Big chance for Galway women to end senior title famine

MIDFIELDERS Molly Dunne and Clodagh McGrath are serious injury concerns for Galway ahead of their All-Ireland senior camogie showdown against Kilkenny at Croke Park on Sunday (4pm).

Dunne (Eyrecourt) has sustained a hamstring injury while McGrath (Sarsfields) is struggling with a dead leg and manager Tony Ward says both are extremely doubtful for the season’s finale.

In any event, he has delayed naming his starting fifteen until later in the week to give both players every chance of proving their fitness. “I was chatting to Ian O’Connor (doctor) this morning (Tuesday) and he said they will have it all to do. That is the way he put it. You would still be hoping though you would get something out of them.”

No doubt, the unavailability of Dunne and McGrath would be a setback as both offer a variety of options to the team. “Sure look it, Molly is key to our plans and if Molly wasn’t there you would be looking at Clodagh. So, it is ironic that the two players going for the one position are injured. We have a bigger senior panel this year though and those other players may now be called upon.”

Should Dunne and McGrath fail to make it, Ward and his management team of selectors Declan Walsh, Orla Watson, Seamie Crowe and trainer Liam Hodgins will look to the likes of Noreen Coen (Athenry) and Ann Marie Starr (Killimor), both of whom featured in the 1-12 to 0-6 semi-final victory over Wexford, to fill the void.

Other than that, it is unlikely Galway will make too many chances from last day out. Susan Earner (Eyrecourt) will pull on the No. 1 jersey with Mullagh duo Therese Manton and Sarah Dervan and St. Thomas’ Heather Cooney lining out in the full-back line.

Sinead Cahalan (Mullagh), the influential Therese Maher (Athenry) and captain Lorraine Ryan (Kiltulla/Killimordaly) will be favoured to fulfil the half-back berths while Niamh Kilkenny (Pearses) will anchor a midfield pairing that may see Ann Marie Hayes (Killimor) redeployed from the attack should Dunne and McGrath be deemed unfit. Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune.