Back to the drawing board as Galway come up short again

Kilkenny 1-10

Galway 1-7

GALWAY’S senior camogie team produced a fighting finish last Saturday but still found themselves coming up short at the final whistle as Kilkenny booked a third consecutive All-Ireland final appearance.

For the Tribeswomen, it was a devastating blow against the below-par Noresiders who hit a purple patch with 1-3 unanswered in the final quarter at Semple Stadium.

Cathal Murray’s charges will rue missed chances themselves as they never fully gelled over the hour even if a couple of refereeing decisions went against them. Rebecca Hennelly struck a late penalty to leave them just three behind but they couldn’t engineer another major threat to steal a draw.

The talk beforehand was about Kilkenny centre back Ann Dalton and their sweeper system.  Galway did attack the number six with Caitriona Cormican giving the St. Lactain’s player little room to manoeuvre.

However, Galway didn’t fully commit to attack opting to play their spare player (Tara Kenny) in their own back six.  It succeeded in limiting the Leinster side sufficient space but it also curtailed their own attack.

After good work from Lorraine Ryan, who set the first half’s tempo, and Noreen Coen, the latter won a free which Carrie Dolan converted on two minutes before Denise Gaule levelled three minutes later.

Even though she finished her side’s top scorer, Gaule was having an off day with the placed balls and missed three decent chances in the first half. However, her second on 12 minutes was followed by a Michelle Quilty point giving Kilkenny a 0-3 to 0-1 advantage on 17 minutes.

Just four scores in the opening quarter, while testament to both defences’ perseverance, was also a poor indictment on the respective attacks that weren’t seizing the opportunities on the big occasion.  Kilkenny threatened to goal twice through Katie Power and Quilty.

Galway also had their moments up front but referee Ray Kelly gave poor calls against the maroon and white. While Aoife Donohue should have had a foul before half-time, the decision to penalise Ailish O’Reilly for overcarrying after she was victim to a high challenge was baffling.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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