Galway Camogie U16s stay unbeaten

Galway 1-14 Dublin 1-10

A late 1-4 last Saturday completed Galway’s group campaign of the All-Ireland under 16 Camogie Championship undefeated and sets up a semi-final with Wexford on Sunday in Edenderry (2.30pm).

After an opening draw with Clare followed by wins over Cork and Kilkenny, the Tribesgirls trailed Dublin by 1-10 to 0-10 entering the final ten minutes before overturning the deficit.

Eimear O’Donovan and Sinead Minihan reduced arrears before three substitutes combined to secure Lorraine Larkin’s charges top spot.

Leanne Freaney set up Ava Lynskey for Galway’s goal on 55 minutes before Freaney and Marie Farrell helped the maroon and white to their third victory.

Despite taking until the finish to oversee a Dublin outfit playing for pride, Galway will be strong favourites to account for Wexford.

Boasting dangerous players like Una Sinnott and Annie Dempsey, Wexford began their campaign poorly with a 7-16 to 0-6 defeat to Tipperary before drawing 2-10 to 4-4 against Limerick.

They were underdogs against Offaly before managing a 1-18 to 3-9 win and taking second spot behind the Premier County.

In contrast, Galway have been impressive despite some scares. It took a late Lynskey goal to rescue a 3-10 to 2-13 draw against Clare but they showed their potential when they dismissed Cork 5-11 to 0-8.

Expected to breeze through the final two games, they had to come from seven behind to beat Kilkenny 2-16 to 1-12 and an opening minute goal from Dublin’s Grace O’Shea ensured Galway would have to work to succeed again.

Dublin led 1-7 to 0-6 at half-time and were causing problems. Ellen McGovern, Claire Murray, Niamh Rock and O’Shea scored but Galway responded through O’Donovan, Taragh Moloney, Mairead Burke, Minihan and a Carrie Dolan penalty.

The third quarter was competitive but Galway couldn’t get within three points as even with Dolan, O’Donovan and Moloney troubling the umpires, McGovern and Alex Griffin ensured the sky slues stayed ahead.

But like the Clare and Kilkenny games, Galway produced a late showing to take the spoils. Galway’s attacking threat has stood out with 11 different scorers over the four games.

Moloney leads with 0-17 but is well supported by Dolan (2-10) and Siobhan McGrath (4-4). Lynskey has produced 3-1 while O’Donovan (1-9), Burke (1-2), Sarah Spellman (0-3) and Leanne Helebert (0-1) have registered minors. And on Saturday, Minihan, Farrell and Freaney contributed.

The attack minded outfit have conceded 4-53 but have been reasonably solid with St. Thomas’ keeper Sarah Healy, full Roisin Black at full back and the half-back line of Christina Hanley, Aisling Downey and Emma Gaffney influential perfromers.

And in midfielders Moloney and Minihan, Galway have a duo capable of dictating play. Galway must guard against complacency to advance to a third consecutive All-Ireland final.

While Wexford must be respected, their underage record hasn’t been as impressive as their senior stars and a solid maroon and white display should be enough to see Galway face Cork or Tipperary at the end of the month.

For more camogie reports see this week’s Connacht Tribune