Galway secure place in camogie quarter-finals

Galway 3-12  Clare 1-12

Darren Kelly at Cusack Park

THE half-time discussion could prove significant when Galway’s season is reviewed, but a more assertive maroon and white outfit took to the field for the second half to ensure their place in the All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-finals.

Trailing 0-8 to 1-3 at the interval after plenty of opportunities, the Tribeswomen weren’t making their chances count and the sight of manager Tony Ward and his selectors standing in the middle of the Ennis ground for six minutes before entering the dressing room was a worrying sign. Inside, no doubt, the players were reflecting on a 30 minute period where they found themselves behind.

Very few in Cusack Park were fancying Galway’s chances. It wasn’t that they weren’t playing well; it was they weren’t making it count. For the first 15 minutes, they looked as determined as in Wexford Park the previous week only to switch off during the second quarter.

But after a couple of second period goals heated up this encounter, Galway caught fire unexpectedly at the three quarter mark to ensure their candidacy for All-Ireland honours was still very much alive.

Galway started promising with Ailish O’Reilly pointing in the opening minute.  Five minutes later, they doubled their lead through Brenda Hanney. It was never going to be this easy against an improving Clare side and the Banner took a 0-3 to 0-2 lead on 13 minutes thanks to two Claire McMahon frees and one Chloe Morey placed ball, but the next 120 seconds could have settled the tie in the visitors’ favour.

First, a save of the season contender. Hanney picked out Ann Marie Hayes who struck a fierce effort off the ground only for Denise Lynch to deflect the ball off the upright.  Emma Kilkelly scored from the resulting break but the Killimor double act combined again. Out on the left, Hayes sent a delivery into Hanney who took on the defence before helping the ball over the line.

However, they didn’t point again before the break as the concession of frees, a notable fault this year, allowed Clare back into the game after Marie McGrath registered their first point from play. Three more frees between McMahon and Morey put Clare in front before Lisa Loughnane concluded the scoring and the home support was feeling very confident. Full match report in this week’s Connacht Tribune