Dublin Secure Win Over Galway at Croke Park

Picture Courtesy Matthew Lysaght

DUBLIN 2-19

GALWAY 2-13

Goals in either half from SeanBugler proved pivotal as Dublin overcame Galway by six points in their Allianz National Football League Division 1 contest at Croke Park on Saturday evening.

In what was a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final, the Dubs impressed in the opening-half with a 12th minute goal from Bugler helping build a 1-10 to 0-6 lead by the interval.

Another well-taken goal by Bugler within ten minutes of the resumption strengthen Dublin’s hand but goals in quick succession by John Maher and Damien Comer weakened the home grip before a flurry of points saw them regain control of affairs.

Dublin took their time to settle with returning goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton enjoying mixed fortunes on his restarts as Galway opened the scoring through a 3rd minute point by Rob Finnerty.

While Luke Breathnach levelled matters two minutes later, the visitors continued to press as Finnerty restored their lead and the corner-forward spurned a glorious goal chance in the 7th minute, palming wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.

Dublin, in contrast, weren’t so profligate and after a brace of Cormac Costello points had handed them the lead, they pounced for the game’s opening goal in the 12th minute as Breathnach’s deft pass released Bugler through for a smart finish inside Connor Gleeson’s right-hand upright.

Breathnach’s influence continued to grow as he kicked a sublime two-pointed score three minutes later and the home lead grew to eight points by the 19th minute following scores from Ross McGarry and Breathnach.

A patient Niall Scully score into Hill16 reflected Dublin’s comfort at this stage but after Céin Darcy had ended a barren period of sixteen minutes, Galway enjoyed a small degree of momentum through successive scores by Dylan McHugh and Matthew Thompson.

Con O’Callaghan and Matthew Tierney traded points, the latter coming from a free after Tom Lahiff had reacted smartly to block a Tierney effort on the line, via the upright.

Dublin finished the half on the counter-attack as O’Callaghan blazed over the crossbar as the hooter threatened to blow, leaving the Dubs with a healthy seven-point interval advantage. 

While Costello (free) and O’Callaghan stretched that lead within two minutes of the restart, Galway didn’t take too long to reply as they kicked successive points through Tierney and Liam Ó Conghaile.

A Costello point in the 44th minute continued to keep Dublin on the front foot and they put further distance between the teams two minutes later as Bugler rolled a composed finish beyond Gleeson from ten yards from Lahiff’s pass.

However, Dublin’s ten-point lead was halved in an instant as Daniel Ó Flaherty’s two-point score preceded an attempt from John Maher that deflected off a Dublin hand, wrong footing Cluxton in the process.

There was nothing fortunate about Galway’s second goal at the start of the final quarter though as substitute Damien Comer turned sharpy before leaving Cluxton helpless with a rising shot from ten yards.

Having seen their lead whittled down to two points, Dublin regrouped admirably as Costello landed a settling ‘45’ and they began to assume control again on the scoreboard as Killian McGinnis, McGarry and Cian Murphy all raised white flags by the 60th minute.

Comer raised a few further scares in the closing stages but Lorcan O’Dell and O’Callaghan put paid to any Dublin nerves as they head to Omagh next Sunday to face Tyrone in Round 7.

Scorers – Dublin:S Bugler 2-0; C Costello 0-5 (2f, 1 ’45); L Breathnach (1 2pt), C O’Callaghan 0-4 each; R McGarry 0-2, C Murphy, N Scully, K McGinnis, L O’Dell 0-1 apiece.Galway:D Comer 1-2 (0-1f); J Maher 1-0; D O’Flaherty (1 2pt), R Finnerty (1f), M Tierney (1f) 0-2 each; D McHugh, M Thompson, C Darcy, C McDaid, L Ó Conghaile 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: S Cluxton; T Clancy, C Tyrrell, D Byrne; B Howard, S MacMahon, C Murphy;T Lahiff, P Ó Cofaigh Byrne; N Scully, C O’Callaghan, S Bugler; R McGarry, C Costello, L Breathnach. Subs:K McGinnis for Ó Cofaigh Byrne (43),L O’Dell for Breathnach (53), J Madden for Scully (53),K Lahiff for McGarry (62),D Keogh for Costello (68).

Galway: C Gleeson; J McGrath, s Fitzgerald, D Ó Flaherty; D McHugh, L Silke, S Kelly; P Conroy, J Maher; M Tierney, C McDaid, C Darcy; R Finnerty, M Thompson, S Walsh. Subs:L Ó Conghaile for Finnerty (32),C Ó Curraoin for Walsh (half-time), J Glynn for McHugh (40),D Comer for Conroy (46),S O’Neill for Fitzgerald (58).

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).