Improving Galway men give All-Ireland champs stiff test

Dublin 2-16

Galway 1-15

STEPHEN GLENNON AT TUAM STADIUM

ANY team that faces six-in-a-row All-Ireland champions Dublin in a competitive fixture these days hope, first and foremost, that they can stay the course, survive, not take a beating. In Tuam Stadium on Sunday, Padraic Joyce’s Galway did more than that – much more.

Organised, focused, hungry to drive on from their victory over Roscommon, the Tribesmen, lining out without Damien Comer who has been ruled out for a period with a hand injury, gave as good as they got against the greatest team to play Gaelic games and, with just five minutes to go, trailed the Dubs by just two.

A goal from Dublin substitute Aaron Byrne deep into injury-time may have taken the gloss off the scoreline a little, but what was encouraging was that Galway didn’t fold and, after the hard-working Dylan McHugh was fouled, Shane Walsh fittingly kicked the last score. It was Walsh’s 10th point of the contest.

Kicking points from right and left, out of the hands, off the ground, Walsh gave an exhibition. Manager Joyce is always demanding more from his captain, but, on Sunday, Walsh covered a huge amount of ground and his work-rate off the ball was notable.

Then again, it had to be to keep a tight rein on Dublin, who really only got a foothold in the tie in the third quarter when Con O’Callaghan netted following good work outside by Niall Scully, Cormac Costello and substitute Brian Howard.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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