A FOURTH SUCCESSIVE All-Ireland title is still within Dublin’s sight after they unleashed another power-packed display to blast past a challenger in the semi-final today.

Surmounting the challenge of Galway represented a fine evening’s work at Croke Park and the only cloud on the horizon for manager Jim Gavin was the sight of a stalwart of his defence limping off in the first half.

Cian O’Sullivan has had his share of injury problems, a recurring hamstring difficulty impacting on his career.

He remains a pillar of their rearguard, one they will be keen to have at their disposal on All-Ireland final day on Sunday 2 September.

“Just a bit of tightness in his leg, so just a precaution,” remarked Gavin after the match.

“In a championship game in that atmosphere you need to get him off and put a fresh player in.

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“I don’t know, we’ll just let the medical protocols kick in and over the next 72 hours we’ll reassess.

Gavin wasn’t keen to class this performance as the best of their campaign but it was clear that this was a step up in quality.

Irrespective of the outcome of tomorrow’s semi-final between Tyrone and Monaghan, they will enter the decider as raging hot favourites for the decider.

“My initial reaction is that I’m happy with the win. Semi-finals are there to be won and we’re just happy to get through it. First of all you’re pleased with the victory.

Galway’s Kevin Walsh with Dublin’s Jim Gavin after the game.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“We prepared well for the game and that probably showed in the performance. Coming into the game we had been so impressed with what Galway have brought. This year they have bene really, really impressive and we knew it was going to bwe a really tight game.

“It was at half-time and we just told the boys to keep doing what they were doind and we’d hope that we’d eventually get through.

“I think we’ve had some really good displays this summer so far. Just happy with the team performance. Not only the guys who finished the game for us, but in the shadows there’s another cohort of players pushing really hard, not even for game-time, but to get on the match-day panel.

“The culture and environment that the guys have created for themselves is all about the team. They are but the sum of their parts, and I know when resume training next week they’ll do their best for Dublin.”

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