Dublin relegated as manager and midfielder sent off in defeat to Galway

DRAGGING DUBS DOWN: Galway's Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin and Dublin's Killian McGinnis tussle off the ball. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Galway 0-20 (0-3-14) Dublin 1-15 (1-2-11)

If you are going to go down, do it in style.

Dublin had their manager Ger Brennan sent off, midfielder Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne soon joined him, and they conceded seven unanswered points as they were relegated in Pearse Stadium.

It means Dublin will compete in Division 2 next season having also been in the second tier in 2023. In front of a crowd of 9,274, they slid rapidly after Brennan’s dismissal.

Their first half was terrific as they gave their strong travelling support reason to roar. The second half was wasteful and confused.

At the turnaround, the mood in Salthill turned ugly. Robert Finnerty’s penalty was saved by Hugh O’Sullivan and Dublin were content with a 0-12 to 0-7 lead. As they made for the tunnel, both teams clashed.

Ger Brennan took issue with Galway S&C Cian Breathnach McGinn in the middle of it and knocked him to the ground. The fact that it all unfolded metres away from local children preparing for their half-time kickabout made it truly woeful.

They were both sent off before the start of the second half, before a makeup handshake, while Dylan McHugh and Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne were shown black cards. The whole affair felt mortifying.

And it was so far removed from the rest of the contest. Before that shemozzle, the visitors would have been content. A Sean Bugler two-pointer seconds after the throw-in instigated a run of four unanswered points.

There was a poignant tribute to former RTÉ Sport broadcaster Michael Lyster before throw-in. The stand rose to its feet in applause before a minute’s silence for The Sunday Game legend.

Dublin’s manager Ger Brennan and Galway manager Padraic Joyce after the game. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie.

All over the pitch, the matchups were blockbuster. Bugler gave Liam Silke a torrid time on his way to five first-half points. Eoin Murchan had his hands full with Robert Finnerty. Midfield was the land of the giants.

Salthill-Knocknacarra duo John Maher and Finnerty pulled their side back into the tie. Pádraic Joyce had his own cause for concern. Sean Kelly limped off holding his hamstring, Matthew Tierney seemed to suffer a dead leg. Kieran Molloy was sloppy in possession and replaced by Paul Conroy before the break.

Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin came in to score and cut the gap to three. He also won the penalty after a short Conroy shot. With the tie threatening to get away from them, Dublin introduced Con O’Callaghan for his first appearance since coming off with a hamstring issue against Kerry a month ago.

It was a different number 14 who was excelling in blue though. Killian McGinnis finished the afternoon with 1-3. For one point, he volleyed a ball that seemed destined to go out over the endline over the bar from an acute angle. The goal came from a turnover on Johnny McGrath and fast break, with O’Callaghan laying it on.

A yellow card for a high tackle on Liam Silke saw Ó Cofaigh Byrne head to the stand. Against 14 men, Galway surged. Cian Hernon was outstanding and kicked two points from full back. Finnerty raised an orange flag. It was the first time they led in the entire tie.

They march on to a Connacht semi-final against Sligo or Leitrim. Dublin now prepare for a seismic Leinster championship campaign.

Scorers for Galway: R. Finnerty 0-8 (1 tp, 2f); O. Mac Donnacha 0-4 (1 tpf, 2f); P. Conroy 0-2 (tp); C. Hernon 0-2; C. D’Arcy, D. O’Flaherty, Ó Maoilchiaráin, L. Ó Conghaile 0-1 each.

Scorers for Dublin: K. McGinnis 1-3; S. Bugler 0-5 (1 tp); H. O’Sullivan 0-2 (1tpf); R. McGarry 0-2; C. Kilkenny, N. O’Callaghan, C. O’Callaghan 0-1 each.

GALWAY: C. Flaherty; J. McGrath, C. Hernon, J. Glynn; L. Silke, D. McHugh, S. Kelly; J. Maher, M. Tierney; S. McGrath, K. Molloy, C. D’Arcy; R. Finnerty, O. Mac Donnacha, R. Roche.

Subs: S. Ó Maoilchiaráin for Kelly (19 – Inj); P. Conroy for Tierney (Inj – 29); C. Mulhern for K. Molloy (32); L. Ó Conghaile for Roche (45); D. O’Flaherty for McGrath (52).

Black card: D. McHugh (35-45).

DUBLIN: H. O’Sullivan; E. Murchan, N. Doran, D. Byrne; E. Kennedy, B. Howard, A. Gavin; P. Ó Cofaigh Byrne, C. McMorrow; R. McGarry, S. Bugler, N. Sculy; P. Small, K. McGinnis, C. Kilkenny.

Subs: N. O’Callaghan for Small (Inj - 11); S. MacMahon for Gavin (42); C. O’Callaghan for N. O’Callaghan (45); L. Smith for Byrne (58); J. Lundy for McGarry (62); C. O’Connor for Kennedy (65).

Black card: P. Ó Cofaigh Byrne (35-45).

Red card: Ó Cofaigh Byrne (53).

Referee: F. Kelly (Longford).