Dublin–Galway Gaelic football rivalry explained

Dublin–Galway
City Or Region:County Dublin
County Galway
First Contested:Dublin 0-6 – 0-4
1922 All-Ireland final
(7 October 1923)
Teams Involved:Dublin
Galway
Most Wins:Dublin (8)
Mostrecent:Dublin 0-16 – 0-17 Galway
2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final
Total:11
Series:Dublin 8–3 Galway
Largestvictory:9 points
Dublin 1-24 – 2-12 Galway
2018 All-Ireland semi-final
(11 August 2018)

The Dublin–Galway rivalry is a Gaelic football rivalry between Irish county teams Dublin and Galway, who first played each other in 1902.[1] Dublin's home ground is Parnell Park and Galway's home ground is Pearse Stadium, however, all of their championship meetings have been held at neutral venues, usually Croke Park.

With Galway having the highest number of Connacht titles and Dublin the standard bearers in Leinster, they have both enjoyed success in the All-Ireland level. Dublin and Galway have the second and third highest number of All-Ireland titles to their names respectively.

The teams have faced each other in the final on multiple occasions, with their first ever meeting coming in the 1922 final. They next met in the semi-final of the 1933 Championship, with Galway emerging victorious in Mullingar's Cusack Park. The following year's final saw the two meet again, with Galway coming out on top. The two sides next met in further finals over the following decades, facing off in 1942, 1963 and 1974 with Dublin victorious on each occasion.

The rivalry reached its nadir in the 1983 final, also known as the "Game of Shame" which was infamous for its levels of thuggery, seeing four red cards, as Dublin won by two points.[2] [3] The game has been described as "sour and violent" with a "poisonous atmosphere" in the crowd.[4] [5] They did not meet in the Championship again for 35 years, and when the teams next faced each other in the All-Ireland semi-final in 2018, Dublin emerged victorious before marching on to secure their fourth All-Ireland title in a row.

Galway ended a 90-year wait for a victory over Dublin in 2024 with a one point win over the reigning champions in the quarter final. Despite losing their captain Seán Kelly and all-star forward Shane Walsh to injuries, Galway took the lead with two minutes remaining and held on for a famous win.

Senior results

Legend

Dublin win
Galway win
Match was a draw

Championship

+Dublin vs Galwaywidth=120Datewidth=130Venuewidth=80Scorewidth=140Competition
7 October 1923Croke Park, Dublin0-6 – 0-4All-Ireland Final
20 August 1933Cusack Park, Mullingar0-8 – 1-4All-Ireland Semi-Final
23 September 1934Croke Park, Dublin3-5 – 1-9All-Ireland Final
20 September 1942Croke Park, Dublin1-10 – 1-8All-Ireland Final
17 August 1958Croke Park, Dublin2-7 – 1-9All-Ireland Semi-Final
22 September 1963Croke Park, Dublin1-9 – 0-10All-Ireland Final
22 September 1974Croke Park, Dublin0-14 – 1-6All-Ireland Final
29 August 1976Croke Park, Dublin1-8 – 0-8All-Ireland Semi-Final
18 September 1983Croke Park, Dublin1-10 – 1-8All-Ireland Final
11 August 2018Croke Park, Dublin1-24 – 2-12All-Ireland Semi-Final
29 June 2024Croke Park, Dublin0-17 – 0-162024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship FinalAll-Ireland Quarter-Final

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Galway won five Connacht S.F.C. titles in the 1980s. Tuam Herald. 27 July 2011. 31 March 2016. Jim. Carney.
  2. Web site: All Ireland Football Final - The Game of Shame? . . 1 February 2018.
  3. Web site: Dubs star puts his All-Ireland medal on sale . . 10 January 2013 . 1 February 2018.
  4. Web site: Footballers Who Have Lost The Most All-Ireland Finals Without Winning One . Balls.ie . 19 August 2016 . 1 February 2018 . Gilmore was a sub on the Galway team which couldn't reel in a depleted Dublin team in the second half of a sour and violent All-Ireland final..
  5. Web site: The Most Memorable Days On The Hill . Balls.ie . 29 August 2016 . 1 February 2018 . There was severe overcrowding on the Hill on that wet day in 1983, with many supporters shuddering at the memory. A violent match and a poisonous atmosphere. The Dublin supporters could at least celebrate victory. Galway fans traipsed home with many labeling one of their worst experiences of all..