Galway’s league hopes hang by a thread

Clare 1-10

Galway 0-8

GALWAY’S league ambitions hit troubled waters again last Thursday evening as the maroon and white went down to a determined Clare outfit in the opening game of the play-off series.

Seven unanswered second half points for the home side ensured the Banner a revenge success against the Tribeswomen and if they delivered another win last evening (Wednesday) against Limerick, Tony Ward’s charges’ interests in the spring competition will finally have come to a finish.

The result won’t matter when the season is reflected on but, already, that statement is wearing thin and Galway will have to seriously look at where they are when they return from holiday this weekend.

They defeated Clare 4-7 to 0-12 three weeks earlier but with 11 of the same starting line-up, Colm Honan’s side were quicker to every ball, their midfield and attack linked up well while their defence played with confidence.

In contrast, Galway made seven changes from that contest and while their defence put in a solid shift, they were off the pace from eight to fifteen and bar Orla Kilkenny’s fine effort from the right and Rebecca Hennelly’s reliability with frees, the visitors rarely threatened the Clare goal.

Admittedly, this game only surfaced last weekend after Clare’s group win against Limerick and Galway’s walkover from Derry. But with ten of the All-Ireland winning team starting the contest and two more – Emer Haverty and Ailish O’Reilly –  seeing action, supporters who travelled the windy roads on a Thursday evening to Corofin would have expected a better effort from the Galway women.

It started well with Hennelly sending over two scores before Orla Kilkenny finished off good work from Molly Dunne and Aoife Donohue for a 0-3 to 0-1 lead on ten minutes.  

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.