Gill injury a major concern as Galway fall flat in semi-final

Date Published: 03-May-2012

Cork 1-12

Galway 0-10

Darren Kelly in Sixmilebridge

Jessica Gill’s second half injury will be the biggest worry for Galway’s championship challenge but for the third game in succession, the Tribeswomen put in another flat performance that had Cork in control throughout the 60 minutes.

The young Athenry forward went to ground 10 minutes after the restart last Saturday in this National Camogie League semi-final and was in agony immediately, with another knee injury threatening her Summer involvement in the maroon and white.

Galway, despite last year’s final appearance, have never been noted for setting the league alight but with much the same personnel as last season, these poor outings are causing concern. After an excellent first game against the Rebellettes and a professional first half performance against Dublin, Galway seemed to have shut down and even early in this contest, the signs were looking ominous.

Paudie Murray’s outfit were missing players during the previous meeting seven weeks previously but welcomed back the entire half-back line of Briege Corkery, Eimear O’Sullivan and Pamela Mackey, midfielder Lynda Dorgan and centre forward Anna Geary. All played their part as did Orla Cotter, the excellent Gemma O’Connor around the middle and the dangerous Jennifer O’Leary upfront.

For Galway, Anne Marie Hayes led Galway’s charge but was poorly served by her team-mates, though Therese Maher worked hard despite being isolated in attack; while others had good patches. But sadly, they never looked as determined as their opponents and the bad habits of lacking drive at crucial stages still seem to be here this season.

Aislinn Connolly opened the scoring with a free after 45 seconds but Cork, playing against the strong breeze in the first period, were already threatening and led 0-3 to 0-1 by the seventh minute through two O’Leary frees and a Katriona Mackey point.

O’Connor was already dictating proceedings but Hanney and Connolly restored parity by the 11th minute for Galway. But two minutes later, the game’s critical score arrived. Good link up play for Cotter and O’Sullivan in defence led to O’Leary given possession in space near the right corner and the Ballyroe attacker rounded Regina Glynn before striking past Susan Earner for the goal.

Sensing problems, Galway’s management reacted pushing Hayes into the centre and they enjoyed a purple patch over the next 10 minutes edging ahead and nearly registering a major. Connolly pointed from a placed ball on the quarter hour to steady the ship before Hanney, Connolly and Maher gave the Tribeswomen a 0-7 to 1-3 advantage by the 21st minute.

It could have been much better two minutes afterwards when Maher’s run pierced the Rebellete defence before supplying Orla Kilkenny, whose attempted shot was blocked, but Maher reacted first only to strike right of the post.

Even this early, it would prove Galway’s last chance to make an impression in the contest as they would go 33 minutes without a score and a Regina Curtin point along with two more O’Leary placed balls gave Cork a 1-6 to 0-7 interval lead.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.