Late heartbreak for Galway ladies footballers

Donegal 3-15

Galway 4-11

GALWAY exited the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC in heartbreaking fashion on Monday, as a last gasp Yvonne McMonagle point, following a controversially awarded free, proved the difference as Donegal advanced to the quarter-finals at Pearse Park.

With 90 seconds remaining, super-sub Roisín Leonard equalised for Galway with a point from a free, and it looked likely that extra-time would be played.

However, Donegal broke upfield from the resulting kick-out, to win a free with 39 seconds left on the clock, after referee Yvonne Duffy awarded a dubious free with Galway full-back Noelle Connolly adjudged to have fouled McMonagle.

Experience told as the Glenfin clubwoman brought her tally to 1-8, with time up, sending the resulting free over the cross-bar, having also had the ball brought forward by the refereem after Galway vented their frustrations.

Not bad for a side who lost 13 players, following their Division 2 League triumph earlier this year, but Galway were also without some key players.

Tracey Leonard continues to recover from her cruciate injury, while her sister Roisín failed to start Monday’s game, after picking up an injury against Claregalway, but the Corofin clubwoman played a vital role as a late substitute, scoring 1-1, and making sure the result was in the balance until the end.

Galway settled quickest with four of the first six points, to take a 0-4 to 0-2 lead in the seventh minute, with captain Edel Concannon opening the scoring, and Gillian O’Connor also on target in the initial stages, but Donegal made the Tribeswomen work hard.

They fired 1-2 without reply in three minutes, including their opening goal from McMonagle in the 11th minute, following a Roisín Friel pass.

Amber Barrett and Katy Herron also added points as Donegal took a 1-4 to 0-4 lead, but Galway worked hard and levelled the tie entering the second quarter.

Maria Hoey started and finished a great team move which finished in the Dublin based player firing past Donegal keeper Aoife McColgan to level the tie at 1-5 apiece.

Full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.