Both Dublin and Galway were fortunate to have reached the final at all, as both needed late goals in the semi-finals to stay in the championship. Dublin salvaged a draw with Corkthanks to a Barney Rock goal in injury time before beating them in a memorable replay in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. That replay was the first time an All-Ireland semi-final had been held outside Croke Park since 1941. Galway overcame an unfortunate Donegal with a Val Joyce strike. Supporters anticipated an eventful game. Both counties had a proud footballing tradition, and this was also the first final since 1977 that did not involve Kerry.
Match
Summary
Conditions were terrible on the day of the match, with a gale-force wind and driving rain making it impossible for the players to play constructive football, and the physical battle was more intense than usual. The game was full of dangerous sliding tackles and players involved themselves in many heated exchanges. It is impossible to locate the exact source of the disgraceful scenes which marred the final. There was no history of violence in previous clashes between the sides. Dublin's Barney Rock scored a bizarre goal from 40 yards after a poor free-out from Galway goalkeeper Pádraig Coyne. Galway objected. They claimed the goal should not have been allowed due to Dublin manager Kevin Heffernan interfering with play as he tended to the injured Joe McNally. Referee John Gough did not agree and the goal stood. Soon after that, things began to go wrong for Dublin. After a tussle in midfield, Dublin legend Brian Mullins swung back his arm and struck Brian Talty, sending him crashing to the ground. The referee promptly sent Mullins off. Mullins said of his assault on Talty: "If I look back on it, a lot of thoughts run through my mind. It happened and I had to accept it". Shortly before half-time several players clashed beneath the Hogan Stand and, to the crowd's astonishment, referee Gough sent off a player from each side — Ray Hazley from Dublin and Tomás Tierney of Galway. Stephen Joyce, who was also playing for Galway that day, said: "In my view neither player deserved to be given their marching orders". The referee blew his whistle to end the first half, which brought a ceasefire of sorts. However, players continued to clash in the tunnel and — while rumours circulated for years about the incident — word of whatever happened in the tunnel remained there. Galway's Brian Talty did not return for the second half. Val Joyce said Mullins was the perpetrator: "Brian Mullins came in after for Brian Talty. I ran in and stood in his way". Whatever peace remained was swiftly dispensed with when, five minutes after the restart, Dublin's Kieran Duff lifted his foot towards the face of Pat O Neill, who lay stricken on the ground. The referee promptly sent Duff off. Thus, it was fourteen-man Galway against twelve-man Dublin for most of the second half. Dublin's "Dirty Dozen", as they were to become known, sat back and defended against Galway's forward play. Dublin held out to win the game by a slim margin of just two points. But the circumstances overshadowed the achievement.
Details
Post-match
interviewed the players from both teams in their dressing rooms. Journalists were permitted to do so at the time, and, on this occasion, were not prevented from going about their business by the dirtiness of the game, though the practice would later cease. While towelling himself down, one of the Dublin men sent off, Kieran Duff, quietly explained to Breheny what had happened: "I was provoked. I pleaded my case with the referee, but all he did was take my name and order me off without so much as a how's your father". The following morning's newspapers coverage had very little to do with the actual game, but focused on the ugliness of the match and also reported on the poor supervision at exits and the terrible crushing in the Canal End and on Hill 16, where a fan was stabbed. There were reports of clashes amongst supporters after the match and of buses full of Galway fans being stoned as they left Dublin. After the match some Galway officials deemed Dublin to be a squad of hitmen with no regard for decency or fair play. The pressure was on the GAA authorities to act fast and deal with the controversy on the pitch, but it took weeks for the organisation to sort out all the disciplinary matters arising from the final. When the punishments were announced Dublin felt aggrieved believing they were handed far too much of the responsibility for the controversies. Ciaran Duff was banned for 12 months, Brian Mullins for 5 months, their manager Kevin Heffernan received a 3-month ban while Ray Hazley got a month. 2 players from Galway, Tomás Tierney and Peter Lee were both suspended for 1 month each. Both county boards were also fined. The entire incident left a sour taste in the mouth of GAA fans, especially those of Galway and Dublin, of which a rivalry between the two was born. They did not meet in the competition again until the 2018 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final. The match and related incidents was given the Scannal treatment by RTÉ in 2007. Hazley auctioned his medal in 2013.
