Galway 0-21 Dublin 1-17
Joe Canning struck a dramatic winner from a sideline cut three minutes into stoppage time to secure Galway's place in the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup final with a one point win over Dublin in Parnell Park.
The 2017 All-Ireland winners looked all set for a comfortable win when they built on a seven-point half-time lead to move eight clear with 20 minutes to go at Parnell Park.
But in a fight-back that will please new Dublin manager Mattie Kenny, the hosts wiped that margin out in the 72nd minute when substitute Oisin O'Rorke converted his second free in a row.
Dublin had momentum on their side but couldn't push ahead for the first time in the game and were sucked by Canning's last gasp point from the right sideline.
Dublin also lost top scorer and powerful forward John Hetherton to a 70th minute straight red card.
It means Galway will advance to next weekend's final against Wexford while Dublin will turn their attentions to the opening round of the National League.
Cathal Mannion was excellent for Micheal Donoghue's side and struck 10 points on the afternoon, five coming from open play and five from frees.
The Tribesmen received a bye to the last four of the competition and came up against a Dublin side with three games behind them.
The lack of competitive action didn't affect the westerners initially who led from the opening score until that injury-time equaliser.
Mannion and All-Star brother Padraic, who got among the scorers, were among five players in the Galway lineup who started last year's All-Ireland final loss to Limerick.
Dubs manager Kenny, a selector with Galway in 2012 when they reached the All-Ireland final, watched his side chase the game after conceding the opening three points.
Cathal Mannion and Sean Blehane grabbed those early Galway points though Dublin cut the deficit to two after the opening quarter following scores from Donal Burke, Eamon Dillon and John Hetherton.
Another Galway burst of points from Mannion, Brian Concannon and Davy Glennon was ominous and left the visitors 0-10 to 0-04 ahead after 28 minutes.
Dublin registered just three first-half points from open play with their top scorer Hetherton notching the rest from frees.
Galway deserved their 0-15 to 0-08 interval lead with Conor Whelan also pointing and among seven different first-half scorers.
Galway strode eight points clear at 0-18 to 0-10 in the third quarter but couldn't push as anticipated and it was Dublin that powered back into the contest.
Hetherton, Fergal Whitely and Chris Crummey all pointed before Sean Moran converted a 66th minute penalty and sub O'Rorke eventually tied it up. But there was to be no fairytale ending for the Dubs who came up just short.
Galway: James Skehill; Jack Grealish, Jack Fitzpatrick, Sean Linnane; Kevin Hussey, Padraic Mannion (0-01), Aidan Harte (0-01); Sean Kilduff, Cathal Mannion (0-10, 0-05f); Padraig Brehony, Conor Whelan (0-01), Sean Blehane (0-02); Tomas Monaghan, Brian Concannon (0-03, 0-01f), Davy Glennon (0-02).
Subs: Sean Loftus for Kilduff (56), Shane Maloney for Brehony (56), Ronan O'Meara for Glennon (62), Joe Canning (0-01, 0-01 s/l) for Blehane (67).
Dublin: Alan Nolan; Paddy Smith, Eoghan O'Donnell, Lee Gannon; Chris Crummey (0-02), Sean Moran (1-0), Shane Barrett; Rian McBride, Tomas Connolly; John Hetherton (0-08, 0-08f), Fergal Whitely (0-01), Fiontan McGibb; Eamon Dillon (0-02), Liam Rushe, Donal Burke (0-02).
Subs: Sean Treacy for Smith (h/t),Daire Gray for O'Donnell (47), Caolon Conway for McBride (48), Oisin O'Rorke (0-02, 0-02f) for McGibb (51), Davy Keogh for Barrett (62), Darragh O'Connell for Whitely (64), Conor Burke for Donal Burke (70).
