Dublin demonstrate once more why they will be better in 2024

It was a display every other Division 1 side would welcome, but still the Dublin boss was disappointed.

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

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

Midway through the first half, this game assumed that sort of ominous shape that leads to a half-empty stand well before the final whistle. In Salthill, Dublin duly demonstrated flashes of their power without ever needing to deploy the full extent of it.

Galway goalkeeper Connor Gleeson found a man with his long kickout but Johnny Heaney’s kick down the sideline was intercepted by a diving Sean McMahon. A Ciaran Kilkenny dink, a Killian O’Gara give-and-go and a point by eventual Man of the Match Seán Bugler pushed the All-Ireland champions five clear.

Bugler notched three points in total. The St. Oliver Plunkett’s star missed the 2023 decider against Kerry due to injury. Con O’Callaghan did not muster a single score in that match. He kicked 0-9 on Saturday, five frees and one mark. Dublin led 0-10 to 0-6 at the turnaround and they were never troubled. Everything was on their terms.

Cillian Ó Curraoin led the way for the home side. He kicked eight points and cut the gap to three at the start of the second half after taking the ball off Daniel O’Flaherty on the loop, shaking off McMahon and curling over a right-footed effort. Dublin quickly turned the dial and stretched away. Brian Howard booted a ball over the entire Galway defence from outside the 45 and found Ross McGarry in space. He tapped over his second score. Sometimes simplicity is the key to excellence.

Dessie Farrell’s side finished with 80% conversion. They struck one wide in the entire contest. It was a display every other Division 1 side would welcome with open arms. And still the Dublin boss was disappointed.

“There are some things to be moderately happy about,” he said post-match. “The conditions were tough. I thought our skill execution at times was poor.

“The lads themselves won’t be happy with some of what went on out there, so it was a little bit of a frustrating type of a day if I’m being very honest.

“And yet when you look at it, we won by seven points or whatever it is. Shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves maybe.”

Typical manager playing down some burgeoning hype, sure, but at the same time he is right. Dublin can be better. They will be better. Jack McCaffrey, Colm Basquel and Paul Mannion all came on for some beneficial minutes.

Evan Comerford got the nod in goals and kicked a terrific long-range free. Kilkenny and O’Callaghan have put a patchy 2023 to bed. The panel continues to develop, Killian McGinnis kicking two points in his first league start. Paddy Small pulled up in the warm-up and did not play. Daire Newcombe was a late change in place of Eoin Murchan. Some veteran stalwarts are yet to appear.

Of course, Galway are down bodies too. Their injury plight persists. In some ways that is part of the problem. Dublin have a selection luxury, Galway have panel headaches. On one side, prospects get a chance alongside expert personnel having bided their time several seasons. On the other, they are summoned to fill a void in an inexperienced unit.

Can Ó Curraoin click in a forward line with Shane Walsh, Damien Comer, Matthew Tierney and Robert Finnerty? Padraic Joyce won’t know until it’s the height of championship. Sean Kelly and Cillian McDaid’s injury record shows no sign of improving.

They are hoping they will improve. Dublin know they have improved. This does not remove any suspense from the 2024 championship. There are several contenders with the potential to challenge. But there can be no doubt that the bar is now higher.

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

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

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 McMahon; 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 McMahon (68).

Referee: B Cawley (Kildare).