Dublin Div 1 status preserved as Joyce fails to convert free

Dublin 0-12 Galway1-9

Essentially, it was something of a moral victory for the home side, given that a late show of character dramatically produced three points in the last two minutes, And, their first-division status was ensured when Galway substitute Tommy Joyce, hardly half a minute on the field, kicked a 40 yards free wide from the left wing. The fact that Galway made most of the running was due in large measure to the midfield dominance of Joe Bergin and Kevin Walsh (on for the injured Ja Fallon). Additionally, they exerted more pressure in attack, except that at different stages their distribution was sloppy.

Mistakes in defence led indirectly to the concession of two points, but on balance, the backs were much more consistent. Brothers Gary and Richie Fahy were always comfortable in the central positions and both Declan Meehan and Sean Og de Paor complemented their work with solid support play for the attack.