Dublin wash Galway away in comfortable Salthill victory

Galway’s Dylan McHugh and Dublin’s Ross McGarry. Pic ©INPHO/Evan Logan

Allianz FL Division 1: Galway 0-14 Dublin 0-22 

At the final whistle in Pearse Stadium after Galway’s first doubleheader in four years, there was a sizeable pitch invasion of a predominately blue disposition. It was fitting. Dessie Farrell’s outfit washed away any semblance of a contest on their way to an eight-point win.

In a misty shower and on a pitch already demonstrating signs of strain from the hurling curtain-raiser between Galway and Limerick, this tie was always likely to be one for hard slogging. Dublin erected a four-point buffer by half-time, taking the lead in the fifth minute and maintaining it for the remainder of the fixture.

Killian McGinnis, one of five late changes to the starting team, kicked two points from three shots in an eye-catching display. Sean Bugler found space all day, finishing with three points and the TV Man of the Match award.

Brian Fenton of Dublin takes a selfie with a supporter after the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Galway and Dublin at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Con O’Callaghan struck five frees and missed another three. The combination of a determined Sean Fitzgerald and desperate conditions meant the direct deliveries that he has fed off in recent weeks weren’t as frequent, but he still managed to claim a well-taken mark and flash a goal chance over after a terrific cross-field pass by second half replacement Lorcan O’Dell.

A Bugler point after a typical deep run had Dublin five ahead midway through the first half and locals fidgeting nervously in the stand. At that stage, the outcome already looked ominous. The tide would not be turning.

Micheal Breathnach’s clubman Cillian Ó Curraoin started in place of Robert Finnerty to make it a full-forward line from three different intermediate clubs. He was the only persistent scoring threat for Padraic Joyce’s outfit, mustering 0-8 from 12 shots. A curled effort immediately after half-time brought Galway within three points. Despite that Dublin were far from troubled.

Gradually they turned the dial and pushed further ahead. Colm Basquel came on and made his mark. Evan Comerford drilled a long-range free. Tom Lahiff added a second. They shepherded Galway down blind alleys and forced turnovers at their ease. Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey came on for beneficial minutes. They hit only one wide and none from play. On a miserable afternoon, they were extraordinarily comfortable.

Scorers for Galway: Cillian Ó Curraoin 0-8 (5 frees), Rory Cunningham 0-1, Johnny McGrath 0-1, Cathal Sweeney 0-1, Liam Ó Conghaile 0-1, Jack McCabe 0-1, Johnny Heaney 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: Con O’Callaghan 0-9 (5 frees, 1 mark), Sean Bugler 0-3, Killian McGinnis 0-2, Ross McGarry 0-2, Tom Lahiff 0-2, Brian Fenton 0-1, Ciaran Kilkenny 0-1, Colm Basquel 0-1, Evan Comerford 0-1 free.

GALWAY: C Gleeson; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, S Mulkerrin; E Kelly, J Daly, D O’Flaherty; D McHugh, J Maher; J Heaney, C Darcy, C Sweeney; C Ó Curraoin, N Daly, R Cunningham.

Subs: P Conroy for Maher (temp 18-19), P Conroy for Daly (half-time), J Glynn for O’Flaherty (47), J McCabe for Cunningham, L O Conghaile for Darcy (both 57), P Egan for Heaney (62).

DUBLIN: E Comerford; C Murphy, D Newcombe, S MacMahon; S Bugler, J Small, B Howard; B Fenton, T Lahiff; R McGarry, C Kilkenny, K McGinnis; K O’Gara, C O’Callaghan, N Scully.

Subs: C Basquel for O’Gara (47), J McCaffrey for McGinnis (51), L O’Dell for Scully (55), P Mannion for McGarry (55), T Clancy for S MacMahon (68).

Referee: B Cawley (Kildare)