Impressive win for Galway

Galway 0-28 Dublin 1-12

Galway sent out an early season warning today with a very impressive victory over a disappointing Dublin side at Pearse Stadium.

Galway manager Anthony Cunningham could hardly have hoped for a better start as the Tribesmen raced into a ten points lead by half-time with some superb finishing in the swirling wind.

All six forwards found the target by the 26th minute and by half-time they were 0-16 to 0-6 in front.

Dublin, who had started well with points from Dotsie O’Callaghan and Mark Schutte, lost their way as Galway moved the ball around much better.

Conor Cooney was in excellent form with placed balls and landed five points from as many attempts as Dublin were forced to foul.

Debutant Cathal Mannion was superb, with the Ahascragh-Fohenagh clubman giving Peter Kelly a torrid time as he hit four points from play in the opening half.

Another debutant Jason Flynn also landed four points from play as Galway picked off points from all angles.

Jonathan Glynn also got a brace for Galway as they surged 0-14 to 0-4 ahead after 26 minutes.

Dublin manager Anthony Daly reacted to the crisis by drafting in Colm Cronin and Alan McCrabbe for John McCaffrey and Paul Ryan.

McCrabbe landed a couple of frees before the break to leave ten points between them at the interval.

Any hopes of a Dublin revival disappeared when Conal Keaney was sent off seven minutes after the restart for a second bookable offence when he lashed out at Iarla Tannian.

Galway continued to fire points over from all sides and Flynn was unlucky to be whistled back after blasting the ball to the net, with Cooney converting the resulting free.

Sean McGrath gave Dublin a glimmer of hope when he scored a goal with his first touch after coming on.

But that was as good as it got for Dublin as Galway dominated to the end to get their campaign off to the best possible start.

Scorers

Galway: C Cooney 0-6 (5f), N Healy 0-6 (1f), C Mannion 0-4, J Flynn 0-4, J Glynn 0-3, P Brehony 0-2, D Collins 0-1, A Harte 0-1, D Glennon 0-1.

Dublin: S McGrath 1-1 (0-1f), A McCrabbe 0-4 (4f), D O'Callaghan 0-3, P Ryan 0-2 (2f), M Schutte 0-1, Ryan O'Dwyer 0-1.

Galway: C Callanan; F Moore, R Burke, J Coen; A Harte, I Tannian, D Collins; David Burke, P Brehony; C Cooney, J Glynn, J Flynn; N Healy, C Mannion, D Glennon.

Subs: P Landers for Cooney (11-14 blood), R Cummins for Glennon (49), Daithí Burke for Tannian (58), P Landers for Mannion (58), K Hynes for David Burke (64), D Dolan for Glynn (66).

Dublin: G Maguire; C O'Callaghan, P Kelly, S Timlin; S Hiney, L Rushe, M Carton; R O'Dwyer, J McCaffrey; C Keaney, D Treacy, D Sutcliffe; D O'Callaghan, P Ryan, M Schutte.

Subs: C Cronin for McCaffrey (31), A McCrabbe for Ryan (31), E Dillon for Treacy (h-t), C McCormack for Hiney (49), S McGrath for O'Dwyer (58).

Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)