DUBLIN MANAGER ANTHONY Daly admitted Galway were worthy winners in their relegation playoff against his side yesterday.

Galway narrowly avoided defeat in last week’s meeting between the two sides, grabbing a late draw and earning a replay.

And Dublin were made to pay for their failure to finish off Galway the first time around yesterday, as they were beaten 4-12 to 0-19.

Speaking following his side’s disappointing loss, Daly told RTÉ Sport he regretted their failure to win the initial encounter:

“We probably should have killed it off [last week]…when we were three ahead and we got punished for it but Galway deserved it. [It’s a] fine line six days later.”

He continued:

“We felt we should have been ahead and I suppose the match was in the balance and we probably hesitated for a crucial ball and once it goes to six points, and if they get the next couple of scores, what do they do then only go and get another goal and the game was probably dead then.

“At this level you have to be more clinical and we just weren’t on the day.”

Dublin must now recover from the setback, as they prepare to face the winners of Laois versus Carlow in the Leinster championship in June.

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