Sports
Galway tipped to land first league title in a decade
Following impressive victories over Wexford and Kilkenny, Galway Camogie manager Tony Ward has named an unchanged line-up for this Sunday’s National Camogie League Final against All-Ireland champions Cork (1.30pm Semple Stadium).
Their 20-point victory over Wexford had made many pundits sit up and take notice, but their dominant display in dispatching Kilkenny in the semi-final has given strong indications for a good Summer.
Susan Earner was composed between the sticks, eradicating many unhappy memories from the All-Ireland semi-final last August. The full-back line of Tara Kenny, Sarah Dervan and Heather Cooney are growing as a unit; as are the half-backs of Siobhan Coen, Shauna Healy and Lorraine Ryan.
Niamh Kilkenny continues to set the standard at midfield and she had found a good partnership with Emma Kilkelly, who is the only link from the last successful league side.
The attack has been flying this year, even if it took time following their 0-6 apiece draw with Limerick in February. Niamh McGrath’s free-taking and distribution have been top drawer. Beside her, Aoife Donohue and Ann Marie Starr have been unselfish in their work rate, helping the midfield as well as taking on the opposing half backs.
And Galway seems to have discovered a natural inside line. Ailish O’Reilly has scored goals in the last three games, including two against Kilkenny. Molly Dunne has also been enjoying good form with a brace of recent goals; while Orlaith McGrath has contributed points in both games since her return from injury.
Their performance in the first-half of the semi-final was among the best in recent memory and their total of 10-60 in five games is testament to that. That being said, lapses of concentration will still be a worry as the Noresiders, in particular, were allowed back into that contest far too easily in Galway’s 5-7 to 2-9 win, but the form being shown by the maroon and white has them favourites in many people’s eyes to pick up a first league title since 2005.
On that day, Galway defeated Cork 1-6 to 0-6 and it’s the Rebelettes who provide the opposition again. Cork have a 100% record following wins over Clare, Kilkenny, Derry and Dublin before dispatching Limerick 1-12 to 0-10 at the penultimate stage. Their winning margins have been small, but Cork are built around a solid, defensive pattern and have only conceded a total of 41 points in their five games.
Like Ward, Paudie Murray has a young outfit in action with 10 players U-21. Amy Lee is a new name in goal but she pulled off important saves in the semi-final against Limerick. Laura Treacy has gone from corner-back full-back, with Leanne O’Sullivan and Rena Buckley other strong players among the defence. New captain Ashling Thompson will fulfil her role as holding midfielder in front of the half backs with her usual efficiency.
For more, read this week’s Galway City 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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