NFL - Galway 3-12 Dublin 0-13

Word rattled around Pearse Stadium – The Dublin hurlers had taken a Galway scalp in Parnell Park. The game hadn’t started but the hopes of a Dublin double were real. After all it was nearly 30 years since the Tribesmen had beaten the Dubs in a football league game. But 70 minutes later and Dublin supporters elation had been severely deflated.

It looked so good at the start. Whelo who would prove to be Dublin’s man of the match, b a country mile, kicked the 1st point while shots from Barry Cahill & Paul Flynn seemed goalward but for fine saves from the Galway keeper. The west awoke and Galway kicked on with Michael Meehan tormenting the Dublin defence. A penalty was awarded, soft at that, with the referee harshly penalising Paddy Andrews with Michael Meehan superbly blasting home over the head of Clucko. Dublin held on but when Denis Bastick came adventurously if foolishly off his line and saw the ball pass over his head, Galway’s Armstrong shot home. Quickly followed by another goal & the death knell when a Flynner pass was intercepted by the ageless Padraic Joyce who passed over to Conroy who palmed the ball in & the Tribesmen were 11 points up at half time 3-11 to 0-05.
Giller made radical changes for the 2nd half: Hubbard replaced by Derek Murray, with Diarmuid Connolly & Kevin Bonner coming in for Diamond & Sherlock. A concussed looking Paul Flynn who had taken a heavy knock in the 1st half was also replaced by Ross McConnell. Unfortunately for the Dubs the gale which had favoured Galway in the 1st half eased considerably & whereas the Dubs did win the 2nd half 0-08 to 0-05 it was never going to be enough.
Much food for thought for the Dublin Manager who now faces a tricky trip up north to Donegal in the hope of the 1st points of the league campaign.
There was much comment from both sets of supporters regarding the operation of the new rules after the game. There was common consensus that the game did suffer with the time taken to note names in the black book, while a number of challenges, notably a rugby tackle of 1 Dublin player were not punished with yellow cards. Oh for some consistency.

Dublin - Stephen Cluxton (Parnells), Paddy Andrews (St. Brigid’s), Denis Bastick (Templeogue Synge St.), Alan Hubbard (Ballymun Kickhams) (Derek Murray (Round Towers Clondalkin) (30)), Bryan Cullen (Skerries Harps) (Blaine Kelly (St. Mary’s) (50)), Ger Brennan (St. Vincent’s), Barry Cahill (St. Brigid’s) (0-01) (Shane Ryan (Naomh Mearnog) (55)), Ciaran Whelan (Raheny) (0-03), Paul Flynn (Fingallians) (Ross McConnell (St. Oliver Plunketts/ER) (35)), James Brogan (St. Oliver Plunketts/ER), Tiernan Diamond (St. Vincent’s) (Diarmuid Connolly (St. Vincent’s) (35)), David Henry (Raheny) (0-01), Bernard Brogan (St. Oliver Plunketts/ER) (0-06), Jason Sherlock (St. Oliver Plunketts/ER) (Kevin Bonner (St. Brigid’s) (35)), Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St. Endas) (0-02).

Galway - A Faherty, N Coyne, F Hanley, D Meehan (D reilly (60)), G Bradshaw, D Blake, D Mullahy, J Bergin, G ODonnell (F Breathnach (20)), S Armtrong (1-02), P Joyce (0-02), C Bane (0-04) (D Dunleavy (50) (S Kavanagh (60))), P Conroy (1-01), M Meehan (1-03), M Lydon.