Joyce hails Tribe after not getting 'respect we deserve'

Galway boss Padraic Joyce praised his "absolutely outstanding" players after they responded to being "written off" by stunning holders Dublin and blowing the race for the All-Ireland title wide open.

The Connacht champions produced a stirring comeback win to beat the Dubs 0-17 to 0-16 in a pulsating quarter-final at Croke Park.

The Tribesmen trailed by four at half-time but staged a hugely impressive fightback to claim a first championship win over the Dubs in 90 years.

In a nerve-shredding conclusion, late scores from Johnny Heaney and Tomo Culhane put Galway 0-17 to 0-15 up.

And while a Con O'Callaghan free gave Dublin hope in stoppage time, the three-time All-Star fired a last-gasp effort wide to give Galway a famous win.

At full-time, Galway celebrated ecstatically amid raucous scenes at Croke Park, which had earlier been relatively quiet during Armagh's win over Roscommon, which lacked the tension and drama that followed.

Joyce said: "Dublin have lost two games at Croke Park in 10 years, that was the third, so for us and for everyone writing off and not giving us a chance or the respect we deserve as a team that's undefeated all year long, it's a fantastic win for us.

"We made every decision on the pitch correct. To a man I thought our lads were absolutely outstanding.

"There were emotional scenes at the end there. Some people might say we over-celebrated a bit, but any day you beat one of the best teams that's played football for the past 10 or 15 years, you'd be very, very happy."

Joyce, who led Galway to the 2022 All-Ireland final, added: "I know there's nothing won. But we'll get them calmed down and ready for a semi-final in two weeks' time."

Galway's comeback win came despite injuries to captain Sean Kelly, who was forced off after 20 minutes, and star forward Shane Walsh, whose replacement Culhane kicked a crucial late score.

Joyce - twice an All-Ireland winner as a Galway player - opted to start Damien Comer and Walsh despite both players having had recent injury troubles, with the Tribe boss saying "you’re a genius when it works out and you’re a clown when it doesn’t work out.

"There was no point in us having a bench full of Damien Comers and Shane Walshs and then bringing them on and trying to chase the game from seven or eight points down," he observed.

"We took a gamble on it and tried to keep them in the game as long as we can. We tried to keep Damien as close to the goal as we could, which worked out alright.

"Cein D’Arcy had a bit of a knock, he was a loss to us but then he came on. Obviously, the nature of injuries, we played the last six, seven, eight minutes with probably 13 fully fit bodies on the pitch, unfortunately, but we got over it.”

Galway cannot face Armagh - Saturday's other winners - in the semi-finals after meeting in the group stage

Farrell hints at Dublin retirements

Joyce and the Galway players' delirium at full-time was in stark contrast to Dublin's dejection after a rare championship loss at Croke Park, with boss Dessie Farrell hinting at possible retirements in the near future.

There will be question marks over the future of several Dublin players with Stephen Cluxton, Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion having previously stepped away from county duty only to return for last year's title success.

“That era, that we understood it many a couple of seasons ago that everyone looks back to, has moved on,” said a crestfallen Farrell.

“It’s a different generation of players now. I’m sure there’s some of them in there who will be considering their future. It might be the last time that we see them play for Dublin.

“They’ve been brilliant warriors. They died with their boots on today.

"But there is another generation of players in there who have the hunger and desire to want to continue and go on to wear the Dublin jersey with pride and honour and I’m sure they will do that.”

Dublin boss Dessie Farrell (right) hinted at player retirements from within his panel in the coming weeks and months