PADRAIC JOYCE lashed his misfiring hitmen after Galway’s first defeat of the year against Dublin.
Sean Bugler netted twice as the Sky Blues sizzled at Croke Park – but the Tribes fired SEVEN first half wides and 12 in total.
Rob Finnerty missed a sitter when Stephen Cluxton’s kick-out was intercepted by Shane Walsh just seven minutes in.
Star man Walsh squared for Finnerty at the back post, but be palmed wide in front of an open goal.
Finnerty scored 0-2 early on but was hauled off after 32 minutes when he missed the target again with a pointed effort – and Joyce also gave Walsh the curly finger at the break.
The Kilmacud Crokes man fired 1-37 across their opening five rounds, but sealed his fate when he lofted a simple free straight into Cluxton’s chest as half time approached.
Despite second half goals from John Maher and Damien Comer, the Dubs romped home as Bugler netted in each half and Luke Breathnach and Con O’Callaghan fired 0-4 each from play.
Walsh appeared to limp off at the break, but Joyce says his withdrawal was down to wayward shooting.
He said: “They (Walsh and Finnerty) missed about 2-10 between them, so we had to get someone to try and score on the pitch. That was it, yeah.
“We don’t go to lose matches in case people think we do. But the way we shot at the goal there you’d think we did with the shots.
“But again, first play of the game, missed a simple kick from 25, 20 yards in front of the goal.
“Then we intercepted a kick out. We were two on one on the goalkeeper.
“It wasn’t a wet night. That ball should have been in the net, simple as that.
“But again, looking at the stats there inside with the lads, we missed 19 shots at goal.
“In Croke Park you cannot do that, especially against Dublin. They’re the most efficient team that’s ever been out there.
“Some of the misses you’ll be scratching your head at them.
“But we always encourage players to take shots on, to play with a bit of confidence, be brave.
“Some of them dropped short, they were just poor misses and free kicks dropping short from 25-30 yards again. Small, silly mistakes really from our end.
“We have to hold our hands up – just weren’t efficient enough.
“They are hard to figure out but some of them aren’t, like, some of them were just pot shots that were never on.”
Dublin are still in the hunt for a Division 1 final berth ahead of their final round clash with Tyrone at Healy Park next Sunday.
CLUX BACK IN GEAR
Bugler stole the show, but boss Farrell hailed comeback king Stephen Cluxton, 43, who made his first appearance of the year following minor knee surgery.
The Parnells man made his SFC debut in 2002, and opted to stay on despite the high profile departures of James McCarthy, Jack McCaffrey, Paul Mannion, Michael Fitzsimons, John Small and Brian Fenton.
Farrell says Cluxton’s return had nothing to do with the rule tweak where teams must have four players in their own half at all times – which puts the shackles on goalkeepers again.
And he hailed his new leaders as Breathnach, Ross McGarry and Killian McGinnis impressed again.
Farrell said: “He was always going to feature at some stage. He’s part of the panel this year.
“We’re delighted to have him and an experienced wise head around the place particularly given that a lot of the experienced older lads, senior lads have moved on.
“But it’s just coincidental that he happened to be back for this game, he’d a long lay-off there and had knee surgery and that type of thing.
“So he was working his way back to full fitness. There’s a great attitude and overall, the mood is good within the camp.
“Despite maybe the initial concerns or worries around some of the senior lads moving on within the squad itself, I think lads have stepped up.
“There’s new leadership emerging within the group as well, which is great to see.”
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Byrne, T Clancy, C Tyrrell; C Murphy 0-1, S McMahon, B Howard; T Lahiff, P Ó Cofaigh-Byrne; S Bugler 2-0, C O’Callaghan 0-4, N Scully 0-1; R McGarry 0-2, C Costello 0-5, 2f, 1 45, L Breathnach 0-4, 1 tp.
Subs: K McGinnis 0-1 for Ó Cofaigh-Byrne 43mins; L O’Dell 0-1 for Scully 53, J Madden for Breathnach 53, K Lahiff for McGarry 63, D Keogh for Costello 68
GALWAY: C Gleeson; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, D O’Flaherty 0-1tp; D McHugh 0-1, L Silke, S Kelly; P Conroy, J Maher 1-0; M Thompson 0-1, C McDaid 0-1, C Darcy 0-1; R Finnerty 0-2, 1f, M Tierney 0-2, 1m, S Walsh.
Subs: L Ó Conghaile 0-1 for Finnerty 32mins; C Ó Curraoin for Walsh HT, J Glynn for McHugh 40, D Comer 1-2, 1m for Conroy 46, S O’Neill for Fitzgerald 58
REFEREE: M McNally (Monaghan)
