Despite all the drama, the result against Dublin has put Galway into position to challenge for a league semi-final place when they host All-Ireland champions Limerick this Saturday (1.15pm Pearse Stadium) in their last Division 1B round-robin fixture.

The Shannonsiders were 0-26 to 3-16 victors against Tipperary at the weekend with Aaron Gillane contributing 0-8, and Diarmuid Byrnes and Donnacha Ó Dálaigh getting three each as Limerick delivered a strong second period with 17 points after the break.

John Kiely’s men will come to Salthill with 10 starters from last year’s All-Ireland semi-final win over the Tribesmen, and at least two more from the bench.

“It’s probably a league quarter-final for us,” stated Henry Shefflin. “That’s what we were hoping for in advance of the game today, and that’s the position we’re in,” he said after last weekend’s win over Dublin.

“It’s worked out well for the Galway GAA folk in the sense of next Saturday – a double header with the two All-Ireland champions coming to town.

“I’m sure there’ll be a big crowd here and the stadium, to be fair to the county board and the pitch managers here, they’ve put a good shape in place.”

He was still coming to terms with the proceedings that just unfolded against Dublin, and he wasn’t impressed with the officiating that’s left him without his captain, Conor Whelan, and Whelan’s predecessor in that role, Daithi Burke, for Saturday.

“There was a lot to take in to be honest to be with you,” said the Kilkenny 10-time All-Ireland winner.  “From our perspective, the most important thing today was that we get the victory and sustain Division One hurling for next year first and foremost.

“We’ve achieved that objective. And there were lots of things that went against us today. I saw Daithi’s one [red card] and I thought he was a little bit late, but I thought it was more shoulder to shoulder.

Pictured: Conor Whelan is dragged back by Dublin’s Paddy Smyth: Whelan was one of four players to be sent off by Limerick referee, Johnny Kelly. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.