Galway 0-13
Dublin 0-13
Declan Rooney reports from Pearse Stadium
CIARAN KILKENNY KICKED five points from play as 14-man Dublin staged a late comeback but Johnny Heaney’s late equaliser in the ninth minute of added-time clinched a draw for the home side at Pearse Stadium.
Leading by five points at half time Galway only scored three times in the second half, and despite Eoghan O’Gara’s straight red card following an off-the-ball incident with Sean Andy Ó Ceallaigh, Dublin roared back to take the lead late on.
The game, which was littered with nasty incidents, ended horribly with several Dublin players holding on to their markers as Galway sought an equaliser, which duly arrived and the shares were divided.
One of four late changes to the Dublin team was Evan Comerford, who came in for Stephen Cluxton – the first time in nearly two years that the Parnells man didn’t start a league or championship game for Dublin – and Galway put huge pressure on his kick-out especially into the wind in the first half.
On of the biggest factors at Pearse Stadium today was wind advantage, and after Gary O’Donnell won the toss he elected to play with the gale at his back for the first half.
Only eight seconds had elapsed when Ciaran Kilkenny kicked Dublin’s first point, and they doubled their lead in the seventh minute when Dean Rock tapped over a free.
Facing the wind Dublin were hugely patient as they retained possession for long stretches and waited for the slightest break in the Galway defensive cover. For their own part Galway were outstanding on the hind foot with huge shifts from the likes of Tom Flynn and Cathal Sweeney, and for the most part they repelled Dublin before the interval.
Dublin too packed their defence tightly, but with the wind behind them Galway were able to shoot from long range and Barry McHugh slotted a couple of frees from distance to help his side into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 13 minutes.
Peter Cooke and Shane Walsh also scored from the 40 metres range after Paddy Andrews had replied for Dublin, but an unclaimed goal chance from James McCarthy helped Galway maintain their good run and they led 0-8 to 0-3 by the 24th minute.
The defensive showing from Galway continued to keep Dublin at bay – although you got the feeling that they were happy to show patience into the wind – while McHugh could have gone for goal instead of taking his point as Galway led by five points at the interval.
Roles were very much reversed in the second period as Dublin took their turn playing with the advantage of the elements, and a free from Rock and a Kilkenny point had cut the lead to three by the 43rd minute.
The loss of Rock to a black card after 46 minutes was a blow to Dublin, but after Jonny Cooper kicked a good point on the overlap, Paddy Small kicked his first free for the sky blues.
A one point lead was never going to suffice, and Galway captain Damien Comer kicked an inspirational score before Johnny Heaney added another to give Galway a 0-12 to 0-9 lead.
But despite Eoghan O’Gara’s late red card, Dublin kicked four in a row to claim the lead only for Heaney to level it late on.
Scorers for Galway: Barry McHugh 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1’45), Peter Cooke, Johnny Heaney 0-2 each, Shane Walsh, Adrian Varley, Gary O’Donnell, Damien Comer 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dublin: Ciaran Kilkenny 0-5, Dean Rock, Cormac Costello 0-2 (0-2f) each, Paddy Andrews, Johnny Cooper, Paddy Small (0-1f), Conor McHugh (0-1f) 0-1 each.
Galway
1. Ronán Ó Beoláin (Micheál Breathnach’s)
4. David Wynne (Moycullen)
3. Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh (Leitir Mór)
2. Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)
5. Gary O’Donnell (Tuam Stars)
6. Johnny Duane (St James)
7. Cathal Sweeney (Killannin)
10. Thomas Flynn (Athenry)
9. Ciarán Duggan (Annaghdown)
11. Peter Cooke (Moycullen)
8. Paul Conroy (St James)
13. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin/Clonberne)
12. Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks)
14. Seán Armstrong (Salthill/Knocknacarra)
15. Barry McHugh (Mountbellew/Moylough)
Subs
18. Eamonn Brannigan (St Michael’s) for Varley (41)
20. Damien Comer (Annaghdown) for Walsh (46)
23. Johnny Heaney (Killannin) for Cooke (50)
24. Seán Kelly (Moycullen) for Armstrong (57)
Dublin
16. Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)
2. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala)
20. Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)
3. David Byrne (St Olaf’s)
4. Eric Lowndes (St Peregrines)
7. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
5. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
6. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
9. Michael Darragh MacAuley (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
25. Ciaran Reddin (St Maur’s)
11. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
13. Paddy Andrews (St Brigid’s)
15. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
14. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
26. Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
Subs
8. Brian Fenton (Raheney) for Lowndes (half-time)
18. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille) for Rock (black card) (46)
10. Conor McHugh for Reddin (50)
22. Emmet Ó Conghaile (Lucan Sarsfields) for Macauley (59)
23. Eoghan O’Gara (Templeogue Synge St) for P Small (64)
19. Andrew McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes) for J Small (68)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
Looks like Mayo will be asking Santa Claus for Sam this year
@david hynes: Now you’re just being silly there David. Even we know Santa doesn’t come until Christmas eve ..
@david hynes: even if they whole championship was cancelled they’d still be runners up.
Croke park in December. Rain and hail. Extortionate ticket prices. Getting dark at 4pm and a very long dismal drive home. No thanks.
@Patrick Agnew: Haha stay at home so. Some of us would be delighted with the misery of being in croker in december
@Patrick Agnew: I’d say you’re the life and soul of a party. Generally, ticket prices are good value with many being double headers. As for the weather, this being Ireland, you’ve as much chance of being soaked in July as you do in December.
@Gareth Ward: off you go Gareth. I’ll watch it in the pub.
@Patrick Agnew: I’ll meet you there for a pint so after ive been to the games!
@Patrick Agnew: Do ya hear this lad? Christ. The pessimism. I’d crawl over broken glass to see my county play in a December final. Driving home from a match in the dark, what will they think of next!
@Patrick Agnew: You’re from Fermanagh Paddy, you won’t need to worry about it…
@Joe Brennan: good spot joe but I’m from Armagh
@Patrick Agnew: Still won’t.
Hopefully galway can beat mayo to relegate them
How is the provincial system fair for lets say an Ulster team who have to play a lot more and tougher games. Open draw would have been fairer and a good chance to trial something different. Instead its the same old.
@Lad: The provincial system has never been fair. So its not any different this year
@Gareth Ward: there is no back door? That does make it more unfair.
@Lad: Agree about Ulster but this is best way as open draw means some teams dont even have provincial title to go go for. I for one will be looking forward to it!!!
@Lad: Probably. But someone else would have a reason to complain then
@BrianG: true but they have a chance to go for that every year. What about giving them one good chance off the All Ireland. Last 32, round of 16, quarters, semis and final. Fair for everyone and gives someone like kildare, Tipp, Derry a real chance to go further than they could ever hope for the AI, rather than through the province. Give them hope, its crucial in GAA, just like nowhere but Newbridge and what that meant for kildare.
Just imagine a game of hurling in a potential snowstorm
@Sean Treacy: Bring it on baby
@Sean Treacy: just give me a game of hurling anywhere right now ..hail , rain or snow .
This will shorten the winter for a lot of people.
Roscommon at 100/1, twill be the best Xmas ever had
Lets go 6 in a row!
@Johnny 5: “Yis can fook off with your ga, Liverpool are playing Southampton at 4 o clock.” Jesus wept
@Baz:
Ha ha you can watch the paint dry Wel watch a mans game
Football so predictable.
Hurling so exciting.
@Colman Walsh: your comment was also predictable
Galway for the double this year at senior and U20, and the camogie and ladies football too!
@David Finn: Is that not a quadruple?
Kerry v Galway and Dublin v Donegal for the semis. Repeat of last years final, Dubs to shade it by a couple of points.
@Johnny 5: jes lad say if Galway can get back to the form they had up till this will give Kerry a good run for there money
@Johnny 5: jaysus I dunno, I like the name Johnny 5.
@Johnny 5: our game v Tyrone in ballybofey will be massive.
Should the semi finals not be Leinster v Munster and Connacht v Ulster? Before the break the super 8′s would have been Connacht and Ulster winners in one group and Leinster and Munster in the other. Why the change now?
@Alan Kenny: They obviously want a kerry dublin final
@Alan Kenny: I’d imagine 2020 framework moves to 2021. Hopefully back to normal
not a hope we will be well into lockdown 2 by then
Is there relegation in the leagues ??
@Gareth Ward: I would say so. Bottom two will still get relegated.
Also why are games to be finished on penalty’s? These are not low scoring games, there could easily be made a new rule to finish a game after a draw in extra time, such as first team to lead by 2 points or more wins.. Much fairer.
@Lad: Penalties are more craic anyway. Plus it could take an hour for a team to get a 2 point lead
@Gareth Ward: Seriously? An hour?
Ya because All Ireland Finals are all about the craic.
@Lad: Well i cant put an exact time on it. But imagine how untra defensive teams would get then! An hour might be generous
And yes, all ireland finals are great craic!
@Lad: can you imagine Tyrone defending a lead in extra time with that rule. Christ there be lads building blocks across the 45m line
I’m just glad we’re having championships – but fingers crossed! The virus will do what it wants to do.
Good luck to all – GAA management, teams and players.
Limerick league champions. So only lost two of the last 7 trophies they could have won. 2* league 1a, 1 all Ireland, 1 * league 1b, 1* munster
@Trevor: Well Clare are also league champions. 1a and 1b are the same level, it was division one split into 2 groups
@Gareth Ward: 1a and 1b are not the same level
@Trevor: Do your research kid, they are
@Trevor: they are the same level changed format start of this year
@Gareth Ward: use your brain. Also I would have included a munster cup win if I was going to the level of lower 1b
@Trevor: Hahaha you are making less and less sense with every comment
it’s an absolute farce. Never has it been easier for Dublin and Kerry to walk their provinces.
No other div 1 team from their provinces next year. Kerry might not even face a div 2 side.
Absolute huge asterix joke.
@Peter McGlynn: no there won’t be any asterix next to it, if Kerry or Dublin win the all ireland it’s cause they are the best team, its not there fault if the rest aren’t up to the standard.
Dream on GAA
Another handy all Ireland for Tipp