Senior footballers and Tribesmen to meet again

Dublin and Galway meet on Saturday night in the FL Division 1 at Croke Park (7.0) in a repeat of last year's league decider that the Dubs won 0-18 to 0-14.

The side had collided just two weeks prior in their regulation FL game in Pearse Stadium, Salthill when they sides finished level 0-13 each after a late Johnny Heaney point secured the draw for the Tribesmen

Last summer the counties met again when Dublin put in a strong second-half to prevail 1-24 to 2-12 in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final.

We look back at those three encounters.

2018 ALL-IRELAND SFC SEMI-FINAL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11: CROKE PARK

DUBLIN 1-24 GALWAY 2-12

Reigning champions Dublin qualified for their fourth All-Ireland SFC decider in-a-row following this nine-point victory over Galway at Croke Park on Saturday evening, August 11 last year.

The Dubs led 1-9 to 1-7 at half-time after an evenly balanced opening but the Dubs, inspired by the likes of Jack McCaffrey, upped their intensity and pace in the second period to book their berth in the final.

Dublin also drew energy and scoring power from their subs with Cormac Costello (0-3, 0-1f), Kevin McManamon (0-2) and Paul Flynn all contributing following their introduction.

In the opening half Dublin opened well with points from Paul Mannion and two Dean Rock frees to lead 0-3 to 0-0 inside the opening six minutes.

However, they suffered a body blow when Damien Comer timed his leap best among three Dublin players to fist overhead to Stephen Cluxton's net.

An excellent point from the tireless Brian Howard made it 0-4 to 1-1 by the tenth minute.

A few minutes later the Dubs were in trouble again with the Tribesmen were awarded a penalty for a foul on Comer but Cluxton brilliantly denied Eamonn Brannigan from the penalty spot.

It was a nervy period for Dublin but their escaped the other side without too much damage and began to exert a greater influence on the game.

Ciaran Kilkenny was very much the leader of the Dublin attack and he pointed Dublin into a 0-5 to 1-1 lead in the 13th minute. Points from Brian Fenton and Rock (free) put Dublin 0-7 to 1-1 in front.

But back came Galway who counter-attacked to telling effect and found plenty of time and space in the Dublin defence to kick three points on the spin to draw level by the 25th minute.

But Dublin did well to get in front by the break with Con O'Callaghan's 26th minute goal, following great work by Jack McCaffrey and Niall Scully, a great fillip for Jim Gavin's men.

The downside of the first half was Cian O'Sullivan being withdrawn through injury in the 28th minute with Michael Fitzsimons replacing the Kilmacud Crokes defender and enjoying a positive game.

The second half was a different story with a few early runs up the left wing by McCaffrey signaling Dublin's intent for the second period.

Paul Mannion opened Dublin's second-half account with a fisted Con O'Callaghan point making it 1-11 to 1-7 shortly after the restart.

But from the 45th minute on the Dubs began to punch holes in the Galway defence.

Points from Kilkenny, Rock (free), O'Callghan and Dean Rock again made it 1-15 to 1-9 with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Dublin didn't let up with Costello finding the target twice in quick succession before Fenton showed some nice footwork before clipping over off his left foot.

Before the conclusion Dublin's subs have contributed six points as Dublin had secured victory before the impressive Shane Walsh scored a goal late in the game.

SCORERS – Dublin: C O’Callaghan 1-3, D Rock 0-5 (4f), P Mannion 0-4, C Kilkenny, C Costello (1f) 0-3 each, B Fenton, K McManamon 0-2 each, B Howard, P Flynn 0-1 each. Galway: S Walsh 1-5 (0-3f), D Comer 1-1, I Burke 0-2, T Flynn, J Heaney, G O'Donnell, M Daly 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; E Murchan, P McMahon, J Cooper; J Small, C O’Sullivan, J McCaffrey; B Fenton, J McCarthy; N Scully, C Kilkenny, B Howard; D Rock, C O’Callaghan, P Mannion. Subs: M Fitzsimons for O’Sullivan (28 inj), C Costello for Scully (44), K McManamon for Rock (56), MD Macauley for Murchan (57), D Daly for Small (66), P Flynn for McCaffrey (68).

GALWAY: R Lavelle; D Kyne, SA Ó Ceallaigh, E Kerin; C Sweeney, G Bradshaw, J Heaney; C Duggan, T Flynn; E Brannigan, S Walsh, S Kelly; S Armstrong, D Comer, I Burke. Subs: M Daly for Armstrong (47), P Cooke for Brannigan (50), G O’Donnell for Sweeney (56), A Varley for Heaney (59), C Molloy for Kerin (66), J Duane for Bradshaw (68).

REF: B Cassidy (Derry).

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2018 NFL DIVISION 1 FINAL

SUNDAY, APRIL 1: CROKE PARK

DUBLIN 0-18 GALWAY 0-14

Dublin were crowned NFL1 champions again …. the fifth time in just six seasons and they did it the hard way in last April's top-flight decider at Croke Park.

The Dubs lost James McCarthy, Michael Darragh Macauley and John Small (temporarily) to injury as well as playing out the last 20 minutes with 14 men following the dismissal of Niall Scully (second yellow).

But Dublin showed the mettle of champions with Dean Rock ‘45’, the influential Ciarán Kilkenny, Philly McMahon, Eric Lowndes and a Rock free seeing Jim Gavin’s men to a hard-earned success.

Con O'Callaghan, fresh from this All-Ireland club SHC heroics with Cuala, was introduced for the last 15 minutes and played his role in driving his side towards the winners enclosure while Colm Basquel was sprung at the interval, replacing Kevin McManamon, and contributed impressively with two points from play.

The sides entered the break on level terms, 0-8 each, after Galway had scored the last two points of the half through Paul Conroy, off his left, and a superb effort from Johnny Heaney.

Dublin had just hit three on the spin with Paul Mannion having his goal attempt tipped over by keeper Ruairí Lavelle - not the only time in the encounter the Galway netmiders reflexes denied the Dubs - and two Dean Rock frees following fouls on John Small and Ciarán Kilkenny.

The Crokes man also had another ‘point’ disallowed when Kilkenny was adjudged by ref Anthony Nolan, but the Castleknock man looked to have been fouled after fielding a high ball into the square.

Dublin had started the game smartly with Mannion having a goal effort saved by Lavelle but points from Rock, following good work in defence by Mannion, and Mannion himself on the scoresheet.

But Damien Comer enjoyed an influential opening and was fouled for threes that Damien Comer converted to put Galway on their way to a 0-6 to 0-5 lead after 21 minutes.

SCORERS – Dublin: D Rock 0-7 (0-5f, 0-1 ‘45’), P Mannion 0-3, C Kilkenny, C Basquel 0-2 each, P McMahon, J Small, N Scully, E Lowndes 0-1 each. Galway: B McHugh 0-6 (0-5f), D Comer 0-3, J Heaney, S Walsh (0-1f) 0-2 each, P Conroy 0-1.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, D Byrne, P McMahon; J McCarthy, J Cooper, J Small; B Fenton, MD Macauley; N Scully, P Mannion, B Howard; K McManamon, C Kilkenny, D Rock. Subs: E Lowndes for McCarthy (35 inj), C Basquel for McManamon (ht), E Murchan for Small (40 inj), C O’Callaghan for MD Macauley (54), S Carthy for Mannion (68), Small for McMahon (72).

GALWAY: R Lavelle; D Kyne, SA Ó Ceallaigh, E Kerin; C Sweeney, G Bradshaw, S Kelly; C Duggan, P Conroy; J Heaney, P Cooke, E Brannigan; S Walsh, D Comer, B McHugh. Subs: G O’Donnell for Heaney (62), T Flynn for Cooke (67), P Sweeney for Conroy (68), A Varley for Walsh (70).

REF: A Nolan (Wicklow).

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2018 NFL DIVISION 1 ROUND 6

SUNDAY, MARCH 16: PEARSE STADIUM, SALTHILL

DUBLIN 0-13 GALWAY 0-13

It will be Dublin v Galway NFL Division 1 final following this drawn regulation clash at Pearse Stadium, Salthill.

In an at times feisty encounter Dublin trailed by five points at half-time (0-10 to 0-5) after playing into a strong wind and were also three points in arrears (0-12 to 0-9) just inside the last ten minutes.

Dublin were reduced to 14 men when Eoghan O'Gara was red-carded in the 68th minute, only on the pitch six minutes, but then hit three unanswered points through sub Cormac Costello (two frees) either side of a Ciarán Kilkenny, his fifth from play, edged Dublin in front 0-13 to 0-12 in the fifth minute of added time in front of a crowd of 10,050.

But Galway, who had already qualified for the league final, had the final word when Johnny Heaney launched the equaliser in the ninth minute of added.

Five mintues into the second half a Dean Rock free cut the deficit to 0-6 to 0-10 and points from Kilkenny and Jonny Cooper, both from long range, as well as a Paddy Small free left the minimum in it, 0-9 to 0-10 after 55 minutes.

The Dubs had Dean Rock black-carded though in the 45th minute and he was replaced by Cormac Costello who went on to fire over two important frees late on.

The Tribesmen, playing with the advantage of the strong win, led 0-10 to 0-5 at half-time.

The Dubs had started well with early points from Ciarán Kilkenny and a Dean Rock free, following a foul on James McCarthy.

However, the hosts who operated with a counter-attacking system and several extra players retreating deep into their own defence, hit the next five points to lead 0-5 to 0-2 after 13 minutes.

Barry McHugh was on target with two deadballs (one free, one '45') with Adrian Varley, Shane Walsh and Peter Cooke also raising white flags.

Paddy Andrews got one back for the Dubs with a superb point from a very difficult angle but Galway replied with the next three points through McHugh (two frees) and Gary O'Donnell to make it 0-8 to 0-3.

Dublin did threaten during that spell with James McCarthy breaching the defence but his attempted pass to Andrews was cut out by full-back Seán Andy O Ceallaigh.

Kilkenny cut the gap to four with a fine finish before McHugh and Peter Cooke extended Galway's advantage to 0-10 to 0-4.

In the concluding action of the opening half Dublin keeper Evan Comerford fielded a Cooke point effort dropping short and set in motion and Dublin move that finished with Kilkenny shooting his third point of the half.

SCORERS - Galway: B McHugh 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 '45'), P Cooke 0-2, A Varley, S Walsh, G O'Donnell, D Comer, J Heaney 0-1 each. Dublin: C Kilkenny 0-5, D Rock (0-2f), C Costello (0-2f) 0-2 each, P Andrews, J Cooper, P Small (0-1f), C McHugh (0-1f) 0-1 each.

GALWAY: R Ó Beoláin; E Kerin, SA Ó Ceallaigh, D Wynne; G O'Donnell, J Duane, C Sweeney; P Conroy, C Duggan; T Flynn, P Cooke, A Varley; S Walsh, S Armstrong, B McHugh. Subs: E Brannigan for Varley (41), D Comer for Walsh (46), J Heaney for Cooke (50), S Kelly for Armstrong (57), J Heaney for Cooke (50), D Kyne for Ó Ceallaigh (BC 76).

DUBLIN: E Comerford; D Byrne, P McMahon, M Fitzsimons; E Lowndes, J Small, J Cooper; J McCarthy, MD Macauley; C Reddin, C Kilkenny, C Basquel; P Small, D Rock, P Andrews. Subs: B Fenton for Lowndes (ht), C Costello for Rock (BC 47), C McHugh for Reddin (50), E Ó Conghaile for Macauley (59), E O'Gara for P Small (63), A McGowan for J Small (67).

REF: J McQuillan (Cavan).