway Tribes Hurdle and The Galway Shopping Centre Handicap.

To complement the above television broadcast, Racing TV will cover and broadcast every one of the fifty-two races live from the track.

You can see the schedule for the 2021 Galway Races here.

To read the information on this year’s Ladies Day, click here.

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Sunday 30th May 2021. St. Jarlath’s Park, Tuam

Referee: Brian Cawley (Kildare)

Galway 1-15 Dublin 2-16

Pre-match:

Given the truncated nature of this season’s league a win for either side would seal a place in the semi-finals. For Dublin a draw would suffice after last weeks shoutout against Kerry. While a defeat would send the loser into a relegation play-off against Armagh or Monaghan.

Prior to the game Galway were dealt a blow when It was revealed that Daimen Comer is set for another spell on the sidelines after picking up a hand injury. Finian Ó Laoi started in the no.26 shirt and Tom Flynn was promoted to the bench. Kieran Molloy started instead of Eammon Brannigan.

Dublin named just a single change in the team announced earlier in the week. Jonny Copper coming into the side for John Small. However, there were more alterations before the ball was thrown in. Michael Sheil started between the posts, while further out the field Pedar O’Coffey Byrne started as did Colm Basquel. 

First-Half

Galway elected to play against a strong wind in the opening half. Peter Cooke got Galway off to a fine start and a Paul Conway effort extended their lead to two. Points from Cormac Costello and a Brain Fenton mark levelled things up. Shortly after Galway spurned a great goal opportunity. Matthew Tieney’s initial effort was blocked and Sean Kelly’s tame effort was stopped on line by Eoin Murchan. Subsequently Niall Scully won a turn-over in midfield and a few phases later Colm Basqual level the game at two apiece.

Robert Finnerty and Ciaran Kilkenny exchanged scores, before a Shane Walsh 45’ gave Galway a single point lead at the first water break.

Water break: Galway 0-04 Dublin 0-03

Cormac Costello levelled things up again on the restart. Colm Basquel’s second of the day edged Dublin ahead for the first time. Galway, however, responded quickly, to restore parity with a Shane Walsh free. It just crept over the bar, off the hands of Dublin keeper Michael Sheil.

A super point from the left hand side from Kilkenny nudged the Dubs back in front once more. Then Jonny Cooper dragged a shot across the face of goal for an uncharacteristic wide. Con O’Callaghan extended Dublin’s lead, as the black clouds descended in Tuam. However, a few light drops of rain never developed into the shower that threatened. 

The same could be said of the game, as when Dublin eased into a two point lead, they failed to kick-on. A Shane Walsh 45′ after Robert Finnerty’s initial effort was blocked cut the gap to a single score. A  fine turnover from Jack Glynn led to a sparkling break from Shane Walsh. The Kilkerrin/Clonberne man took the ball from deep and ran 40 yards, to kick a fine score to level matters. Cormac Costello edged Dublin ahead again after a disputed point. The Tuam venue lacked the technology to verify Bernard Powers vocal claims that the ball had sailed wide. No hawk eye here Sham! 

Referee Brendan Cawley of Kildare brandished the first yellow of the day to Peadar O’Coffey Byrne for a frontal foul on Peter Cooke. Shane Walsh’s free levelled it up again at the break. 

Half-time: Galway 0-08 Dublin 0-08

Dublin, as they have done so many times before, took over in the third quarter. From the restart the held the ball around the edge of the 45’ yard line for almost three minutes. They poked and probed for an opening, before Cormac Costello kicked them back in front. That slender lead soon grew to four points. As from the resulting kick-out Bernard Power failed to find a Galway shirt. The ball was worked back in to Niall Scully. His initial effort was stopped by Power, however, Con O’Callaghan was on hand to tap home.

Galway tried to cut the arrears. Cormac Costello and Shane Walsh traded scores twice. Costello fisted over one of those, while both of Walsh’s came from placed balls. Con O’Callaghan landed another score prior to the water break.

Second water break: Galway 0-11 Dublin 1-13

On resumption of play Dylan McHugh and Brian Fenton exchanged scores. Galway found an avenue back into the game with a lightning quick counter-attack goal. A Ciarán Kilkenny fisted effort came back off the upright at the Tierboy end of the ground. Kieran Molloy reacted quickest and carried the ball out to the left sideline, a swift kick pass found Paul Conroy. Who, in turn, boomed the ball into the edge of the square at the town end. Matthew Tierney got in behind Jonny Cooper and flicked the ball past Sheil in the Dublin goal.

A Cormac Costello free at the other end made the margin three points again. A ninth point from Walsh narrowed that lead. Then Ciarán Kilkenny fisted over again to restore Dublin’s margin again with ten to go. 

Kieran Molloy was booked for a drag back on the almost un-markable Kilkenny. Cormac Costello uncharacteristically blazed the free wide. Peter Cooke kicked a fine point to give Galway hope with five to go. It was Cooke’s last act, as Tom Flynn was introduced off the bench before the kickout. 

Both managers introduced plenty of fresh legs for the last five minutes. Possession was squandered by both teams before late in injury time one of the Dublin subs, Aaron Byrne rifled a bullet of a shot from the lefthand side into the top right-hand corner of the net to add a gloss to the scoreline from a Dublin perspective. A Shane Walsh free left the final margin at four points. Dublin now advance to a semi-final against Donegal, while Galway must travel to Inniskean to face Monaghan in a relegation decider.

Full-time: Galway 1-15 Dublin 2-16

Teams

Galway: 1.Bernard Power, 2.Sean Kelly, 3.Seán Mulkerrin, 4.Jack Glynn, 5.Liam Silke, 6 Dylan McHugh (0-1), 20.Kieran Molloy, 8.Peter Cooke (0-2), 9.Paul Conroy (0-1), 10.Paul Kelly, 26. Finian Ó Laoi, 12.Eamonn Brannigan, 13.Matthew Tierney (1-0), 14.Shane Walsh (0-10: 4f,4 45′), 15.Robert Finnerty (0-1).

Subs: 12.Eammon Brannigan (for Paul Kelly 45′), 16.Connor Gleeson, 17.Johnny Duane (Molloy 64′), 18. Gary O’Donnell, 19. Ciaran Potter (Glynn inj. 45′) , 21.Mattius Barrett (O’Laoi 52′), 22.Ronan Steede, 23.Liam Costello, 24.Dessie Connelly, 25.Tomo Culhane (Finnerty 60′), 26.Tomas Flynn (Cooke 64′).

Dublin: 16.Michael Shiel, 2.Michael Fitzsimons, 3.David Byrne, 22.Eric Lowndes, 4.Séan MacMahon, 5.Eoin Murchan, 6. Jonny Cooper, 7.Robert McDaid, 8.Brian Fenton(0-2,1m), 9.James McCarthy, 11.Con O’Callaghan (1-3), 12.Niall Scully, 17.Colm Basquel (0-2), 14.Ciarán Kilkenny, 15.Cormac Costello (0-6,1f).

Subs: 1.Evan Comerford, 7.Robert McDaid (McMahon,10.Tom Lahiff (Cooper 70′) , 18.Ryan Basquel, 19.Seán Bulger (O Cofaigh Byrne 50′), 20.Aaron Byrne (1-0), 21.Brian Howard, 23.Philip McMahon, 24.Dara Mullin (Scully 65′), 25.Cian Murphy, 26.Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne.

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