All-Ireland SFC Group Four

Dublin 1-18 Galway 2-14

By Cian O’Connell at Pearse Stadium

It sizzled from start to finish in Salthill on an evening that was all about Dublin’s defiance.

Ultimately, Tom Lahiff’s last gasp point earned Dublin a win that was both encouraging and valuable. Following the bitterly disappointing Leinster SFC defeat against Meath, Dublin summoned a gutsy response in the west.

Dessie Farrell’s outfit were primed for a battle, adequately dealing with a couple of second half Galway goals when stern questions were being posed by the Connacht champions. Dublin, though, were durable and did enough to glean the spoils.

With Ciarán Kilkenny influential, Dublin enjoyed a productive opening period, departing at the break 1-9 to 0-8 ahead.

Initially, Galway, prompted by the splendid Rob Finnerty, moved 0-6 to 0-3 in front, but Dublin were unperturbed.

Con O’Callaghan was beginning to motor smoothly with Dublin pouncing for a crucial 20th minute goal. Liam Silke was stripped of the ball, with Cormac Costello scampering clear to make the Galway net dance.

Seán Bugler and O’Callaghan added scores for Dublin, who assumed a 1-6 to 0-6 advantage.

Finnerty gathered a gorgeous Matthew Thompson pass to trim the deficit with a Galway point, but Dublin rifled over three of the next four scores before the break.

Galway thundered back immediately after the restart. Cillian McDaid’s delivery was expertly controlled by Thompson, who mined a tonic Galway goal.

Finnerty and Thompson briskly added points to steer Galway 1-10 to 1-9 ahead. Dublin stayed cool and composed.

A Costello free restored parity, and then Brian O’Leary, the increasingly prominent Lorcan O’Dell, and Kilkenny supplied further points.

Dublin were four to the good, 1-16 to 1-12, when Galway struck for a 55th minute goal. Another McDaid effort caused panic with John Maher and Matthew Tierney keeping the ball alive for Finnerty to palm a goal.

Kieran Molloy’s cute pass enabled Maher to level matters again with 10 minutes left. The drama was continuing to unfold.

Kilkenny crafted an opportunity that Costello converted. John Daly provided an assist for Matthew Tierney to get Galway back on terms.

When the need was greatest Lahiff clipped over a sweet winner in the dying embers of an entertaining tussle.

A Croke Park contest against Armagh is next for Dublin. Galway make the long trek to Celtic Park for a match with Derry that can certainly be classed in the critical category.

Scorers for Dublin: Cormac Costello 1-3 (2fs), Con O’Callaghan, Seán Bugler, and Lorcan O’Dell 0-3 each, Ciarán Kilkenny and Killian McGinnis 0-2 each, Tom Lahiff and Brian O’Leary 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Rob Finnerty 1-6 (1 2pt, 1f), Matthew Thompson 1-1, Shane Walsh (2pt) and Matthew Tierney 0-2 each, Johnny McGrath, John Maher, and Cilian McDaid 0-1 each.

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Seán MacMahon, Theo Clancy, David Byrne; Seán Bugler, Brian Howard, Alex Gavin; Ciarán Kilkenny, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne; Killian McGinnis, Lorcan O’Dell, Cormac Costello; Brian O’Leary, Colm Basquel, Con O’Callaghan.

Subs: Tom Lahiff for O’Callaghan (45), Niall Scully for O’Leary (50), Cian Murphy for Clancy (53-55, temp), Cian Murphy for Gavin (55), Greg McEnaney for McGinnis (60), Luke Breathnach for Bugler (62).

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Liam Silke, Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin; Dylan McHugh, Seán Kelly, Cian Hernon; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Céin D’Arcy, Shane Walsh, Cillian McDaid; Matthew Thompson, Rob Finnerty, Matthew Tierney.

Subs: Peter Cooke for Thompson (41-53, temp), Kieran Molloy for Conroy (53), Peter Cooke for Seán Kelly (53-60, temp), Daniel O’Flaherty for Hernon (55), Peter Cooke for Shane Walsh (60), Tomo Culhane for D’Arcy (65), John Daly for Silke (67).

Referee: David Gough (Meath).

Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Tier 2 Championship Preliminary Quarter-Final team news

GALWAY V MEATH
🗓️Friday 16th May 2025
📍Páirc Tailteann, Navan
🕖7.00pm

Admission is Free – Match Tickets not required

Best of Luck to Neil, team management and the squad!

#riseofthetribes
#gaillimhabú

By Cian O’Connell

“For me, it was a brilliant game of football,” Galway manager Padraic Joyce reflected following a compelling Connacht SFC Final.

Ultimately, Galway finished strongly kicking three of the last four points to prevail. Galway led by eight at the break before Mayo, backed by a significant breeze, thundered back.

Joyce, though, relished the combat. “The way football should be played,” the Killererin clubman added.

“Both teams went out and went at it really hard. Hard hits, hard tackles, all fair, in fairness. A bit of pulling and dragging off the ball on kickouts, that is expected. Overall, it was a brilliant game of football.

“I know Mayo will rue the chances they missed at the end, but for us to eke out the result against the wind, under pressure on our kickout, eight point lead at half-time, conceded a goal straight away at the start, on the back foot, for me, I think our lads showed great character at the end.”

The fact that Galway’s substitutes contributed encouraged Joyce. “We got a huge impact from our lads on the bench,” he added.

“We were saying it all week, the bench we have is strong enough to come in, to perform. Cian Hernon was superb.

“Peter Cooke, Cathal Sweeney worked really hard in fairness and unfortunately, I said to him there, we had to make a tactical decision with Peter to get a bigger man on the pitch.

“The other boys were going really well. Liam (Ó Conghaile) kicked a score which was great.”

Joyce also acknowledged a crucial late intervention from Dylan McHugh. “Look, he is a great defender Dylan,” Joyce remarked. “Again, he got forced across the pitch. Cein D’Arcy got a great block as well. Again fair play to Paddy and the officials, they kept control of the game.

“We all went mad on the line at some stages, but it just shows what it means to us to come down and win this game. Mayo are the same.

“All this talk about draws last week, both teams wanted to win a Connacht championship. That is the way it should be. That is why the provincials to me are very important.”

The Galway Senior Football team to face Mayo in the Connacht Senior Football final on Sunday is announced,

GALWAY V MAYO
📍Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar
🗓️Sunday 4th May 2025
🕓4.00PM
📺Live on RTE

Live Score updates via WhatstheScór App on our X feed

Match Tickets on Sale online and in Centra and SuperValu Stores

Purchase online here https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/connachtsfc25

Best of Luck to Padraic Joyce, Team Management and our Senior Footballers on Sunday!

#riseofthetribes

#gaillimhabú

 

Important Match Day Information for Supporters attending Galway v Mayo

Below are the traffic management arrangements for the Women’s Mini Marathon and Connacht Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday, 4^th May, 2025 in Castlebar.

An Garda Síochána welcome all participants and supporters to Castlebar for the Women’s Mini Marathon and the Connacht Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday, 4th May, 2025.

In order to maximise your enjoyment of either or both of the events, An Garda Síochána offer the following information in relation to traffic management and safety.

Our advice is to plan your journey and to arrive into Castlebar early, and to follow guidance from Gardaí, event marshals and road signage.

In order to ensure the safety of more than 2,000 participants in the Mini Marathon, and the public generally, there will be temporary ‘rolling’ road closures. The event commences at noon and traffic delays can be expected.

The closures will be:

·         The Mall: 9:30am – 4:00pm

·         Ellison Street: 9:30am – 3:00pm

·         Lower Spencer Street: 10:30am – 12:30pm

·         Duke Street, Newport Road to Pound Road, Pound Roasd, Gallows Hill, Newline: Noon – 1:00pm

·         Pontoon Rd to Ballinvilla and Ballinavilla Road to Mountgregory: Noon – 2:00pm

·         Mountgregory/Turlough Road: Noon – 2:30pm

·         Staball Hill/Thomas Street, Bridge Street and Main Street: 12:15pm – 2:30pm

Later that day, the Connacht Senior Football Championship will take place, and an attendance of up to 20,000 people is expected.

Large volumes of traffic can be expected in the general Castlebar area throughout the day, particularly in the vicinity of MacHale Park in the build up to the 4:00pm throw-in and immediately afterwards. Turnstiles will open at 2.30pm

The main routes into Castlebar are:

·         N5 Dublin road into Moneen Roundabout

·         N60 Claremorris Road into Kilkenny Cross

·         N84 Ballinrobe Road into Cathal Duffy Roundabout

·         N5 Westport road

·         R311 Newport Road

Traffic can use the Castlebar Bypass dual carriageway and can exit at various junctions to enter Castlebar.

There may be traffic diversions on the day, depending on traffic volumes and Gardaí will be on duty to provide information.

Parking restrictions will be in place from 9am in the vicinity of the stadium and on approaches.

Is údar mór brón do CLG na Gaillimhe an scéala go bhfuil ár n-iar imreoir Contae Tommy Keenan imithe ar shlí na firínne.

The Dunmore MacHales club man tasted success with Galway, winning two All-Ireland Senior Football medals as part of the three in a row squad of 1960s.

In 1970, he captained Galway to a Connacht final victory before leading the team in the All-Ireland semi-final against Meath.

Tommy was a key player with the Dunmore MacHales team that won five Galway Senior Club Football titles in the 1960s.

He had a lifelong involvement in the GAA, serving as President, Secretary and Treasurer of his club Dunmore MacHales, as well as fulfilling many other roles in the club as both player and administrator over a long and distinguished career.

On behalf of Galway GAA, we express our deepest sympathies to his wife Eileen, daughter Mary, sons Henry, Francis, Thomas and Brian, in-laws, grandchildren, his sisters Mary, Evelyn and Sheila, his brother John and extended family.

He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and the whole Galway GAA community.

Funeral details as follows: https://rip.ie/death-notice/thomas-tommy-keenan-galway-dunmore-592863

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.