FLASHBACK: Dublin v Galway- 2018 Allianz Football League Final

By Conor Martin 

Ahead of our Senior Footballers' clash with Galway at Croke Park this weekend, Conor Martin looks at one of the most impressive performances against the Tribesmen in recent years - our Allianz League Division 1 final win back in 2018. 

Dublin almost had a goal after 15 seconds when Paul Mannion burst through, only to be expertly denied by Ruairi Lavelle in the Galway net. But Dublin were able to get going thanks to points from Dean Rock and Mannion.

Barry McHugh and Johnny Heaney were proving themselves useful as Galway got themselves in the game. Niall Scully and Ciarán Kilkenny were reliable as usual, while Mannion and Rock continued to find scores for the Dubs.

It was an end-to-end game, and the sides would be level five times in the first-half. The two counties would go into the break with eight points each. Thanks to Galway fighting back and getting themselves back into the game through scores from Heaney and Paul Conroy.

Colm Basquel was introduced during half-time and he had an instant impact on the scoreboard with a point straight after the restart and by the 45th minute, Dublin found themselves 0-12 to 0-9 up due to the efforts of Rock, Mannion and Basquel.

But back came Galway with Shane Walsh's point and their task of getting back into the game was made easier when Dublin were reduced to 14 men when Scully saw red for a second yellow after fouling Galway’s Conroy.

McHugh and Walsh then tied things up with 16 minutes left and it was looking for a brief moment like things were going to go awry for the Dubs.

Rock and Damien Comer kicked scores at either end, but Galway were unable to get ahead while Galway’s keeper Lavelle pulled off another great save, this time denying Rock a goal.

But Rock would convert the resultant free, which was followed up by a Kilkenny point to double our advantage with nine minutes of the league decider left.

With time running out, Galway continued to push Jim Gavin’s Dubs. Comer put the squeeze on Dublin with five to go, but Dublin upped the tempo and went for the kill. Philly McMahon and Eric Lowndes increased our lead to three before a late Rock free sealed a free to confirm Dublin’s 13th National Football League title.

Winning the league would kickstart another memorable year under Gavin. We would win the Leinster Football Championship and defeat Tyrone in the All-Ireland final. Winning our fourth Sam Maguire in a row, that was part of our unprecedented five and six All-Ireland final wins in a row.

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Philly McMahon (0-01), Michael Fitzsimons, David Byrne; James McCarthy, Jonny Cooper, John Small (0-01); Brian Fenton, Michael Darragh Macauley; Brian Howard, Kevin McManamon, Niall Scully (0-01); Dean Rock (0-07, 0-05f, 0-01 ’45), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-02), Paul Mannion (0-03).

Subs: Eric Lowndes (0-01) for McCarthy (35), Colm Basquel (0-02) for McManamon (half-time), Eoin Murchan for Small (40), Con O’Callaghan for Macauley (54), Shane Carthy for Mannion (67), Small for McMahon (73)

Galway: Ruairi Lavelle; Declan Kyne, Sean Andy O Ceallaigh, Eoghan Kerin; Gareth Bradshaw, Cathal Sweeney, Johnny Heaney (0-02); Peter Cooke, Ciaran Duggan; Eamonn Brannigan, Paul Conroy (0-01), Sean Kelly; Barry McHugh (0-06, 0-06f), Damien Comer (0-03), Shane Walsh (0-02, 0-01f)

Subs: Gary O’Donnell for Heaney (61), Tom Flynn for Cooke (67), Patrick Sweeney for Conroy (67), Adrian Varley for Walsh (69)

Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)