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Galway are braced for tough camogie test as Tipp roll into town

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Ardahan's Aoife Callanan who has been ruled out of Galway's Camogie clash with Tipperary

SEVEN weeks from their disappointing league final performance, Galway’s senior camogie team begin their All-Ireland championship quest on Saturday when they host Tipperary at Kenny Park (5.15pm).

The Tribeswomen find themselves in an unusual position. Strong favourites against the Premier county but facing dangerous opponents who have made strong strides since their league encounter last February.

Galway came out 3-7 to 0-5 winners that day after a dominant second quarter, but Tipperary responded with three victories pushing them into the league semi-finals before they ran eventual winners Kilkenny to extra-time.

Cait Devane is Tipperary’s key player but the gradual introduction of younger players is starting to pay off.

The Fryday sisters (Ereena and Sarah) grow in influence while Jenny Grace has taken the role of scorer-in-chief. Indeed, she contributed 11 points against the Noresiders and sliced a late penalty just over the bar that could have made an interesting finish.

“I think Tipperary are going really well and the rumours that are out there is that they are performing very well in challenge games,” said Galway manager Ollie Bergin during the week.

“So we know we’ll have to be at our very best to beat Tipp and we’re not treating them lightly in any shape or form.”

But despite their poor 2-7 to 0-7 reversal to Kilkenny in the league final, Galway’s league grading was positive and they struck back in the Gael Linn Interprovincial series taking their first title since 2008.

With seven wins from eight competitive eague games, Galway are going in as one of the championship favourites and this side will be looking to emulate the class of 2013. “I think our preparations have gone very well,” added Bergin.

The panel has been boosted by the inclusion of Killimor pair Susan Keane and Denise Starr while Galway minors Roisin Black, Ava Lynskey and Carrie Dolan have also been added. Bergin used the league campaign to give game time to his whole squad and his selection will eagerly anticipated when announced later in the week.

“We wanted to create that competitive spirit within the panel,” stated the Kinvara man.

Aoife Donohue (1-1) and Aoife Callanan (2-1) were Tipperary’s tormenters in the league game but the latter is missing.

Callanan’s medial ligament injury could rule her out of the group campaign and Therese Manton (cruciate) is a long-term absentee.

However, the rest of the squad is available. And Galway will have a strong deck.

In all, Galway should carry the day but expect the margin to be much reduced. A strong effort will boost Galway’s focus and mental strength, but Tipperary will need to apply a stern examination of Galway’s credentials to maintain their improving standards.

“We’re always looking for a performance as well,” concluded Bergin.

“We want the right attitude on the field. If we don’t have that, then cracks will appear later on in the year. We always want the right attitude and the performance is key. And if we have the right attitude and performance, the result will take care of itself.”

For a longer version of this preview see this week’ digital edition of the Galway City Tribune here.

Connacht Tribune

Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents

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Galway's Aaron Niland is chased by Cillian O'Callaghan of Cork during Saturday's All-Ireland Minor Hurling semi-final at Semple Stadium. Photo: Stephen Marken/Sportsfile.

Galway 3-18

Cork 1-10

NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.

The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.

Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.

Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.

Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.

Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

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Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

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The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

 

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CITY TRIBUNE

United wary of the threat from Treaty

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Galway United’s goal scorer Stephen Walsh gets to grips with Wexford’s Hugh Douglas during Friday's First Division tie at Eamonn Deacy Park. Photos: Joe O'Shaughnessy,

GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).

The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.

There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.

The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.

Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.

Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

 

 

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CITY TRIBUNE

Devon crowned Women’s Connacht Cup champions

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Luke Byrnes (centre) ceebrates with Paddy Gannon (left) and Sam Omokua afetr scoring his second goal aganist St Bernard's. Photos: Joe O'Shaughnessy.

Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.

Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.

Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.

WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL

Salthill Devon  4

Manulla 3

Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.

Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

 

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