Pat Gilroy encouraged by improved Dublin display against Tribe

Mon, 26th February 2018

Dublin manager Pat Gilroy was encouraged by his side’s display in Sunday’s clash with reigning league and All-Ireland champions, Galway, despite their six-point (1-20 to 1-14) reversal.

Dublin’s display was an improvement on their showing of a week earlier when they were well beaten by Limerick as the Dubs showed good battling spirit to battle back after a poor start against the Tribemen in Parnell Park.

Galway led by seven points, 0-9 to 0-2, inside the opening 23 minutes and extended that to nine points (0-13 to 0-4) by the 33rd minute before Dublin mounted a comeback.

Inside the last 20 minutes Dublin had reduced the gap to just two points, 1-10 to 0-15, and were also denied from the penalty spot with Paul Winters' effort turned around the post by keeper James Skehill.

"It was a much better performance than last week (against Limerick). We were right in it up until the end,” said Pat.

“The things we'd focused on bringing to the game during the week - we did.

"We have to improve. The ball isn't sticking in the forward line as much as it should. Our finishing could have been a bit better.

“We certainly had more goal chances than we had in any other game.

"It was very encouraging that the things that we worked on during the week, we brought to the game. And look, we made mistakes today but you couldn't fault their effort.

"I think we got a foundation for building our game and we're encouraged by it," added Pat.

The Dubs face Laois in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise this coming Sunday (2.30) knowing that victory will book them a NHL Division 1 quarter-final berth, anything less and the Dubs will be in a relegation play-off.