Sports
Galway come up trumps in revenge clash with the Cats
Galway 1-12
Kilkenny 0-10
Darren Kelly in Freshford
THEY’D waited 11 weeks for revenge and Galway delivered a response last Sunday as they secured an 11th consecutive All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final appearance.
Ailish O’Reilly’s 38th minute goal put the Tribeswomen to the front and they took control afterwards to exact revenge for their league final loss in May.
It must be noted that no trophies were handed out, the performance wasn’t without faults and Kilkenny’s first half tactics with the wind were questionable, but on a great sporting weekend for the county, the camogie players offered a timely reminder that they remain serious championship contenders.
With qualification for the knock out stages assured, this was a chance for Ollie Bergin’s charges to see where they stood. Starting the same 15 players that began the campaign, Galway’s formation is starting to show a settled look.
Conditions were perfect but the open field allowed a stiff breeze blow that favoured the hosts in the first half. The Noresiders were expected to go for the jugular but surprisingly sat back. Ann Downey’s team looked concerned about potential Galway threats and wanted to block opportunities for O’Reilly.
That being said, Kilkenny were creating chances as Denise Gaule and Miriam Walsh found themselves in space on occasions while the Farrell sisters in midfield, Anna and Meighean, enjoyed equality in exchanges during the first half.
Gaule opened the scoring for Kilkenny after 44 seconds but Galway responded taking a 0-2 to 0-1 lead. Both came from Niamh McGrath after fouls on Aoife Donohue and Orlaith McGrath by the seventh minute, but Galway wouldn’t score again until Shauna Healy hit the targety just before half-time.
Kilkenny led 0-4 to 0-3 at the break with Gaule (2) and Walsh converting but this was a period where Galway’s defence, particularly the half back line of Clodagh McGrath, Rebecca Hennelly and Lorraine Ryan, broke down threats. And the full backs looked assured as Sarah Dervan consistently cleared. Amazingly, Susan Earner didn’t have to make a save of note.
On the other side, Galway’s attack were struggling to settle while the maroon and white were also guilty of some poor deliveries. But when O’Reilly supplied Healy for her score, Bergin and his team were very content with the opening 30 minutes.
The second half was set up for Galway and a strong indication of their position among the contenders would be revealed, but it was Kilkenny who stretched their lead with Walsh and Katie Power combining to allow Anna Farrell make it 0-5 to 0-3 on 32 minutes.
However, that was Kilkenny’s last point from play. Galway took on their opponents and grew in influence. Niamh McGrath won a free that she converted in the 35th minute before the game’s crucial score.
Noreen Coen took possession and send a perceptive diagonal ball in O’Reilly’s direction. The Oranmore/Maree poacher then shook off three defenders before hand passing past Emma Kavanagh to the net and Galway led 1-4 to 0-5.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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.
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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.
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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