Dublin v Galway Preview: All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final – History, Form, Team News & Predictions

Dublin and Galway renew one of Gaelic football’s great rivalries on Sunday when they meet in the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship at Croke Park. The teams find themselves in the championship for the third consecutive season after having produced two memorable meetings over the last 12 months. Galway finally ended a 90-year wait for a league win over Dublin by beating the Dubs 0-17 to 0-16 in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final, becoming the first team to knock Dublin out of the quarter-finals since 2009. Dublin responded by beating Galway 1-18 to 2-14 in last year’s All-Ireland group stage at Pearse Stadium. Sunday’s encounter promises another fascinating contest between two countries with real ambitions of winning the Sam Maguire Cup. Dublin needed extra time to defeat Donegal in one of the championship matches, while Galway were one of the most potent attacking teams in the competition.

Match Details

• Fixing: Dublin v Galway
• Competition: All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
• Place: Croke Park
• Date: Sunday
• Live : RTÉ

Team News

Team news will be announced Friday at 12:00 p.m. This preview will be updated immediately after both managers have confirmed their starting XVs.

Championship so far

Dublin

• Dublin 2-16 Wicklow 2-14
• Dublin 0-20 Louth 0-10
• Westmeath 2-28 Dublin 0-26 (after extra time)
• Louth 4-18 Dublin 1-24
• Dublin 1-24 Cavan 0-16
• Dublin 2-26 Donegal 2-22 (after extra time)

Save: I played 6, won 4, lost 2.

Galway

• Galway 1-20 Leitrim 2-12
• Roscommon 3-21 Galway 2-22
• Galway 3-21 Kildare 0-17
• Galway 3-21 Westmeath 2-21

Save: I played 4, won 3, lost 1.

Recent championship meetings

• 2025: Dublin 1-18 Galway 2-14
• 2024: Galway 0-17 Dublin 0-16
• 2018: Dublin 1-24 Galway 2-12
• 1983: Dublin 1-10 Galway 1-8
• 1976: Dublin 1-8 Galway 0-8

Face to face

Dublin and Galway have met 12 times previously in the league. Dublin hold a 9-3 advantage, but Galway have enjoyed success in two of the last three meetings. Prior to last year’s quarter-final victory, Galway had not beaten Dublin in the league since 1933. Dublin’s league wins came in 1922, 1942, 1958, 1963, 1974, 1976, 1983, 2018 and 2025.

Key statistics

• Galway beat Dublin 0-20 to 1-15 on Matchday 7 of this season’s Allianz Football League.
• Galway have scored 3-21 in three of their four league games this year.
• Roscommon also scored 3-21 against Galway in the Connacht final.
• Dublin have scored six goals and conceded ten in six league matches.
• Galway have scored nine goals and conceded seven in four league matches.
• Ger Brennan leads Dublin to an All-Ireland quarter-final for the first time in his first season as manager.
• Páraic Joyce reaches his third All-Ireland quarter-final as Galway coach, having beaten Armagh in 2022 and Dublin in 2024.

League and championship record in 2026

• Dublin: I played 13, won 6, lost 7.
• Galway: Played 11, won 6, drew 2, lost 3.

Prediction

Very little separates these two teams. Galway have become one of the most dangerous attacking teams in the Championship, while Dublin showed against Donegal that they remain capable of producing big performances when the pressure is highest. Galway’s ability to consistently hit high scores gives them confidence, but Dublin’s experience, depth and composure at Croke Park cannot be underestimated. Expect another tense, physical contest that could once again be decided by a single score in the final minutes.Prediction: Galway by 2 points.

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