Date Published: 20-Apr-2011

Wexford 3-10

Galway 0-10

Eoghan Cormican

At Semple Stadium

THERE is a gap beginning to develop in the camogie pecking order. Wexford, very much the queens of the small ball game are out front, comfortably ahead of the chasing pack, headed by Galway. On Sunday, at Semple Stadium that gap grew yet again.

This should have been a day when Galway sent out a clear message of intent as to their All-Ireland aspirations, but once more they were outmuscled and outclassed by a Wexford side slowly tightening their stranglehold on the game.

Again championship looms and serious question marks hang over the desire and resolve of this Galway outfit. It’s certainly no time to be writing obituaries, but it seems at this point in time that Galway do not possess the capability to make a serious bid for All-Ireland glory.

When it came to the crunch on Sunday the Galway forwards simply didn’t deliver the goods. Tied at 1-6 to 0-9 entering the final quarter, Aislinn Connolly missed a free to put Galway ahead, while Niamh McGrath, Noreen Coen and Tara Rutledge all squandered chances subsequently.

There were to be no such mishaps at the other end as Wexford registered 2-4 in the final 12 minutes of action to comprehensively annex a third consecutive league title.

All in all, JJ Doyle’s charges were physically more powerful than Galway in the key head to battles and displaying a ruthless streak in front of goal, there’s little to suggest they will be stopped in their quest for back to back All-Ireland success.

By comparison with Wexford, Galway’s central spine just isn’t strong enough. The Galway panel is without players of the calibre of Catherine O’Loughlin, Mary and Una Lacey, and until such quality within the county is unearthed, the wait for the O’Duffy Cup will continue.

In both league and championship, this was Galway’s fourth final appearance since 2008. They failed to emerge victorious in all four encounters and therein lies the problem. For this group of players it has been defeat after defeat on the big day. The seed of doubt planted in 2008 where Galway lost both the league and championship deciders, grows bigger with experiences like Sunday.

The conclusion of Galway’s league campaign was a carbon copy of its start and although the Tribeswomen showed promise in their semi-final win over Kilkenny, a lot of boxes remain to be ticked before the championship opener against Wexford on June 12th.

In truth, defensive frailties cost Galway dearly. The second and third goal in particular were avoidable and if Galway are to be in hunt for honours later this summer then the management must embark on corrective surgery, especially in the full back line, where Galway were torn asunder by the pace and skill of Wexford’s full forward line.

Further forward, Galway’s attacking inertia is encapsulated by the fact that the Kilkenny sisters, playing at half back and midfield, scored more from play than the six starting forwards combined.

In any event, there were just four minutes on the clock when Una Lacey blasted the sliotar to the roof of the net following excellent play by Lenny Holohan to draw in Sarah Dervan before releasing possession inside.

Brenda Hanney opened the scoring for Galway, but Wexford threatened to put this to bed early on with further points from Una Lacey, Michelle O’Leary and Ursula Jacob to stretch their advantage to six.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.