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Irish Times
27-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Galway expertly forced mistakes from Dublin, and then had quality to punish them
Galway's superior efficiency and defensive steel helped them overcome Dublin at Parnell Park. While the raw scoreboard shows only a seven-point margin (0-29 to 3-15), the turnover battle told a much deeper story — one of Galway's structured intensity and ruthless transition play. An analysis of both halves through turnover maps reveals how Galway dominated key moments, especially through pressuring puckouts, blocking shots, and converting opposition mistakes. The high number of turnovers that Galway created on Dublin's puckouts helped set the tone for the game - six Galway points came directly off turnovers. First half – Galway set the tone From the outset, Galway displayed an aggressive and coordinated press on Dublin's puckouts. Their setup forced numerous mistakes, with turnovers from Dublin restarts notably clustered around the central third. These puckout wins formed the foundation for Galway's dominance in the opening 35 minutes. READ MORE Galway pressed up on Dublin puckouts while remaining zonal on long puckouts. Galway's turnovers were not just numerous — they were productive. The graphic's white dots show that six of these led directly to points, inside or just outside the D. Their ability to regain possession and convert quickly into scores was a key pillar of their first-half control. However, both sides lacked cohesion in the first quarter with both sets of players struggling with the breeze and distribution of deliveries to inside lines. Dublin in particular looked disjointed, with their backs hitting too much ball from too deep, as we can see below. Their inability to build play through the lines meant the Galway half backs were able to sit deeper and cut out deliveries. Too often Dublin went long with balls that suited the Galway defence rather than trying to work it short. With just two puckout wins from Galway restarts, they failed to establish any meaningful momentum off Galway's mistakes. Dublin's inefficiency was also evident in their conversion rate from play, with a 46% conversion rate (12/26) really hurting them, especially in the first half. While they did manage two scores from turnovers, many more ended in wides or were turned over again in contact. Galway's spatial awareness and anticipation often allowed them to collapse on ball carriers and force errors without overcommitting. David Burke's game sense and intelligence stood out, and his delivery of good ball to Anthony Burn's and Brian Concannon yielded scores in both halves for their inside line. Second half – Galway's discipline and execution The second-half turnover map highlights Galway's capacity to sustain their pressure while also defending with increasing composure. Once again, Galway forced multiple turnovers from Dublin puckouts − six yellow dots can be seen below − and, more importantly, they converted these into a string of scores. The turnover map for the second half again illustrates Galway's dominance Galway's attacking structure made full use of broken play. Their middle third operated as a pressing trap − forcing Dublin into panic decisions − while their forwards were consistently first to react to loose ball or mis-hit clearances. Galway's top three shooters from play − Concannon 0-5, Tom Monaghan 0-4 and Conor Whelan 0-3 − left Galway with a total shot count of 43, which yielded 29 scores. A 67% return was impressive on a breezy day, but Kilkenny backs won't be as generous with no-pressure shots in the Leinster final. One area of note for Galway's forwards was a lack of goal threat, however the numbers suggest that Galway have improved in shot creation and conversion over the course of the Leinster championship. And since the Offaly game there has been an improvement in the forward unit when it comes to winning ball and turning ball over. The pressing by the Galway forwards has improved in recent weeks. Here we see them attempt to close down Dublin bringing the ball out of defence - the aim is to use the sideline as a 'defender' and force Dublin down a tight channel. The Galway full back line of Fintan Burke, Daithi Burke and Pádraic Mannion seemed to enjoy the tight confines of Parnell Park. Their defensive organisation undermined Dublin's attempt at a late resurgence. With four blocked shots (black dots) visible near the D, Galway's defenders refused to yield even under heavy pressure. Time after time, Dublin broke through only to be met by a wall of maroon jerseys. These blocks were often as impactful as scores at the other end — denying Dublin crucial momentum. Conclusion This turnover numbers underline why Galway were fully deserving of the victory. Post-match possession stats reveal that Galway turned over just 42% of their possessions, compared to Dublin's 57% — a stark indicator of the latter's struggles with build-up play, decision-making, and team cohesion. Galway's superior pressure on puckouts, swift transitions, and scoring efficiency overwhelmed Dublin's system. Just as significant was their aforementioned defensive work, which denied Dublin any route back into the game. Although Dublin improved after the interval and converted more turnovers into points, they continued to falter in front of goal. Galway, by contrast, operated with clinical intent. The numbers tell us that this game was decided on turnovers − and Galway dominated those turnovers. Jeffrey Lynskey managed Galway to three All-Ireland minor hurling titles. He is also a former Galway under-20 manager and is currently an MSc student in Sports Performance Analysis at Setu Carlow.
Irish Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Galway ride the wind to make history and reach Leinster final
Leinster SHC: Dublin 3-15 Galway 0-29 Galway made their history at a packed Parnell Park on Sunday with a very first championship win away against Dublin . The match itself was a more prosaic affair and the home team at no stage looked likely to maintain their pristine record in the fixture. Former Dublin manager Micheál Donoghue returned to the capital with Galway and comfortably achieved the victory. They dominated the puck-outs and their forwards were sharper and more accurate. Even the five-point margin was illusory, as a more reflective scoreline was undermined by the concession of a couple of injury-time goals. Dublin had the advantage of a strong wind in the first half but failed to harness it after a particularly poor start when their accuracy was askew. Trying to harness the elements, they attempted several long-range scores but ended up with eight wides and a couple dropped short. READ MORE Similarly, the tactic of going long into the forwards foundered on Galway's disinclination to break formation and none of the intended recipients, primarily John Hetherton, were able to take clean possession. Galway went unfussily about their business. Their own accuracy wasn't perfect but in-form Cathal Mannion was flawless from frees and influential in play and Brian Concannon was also a constant threat. By the 17th minute they led 0-6 to 0-1. Dublin found a response. Rian McBride scored a goal after a good run by Seán Currie. Points followed – Dublin even briefly led – and by half-time, the teams were level, 0-10 to 1-7. More troubling for Dublin was that nobody would have said at the start that parity would be a good half-time outcome, having played with the breeze. They might have also had a man advantage but referee Colm Lyons took a lenient view of Daithi Burke's 26th-minute clattering of Conor Burke. Dublin's Conor McHugh in action against Galway's Brian Concannon. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho As the cliche has it, the wind won't score the points for you and Galway still had to make it count, which they duly did. Their shooting was excellent, converting three-quarters of their chances, the precision dropping only towards the end when the contest was well won. Conor Whelan came strongly into the match in his new half-forward role, Concannon's torment of the Dublin backs continued and Tom Monaghan chipped in from centrefield. The late scores were just a gloss. In the 69th minute, Currie drove a free into the net and minutes later, Conal Ó Riain was on hand to scramble in a third. The result was in no way threatened and Galway progress to play Kilkenny in the Leinster final, an outcome that they would have happily grasped after losing the same fixture so dismally in April. 'The wind was a massive factor,' said Donoghue afterwards. 'We had to lock it down as much as we could. I thought that probably gave us the platform to go in the game. We were happy enough with where we were at half-time, probably not too happy with the way we conceded the goal. 'Then obviously with the strength of the wind, we could push up on their puck-outs, force them to go long and I thought in the first 15 minutes we obviously dominated and that was reflected on the scoreboard but I think equally you can see the experience and for the last couple of minutes (in the second half), Dublin showed the quality and took their goals really well but we'd be really disappointed with the way we conceded those goals.' Galway manager Micheál Donoghue and Dublin manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin shake hands after the game. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho 'It just illustrates the work we still have to do with the lads and the inexperience that's still there. Look, for us, it's been a really good trajectory over the last couple of weeks and we're just glad we're going into a Leinster final. It will give less experienced fellas the chance to be involved in a Leinster final and that can only be good for them as they move forward as players.' Ó Ceallacháin was disappointed with probably the worst performance of the campaign. 'I think we had a lot of joy from a certain way of playing over the last few weeks and that has been off second ball, off primary ball, to the forward line. That didn't happen in that first half. Their half back line sat a lot of the time and often they had an extra body to that break. When it was there, it seemed that they came out every time. 'At the same time, it didn't look like we had lads in pockets either that were free all the time. We need to look back at that and look why. As we stand here, I'm not 100 per cent sure why.' He was unsure whether leading forward Dónal Burke would be available for the preliminary quarter-final against either of the Joe McDonagh Cup finalists, Kildare or Laois. DUBLIN: S Brennan; P Smyth, C McHugh, J Bellew; C Donohoe (0-1), C Crummey (0-1), P Doyle (0-1); C Burke, B Hayes (0-1); R McBride (1-1), C O'Sullivan (0-3), D Power; S Currie (1-6, 1-4f), J Hetherton, A Jamieson-Murphy (0-1). Subs: R Hayes for Murphy (46 mins), C Currie for Power (51), D Lucey for Bellew (55), F Whitely for Burke (58), C Ó Riain (1-0) for Doyle (68, temp) and for B Hayes (70). GALWAY: D Fahy; P Mannion, F Burke, Daithi Burke; C Fahy (0-2), G Lee, TJ Brennan (0-1); David Burke (0-3), S Linnane (0-1); J Fleming, T Monaghan (0-4), C Whelan (0-3); B Concannon (0-5), C Mannion (0-8f), A Burns (0-1). Subs: C Cooney (0-1) for Fleming (22-25 mins, temp), J Grealish for Daithi Burke (48), Cooney for Burns, T Killeen for Fleming (both 60). Referee: C Lyons (Cork).
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Hurling previews: Dublin and Galway bid for Leinster final spot, Clare take final bow
Sunday Leinster SHC Wexford v Kilkenny, Wexford Park, 2pm – Unlike the terrific contests of recent years between these two when no perceived gap, however large, appeared unbridgeable for Wexford and their spiritual leader Lee Chin, this is a dead rubber with all that implies for match excitement and crowd engagement. Keith Rossiter's team were very unlucky to concede a phantom goal to Dublin at a critical stage but overall, it's been a dull year between relegation in the league and the faltering championship. Kilkenny name a shadow team, giving reserves a run and indulging in a bit of experimentation by naming Ballyhale's front eight All Star, Adrian Mullen, at centre back. If there were high stakes and an excitable crowd, you'd have to go with Wexford, given the opposition line-up. But there's unlikely to be either. Verdict: Kilkenny Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park, 2pm (Live, RTÉ2) – This is an effective semi-final with the winners advancing to play Kilkenny in the Leinster final – Galway have the scoring edge if it's a draw. Both teams have improved as the championship has unfolded and come into this in relatively buoyant form. Dublin's progress has been well calibrated by Niall Ó Ceallacháin and they are guaranteed All-Ireland hurling regardless of the result. They were a little unfortunate against Kilkenny, as the defence sprang leaks faster than the forwards could find scores, even allowing for some bright and intelligent play. READ MORE Certainly, on a line drawn through Kilkenny, Dublin look better but Galway have improved on that dire first outing and have named a strong team for this, not their favourite hunting ground. Yet to win this championship fixture in the city, Galway are nonetheless odds-on for this. They certainly have a higher ceiling but how close are they to reaching it? Dublin can be depended on to bring energy and cussedness against their former manager Micheál Donoghue but he brings a depth of knowledge and acuity to planning for his former charges. There's a momentum to the home team, though, that can make a marginal difference. Verdict: Dublin Offaly v Antrim, O'Connor Park, 2pm (Live, GAA+) – The McDonagh play-off pairing that most foresaw has materialised but in a slightly different way. Offaly came up short in Parnell Park having looked at one stage like beating Dublin but they fell away and haven't managed to land a punch yet. Antrim conversely haven't been hugely competitive and there were rumblings of discontent during the week after a campaign where not even Fortress Corrigan appeared to be helping. This is away and the scale of the opportunity is likely to bring out the best in Offaly. Verdict: Offaly Mark Rodgers after Clare's third round loss to Tipperary. Photograph: Natasha Barton/Inpho Munster SHC Limerick v Clare, Gaelic Grounds, 4pm – A sad reduction of the Munster championship's big fixture of the past three seasons to irrelevance, as it's only denied dead rubber status by the potential for Limerick to miss out on the Munster final should Clare win by 26 points. The All-Ireland champions have never been in a position to mount a full-throated defence because of injuries and even the heroic recovery against Cork has been contextualised. John Kiely rests a number of front liners but retains a bit of oomph off the bench. Verdict: Limerick Cork v Waterford, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm (Live, RTÉ2) – How straightforward all of this looked a week ago. The extent to which it still maintains some of that characteristic is Waterford's sense of running a bit on empty. But Cork's humiliating reversion to the whipping boys of four years ago may have been partly contrived – or not but it's impossible to view their campaign in the same light and a massive statement, not really possible in this match, will be required if they reach the Munster final. Waterford had their own travails, effectively losing to Tipperary despite a handicap in the shape of a burst of early scores. Second only to Limerick in terms of scores conceded, Peter Queally's team also are the province's least productive attackers. In their favour is that for the first time in this format they go into the last day with a chance of reaching the All-Ireland stages. Assuming that Cork are appropriately stung by last week, they should bring more dynamism to this task. With the atmosphere of a full and urgent venue, the league winners are likely to exert enough pressure to outscore the visitors, ideally by rediscovering their goal touch. Any misfiring will be an invitation to further disaster. Verdict: Cork
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Micheál Donoghue leads Galway back to Dublin for make-or-break duel
The Micheál Donoghue derby gets its latest everything-on-the-line airing this weekend when Galway and Dublin meet in the decisive final round of games in the Leinster senior hurling championship . In the corresponding fixture in 2019 Dublin eliminated Galway from the championship following a 3-19 to 0-24 win at Parnell Park, a result that also ultimately marked the end of Donoghue's first spell in charge of the Tribesmen. Then just 12 months ago Donoghue masterminded a Dublin victory over his native Galway at Pearse Stadium – a feisty encounter in which David Burke was sent off and members of both management teams were involved in heated exchanges. That 2-27 to 1-24 victory propelled Dublin to a Leinster final while the result dumped Galway out of the championship and would prove to be Henry Sheffin's last game at the helm. READ MORE Some 14 weeks later Galway announced Donoghue was returning for a second stint as manager of the Tribesmen. The Clarinbridge clubman had been appointed Dublin hurling manager for a three-year term but stepped away after two seasons and immediately filled the vacancy left by Shefflin in Galway. Donoghue returns to Parnell Park on Sunday for the first time since leaving the capital's hurlers, with the round-five clash essentially a playoff for a Leinster final spot. His record in total (Walsh Cup, National League, championship) as a manager in Galway-Dublin games reads: Won six, lost six, drew one. Michael Donoghue shakes hands with Dublin's Mattie Kenny after a costly defeat in 2019. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho He was Galway boss for eight of those 13 matches – winning five and losing three. As Dublin manager he won one, lost three and drew one. And while that championship victory over Galway last summer was the outstanding result of his tenure with Dublin, the 2019 Leinster SHC win in Parnell Park probably resonates more with Dublin hurling folk. With Wexford and Kilkenny drawing on that same night, all four teams finished the group with five points, but Galway were eliminated on scoring difference. Alan Nolan was the Dublin goalkeeper that evening six summers ago. 'As a team we hadn't really beaten anybody of note,' recalls Nolan. 'We had beaten Laois and Carlow and so on but we hadn't managed to get a victory against one of the really top teams. 'We had run Kilkenny close at Parnell Park in 2018 but just didn't come out on top so there was a feeling if we lost again it would be one of those things that would follow us around, 'You can't beat anybody of note in an important game'. 'It was driven by the team, Mattie Kenny was the Dublin manager at the time and so there was that Galway attachment and the possibility of Mattie putting his own county out, so the players themselves really decided we needed to go out and take a big scalp. 'Galway were one of the best teams in the country, they had won the All-Ireland in 2017 and were beaten in the final in 2018, so it was a big game for us.' Dublin's Seán Moran scores a goal from a penalty against Galway at Parnell Park in 2019. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Oisín O'Rorke was faultless from frees that evening while Eamonn Dillon, Seán Moran and Chris Crummey scored the all-important goals. Midway through the second half, and with Dublin trailing by one, Nolan drilled over the score of the game, a sensational point hit from between his own 20- and 45-metre lines. 'It was one of those scores that when you look back at it, if you missed you would have been the worst in the world because Conal Keaney was out in front of me all on his own, so thankfully it went over,' recalls the 2014 All-Star nominated goalkeeper. The final whistle in 2019 was greeted with a pitch invasion. 'I remember people coming up and saying, 'You have knocked Galway out of the championship' but we didn't care, all we were interested in was that we got a result for ourselves,' continues Nolan. The St Brigid's clubman is delighted to see Dublin playing their home matches at Parnell Park again. 'Dublin played some of their games under Micheál in Croke Park but Niall Ó Ceallacháin has the lads back in Parnell Park and you can see they are relishing playing there,' says Nolan. 'You could see the atmosphere for the games against Offaly and Wexford, so I think it is all set up for a great game this Sunday. 'There is all that stuff in the background with Micheál coming back to Dublin and after putting Galway out last year too. So there are plenty of sideshows but I would imagine the lads will be leaving all that aside and just trying to get a result that hopefully sees Dublin progress to the Leinster final.'
