Galway footballers are looking forward to just their third All-Ireland semi-final since 2001 after an incredible clawback win from behind to beat Dublin last Saturday evening.
Galway will play Jim McGuinness’ Donegal next week (Sunday 14 at 4pm ) , and will go into the game full of confidence, despite losing both captain Seán Kelly, and Shane Walsh, to injury.
Céin D’Arcy replaced Kelly in the 22nd minute. He had a huge influence in proceedings with two assists and a fine point for himself. Walsh had scored seven points before leaving the field late-on, and Cillian McDaid got through a mountain of work to deservedly win man-of-the-match after scoring three from play.
Galway’s defence stood firm against the might of Dublin, and the team will need to do so again if it is to defeat Donegal and reach the final.
Con O’Callaghan was on too early in the game, but when Seán Fitzgerald went back into full-back, the Bearna GAA man kept the Cuala man much quieter. Liam Silke, who is much more comfortable in the half back line, nullified the threat of Sean Bugler when he was moved out further.
Dylan McHugh had another super game with a point to his name. He never once lost possession, when pushed up to deny the Dublin kickout in the second half he grew more and more influential in the game, once again showing his importance to the maroon jersey.
Donegal kicked 1-23 against Louth on Sunday but also conceded 0-18.
After watching that game, Padraic Joyce and his management team are sure to have spotted where their side can get at the Donegal rearguard. Galway, like every team, has its weaknesses, but the players have consistently played with the same structure this season and are unlikely to change as they are unbeaten in any of their seven championship games this season.
The return to fitness and form of defender Seán Mulkerrin has only strengthened this Galway side. Mulkerrin - who missed nearly two years of football after a horrific knee injury - had by far his best game yet in a Galway jersey last Saturday.
Running up the field and attacking the Dubs head on at every chance he got, the Aran Islander also stood out for his defensive abilities, getting tackles, dispossessions and turnovers regularly over the 70-plus minutes.
In beating Dublin and reaching the semi-final, Padraic Joyce and his management team have shown how they have grown their side’s resilience since the final loss in 2022.
Strong bench
Although Galway lost its captain and marquee forward to injury during the game last Saturday, their absences were lessened because of the impact of the introduced players; D’Arcy for Kelly, but also Tomo Culhane’s late introduction for the injured Walsh proved to be decisive as the Salthill/Knocknacarra man struck Galway’s last score of the game. Johnny Heaney came in for Tierney and scored the point that put the Tribesmen ahead in the 67th minute, while Liam O’Conghaile worked tirelessly when brought on for Finnerty, and when Cian Hernon came on for Fitzgerald, his fresh legs helped deny Dublin any easy ball in attack.
This is all the while playing without Johnny Daly and Kieran Molloy, two of Galway’s best players in recent years.
In 2022 Galway didn’t have a strong enough squad to see out the All-Ireland final. In this year’s league campaign, management struggled to name 26 players to tog-out, such was the impact of injuries in the squad.
Galway has won nothing yet, but they are in the All-Ireland semi-final, and for every Galway GAA fan it has probably just about sunk in that Galway has beaten Dublin in championship football for the first time in 90 years.
The players are already focused on - and preparing for - a tough contest against Donegal, but for the fans, this result is enough excitement for one week.
