Allianz FL D1: Galway finish strongly

Allianz Football League Division One

Galway 0-20 Dublin 1-15

By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium

Man of the match Robert Finnerty contributed eight points, including the winner, as Galway preserved their Division 1 status and relegated Dublin on an afternoon of wildly fluctuating fortunes at Pearse Stadium.

Armagh, Galway and Dublin all swapped places in the drop zone as an engrossing final round played out in the top tier. When the action finally stopped, Armagh's home draw with Kerry and Galway's come-from-behind victory sent the Boys in Blue down to Division Two along with Monaghan.

Dublin needed to win by a minimum of four points to survive, and for long spells looked in a strong position to do so. They led by 0-13 to 0-7 midway through the third quarter and were 1-14 to 0-12 in front when Killian McGinnis cracked home their 54th minute goal.

By then, however, they had just lost Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne to a red card and Galway would go on to make their numerical advantage count, shooting eight of the game's closing nine points as a wasteful Dublin racked up eight second half wides.

An attendance of 9,274 watched on in beautiful spring sunshine in Salthill and Dublin set the tone for the first half with a Seán Bugler two-pointer from the opening attack. The St. Oliver Plunkett's, Eoghan Ruadh clubman would go on to add three white flags before the break.

Ciarán Kilkenny and Ross McGarry scores helped Dublin into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead before Finnerty got Galway off the mark. It was 0-7 to 0-3 after 15 minutes and a more than decent buffer divided the teams throughout the half as an economical Dublin added scores through Bugler, sub Niall O'Callaghan, McGinnes (two), plus a two-point free from goalkeeper Hugh O'Sullivan.

Finnerty and Oisín Mac Donnacha kicked three points apiece, and Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin one for Galway in the opening 35 minutes. They were also denied goals when the covering Charlie McMorrow saved from Ryan Roche and 'keeper O'Sullivan parried away a 35th minute Finnerty penalty won by Ó Maoilchiaráin.

Tempers boiled over in the aftermath of that penalty and referee Fergal Kelly took action before the restart, issuing red cards to Dublin manager Ger Brennan and Galway strength and conditioning coach Cian Breathnach McGinn. The duo shook hands before the Longford official dished out the punishment. Galway's Dylan McHugh and Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne of Dublin also received black cards.

The visitors led 0-12 to 0-7 at the change of ends and though Finnerty, Mac Donnacha and Céin D'Arcy points closed the gap for Galway along with a two from Paul Conroy, Dublin were still armed with a 0-14 to 0-12 advantage after Con O'Callaghan scored with his first touch after being introduced.

Though Ó Cofaigh Byrne picked up a yellow card to go with his earlier black, Dublin surged five in front when McGinnis netted at the end of a swift counter-attack with 16 minutes to go. Galway sub Daniel O'Flaherty and Dublin's Ross McGarry then traded points as the margin stood at 1-15 to 0-13 on 57 minutes.

From there to the finish, Galway took over and kicked seven points without reply. The outstanding Cian Hernon was responsible for two, including the leveller on 64 minutes. Sub Liam Ó Conghaile got on the scoresheet, while four came from Finnerty, including the lead score from outside the arc on 66 minutes.

There was also a poignant note to the afternoon and a minute's applause before throw-in in memory of iconic sports broadcaster and journalist Michael Lyster - best-known as host of The Sunday Game on RTÉ for 34 years - who died at the age of 71.

Scorers for Galway: Robert Finnerty 0-8 (1tp, 2f); Oisín Mac Donnacha 0-4 (1tpf, 2f); Paul Conroy (tp) and Cian Hernon 0-2 each; Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin, Céin D'Arcy, Daniel O'Flaherty and Liam Ó Conghaile 0-1 each.

Scorers for Dublin: Killian McGinnis 1-3; Seán Bugler 0-5 (1tp); Hugh O'Sullivan (tpf) and Ross McGarry 0-2 each; Ciarán Kilkenny, Niall O'Callaghan and Con O'Callaghan 0-1 each.

Galway: Conor Flaherty; Johnny McGrath, Cian Hernon, Jack Glynn; Liam Silke, Dylan McHugh, Seán Kelly; John Maher (captain), Matthew Tierney; Shane McGrath, Kieran Molloy, Céin D'Arcy; Robert Finnerty, Ryan Roche, Oisín Mac Donnacha.

Subs: Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin for Kelly (21), Paul Conroy for Tierney (29), Ciarán Mulhern for Molloy (32), Liam Ó Conghaile for Roche (46), Daniel O'Flaherty for Shane McGrath (52).

Dublin: Hugh O'Sullivan; David Byrne, Nathan Doran, Eoin Murchan; Alex Gavin, Brian Howard, Eoin Kennedy; Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Charlie McMorrow; Ross McGarry, Seán Bugler, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Killian McGinnis, Ciarán Kilkenny.

Subs: Niall O'Callaghan for Small (temporary, 12), Sean MacMahon for Gavin (42), Con O'Callaghan (captain) for Niall O'Callaghan (46), Liam Smith for Byrne (58), Jack Lundy for McGarry (62), Cian O'Connor for Kennedy (65).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).