Dublin, Galway extend fireworks

The main event in the Church and General National Football League lived up to its billing yesterday as Dublin and Galway extended the weekend's fireworks with a dynamic encounter at Parnell Park.

Even if the All-Ireland champions surrendered their lead to a last minute point by Dublin's Declan Darcy, the 80-minute display of inspired football hardly left a disappointed face amongst the 7,000 all-ticket attendance. As Galway manager John O'Mahony put it, this was "football played with passion."

Michael Donnellan and Niall Finnegan had helped initiate the Galway recovery midway through the second half but it was Darcy, who claimed eight points in total, who proved the outstanding player on the field by ensuring Dublin heads were kept high at the finish. They still face an important clash with Cork to secure a place in the quarter-finals while Galway are in a much improved position in their battle to avoid relegation.

Tyrone took full advantage of Cork's rocky performance in Dungannon to move up to be joint leaders with Dublin in Division 1A while Donegal dropped further out of touch after their loss to Offaly in Tullamore. The unbeaten run of Kildare in Division 1B ended in disappointing style with their five-point defeat at the hands of Monaghan. The Leinster champions were reduced to 14 men through injuries but even that won't cover up their succession of wides in the second half. They must wait until the outcome of their last game to know if they have earned a spot in the later stages.

Mayo put themselves right back in contention with an important victory over Meath in the first competitive showdown between the sides since the 1996 All-Ireland final.

In Division 2A, Kerry's demolition of London in Ruislip puts them on top for the first time as Westmeath drop four places after their narrow loss to Roscommon.

There were also a change at the top of 2B with Sligo taking over from Carlow with a nine-point win over Longford.