A resourceful and energetic Galway managed to cause the shock of the Championship in the All-Ireland football quarter-final at Croke Park on Saturday.
This kick passing was an aspect of the Dublin play which Galway really struggled with in the opening exchanges, as Dublin scored three points from these progressive kick passes. Con O’Callaghan was the primary target for these and remained the target throughout the first half before Galway curbed this threat.In the second quarter, Dublin managed that target of 10 attacks again but only managed to get four shots off, albeit with a 100% efficiency with 0-4 scored.
The pick of Con’s scores was his 55th minute effort where he had to come out the field to gain possession before carrying hard at the centre of the Galway defence. He had to venture further out at this stage, as Galway’s tighter second-half defensive structure meant he went through a barren spell for service.
An indication of the pace of their second-half attacks is shown that Dublin’s quickest second half possession resulting in a score was 23 seconds, while Galway scored six scores in less time than this.Dublin specifically matched up their man markers Seán MacMahon, Mick Fitzsimons and John Small on the Galway trio of Damien Comer, Rob Finnerty and Shane Walsh. Dublin did snuff out these threats despite Shane Walsh still scoring some majestic points.