Dublin staged a stirring second-half comeback to beat Galway 1-25 to 1-21 in a Croke Park thriller and reach the All-Ireland semi-finals.
Con O’Callaghan hit 1-6 for the Dubs, including a second-half penalty after Liam Silke was black-carded for a foul on Colm Basquel which swung momentum in the closing stages.
Galway appeared on course for victory after John Maher’s goal 15 minutes from time put them 1-20 to 0-17 in front.
But Ger Brennan’s Dublin – who outlasted Donegal in extra-time last week to reach the last eight – ate into the deficit and finished with a flourish to return to the last four for the first time since 2023.
Dublin join Kerry, Mayo and Louth to complete the line-up for the semi-finals, which will be played on the weekend of 11-12 July.
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Before throw-in, Galway paid tribute to two-time All-Ireland winner Paul Clancy, who passed away during the week at the age of 49. Galway retired the 10 jersey Clancy wore with distinction for Sunday’s game, with Cein Darcy instead wearing 22 on his back.
There was little to separate the two sides across a nip and tuck opening 35 minutes of action, with Dublin leading by the minimum at the break despite three two-pointers from Galway.
Paddy Small and Rob Finnerty traded efforts from outside the arc, before Niall Scully and Cein Darcy repeated the feat.
Paul Conroy’s effort levelled the sides for a fifth time, before Con O’Callaghan fisted the Dubs into a half-time lead.
O’Callaghan inspires Dublin fightback
Padraig Joyce’s half-time words of wisdom must have resonated with his players as Galway hit the first four scores following the resumption.
Finnerty landing his second and his county’s fifth two-pointer, before further efforts from Cillian McDaid and Finnian O Laoi.
The Dubs took 11 minutes to get off the mark in the second half, but their patience in attack was rewarded with an orange flag from Colm Basquel.
As the intensity levels started to rise, both counties spurned glorious goal chances. Dylan McHugh shot wide at one end before Basquel was off target after racing clear at the other.
But after Joyce sprung the ace in the pack from his bench on 47 minutes with the introduction of all-star forward Damien Comer, Kieran Molloy’s quick double was followed by John Maher’s goal.
Shane Walsh, who had been held quiet for 55 minutes, finally beat his marker, and while his effort on goal was saved by Evan Comerford, Maher was on hand to punch the rebound to the net to put Galway six clear.
As the game started to slip away, O’Callaghan and Small led the Dublin revival as they dominated the Galway kick-out.
The game was turned on its head when Liam Silke was shown a black-card for a foul on Basquel as he raced clean through on goal. Referee David Gough awarded a penalty, and while Connor Gleeson nearly kept it out, the ball crept over the line to draw Dublin level.
Despite a numerical disadvantage, Galway flooded forward and Walsh registered his first score to edge the Connacht side back in front.
But it was Dublin who found a decisive late surge, and after Scully nailed a two-pointer, Basquel extended the lead before late scores from O’Callaghan and substitute Sean Guiden.
Line-ups and scorers
Dublin: Evan Comerford; Sean MacMahon, Eoin Kennedy (0-1), David Byrne; Lee Gannon, Theo Clancy, Charlie McMorrow; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Brian Howard; Colm Basquel (0-4 1x2pt), Con O’Callaghan (1-6 1 pen, 2f), Niall Scully (0-4 2x2pt); Paddy Small (0-4 1x2pt), Ciaran Kilkenny, Cormac Costello (0-4 2f).
Subs: Ross McGarry for C Costello (49), Josh Bannon for S MacMahon (55), Tim Deering for E Kennedy (59), Sean Guiden (0-1) for P Small (65), Liam Smith for C McMorrow (68)
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Jack Glynn, Cian Hernon, Liam Silke; Dylan McHugh (0-2), John Daly, Kieran Molloy (0-3); Paul Conroy (0-2 1x2pt), John Maher (1-0); Cein Darcy (0-4 1x2pt), Finnian O Laoi (0-2), Cillian McDaid (0-1); Rob Finnerty (0-6 1f, 2x2pt), Matthew Tierney, Shane Walsh (0-1).
Subs: Damien Comer for C McDaid (47), Sean Mulkerrin for K Molloy (61), Shane McGrath for F O Laoi (65), Johnny McGrath for P Conroy (67)
Referee: David Gough (Meath)
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