GillÕs free snatches it for Galway

Date Published: {J}

Galway 1-8

Wexford 0-10

Eoghan Cormican

In Athenry

A DRAMATIC goal four minutes into injury time from substitute Jessica Gill snatched a precious All Ireland senior camogie championship win for the Tribeswomen in this tight and tense encounter at Athenry on Saturday.

Just when Wexford appeared set to return to the South East having taken maximum points from Kenny Park, they were rocked back on their heels in amazing fashion.

A foul on midfielder Orla Kilkenny yielded a free approximately 80 yards out from goal and when substitute Jessica Gill stood over the free few would have predicted the Athenry ace would find the net.

Yet that is exactly what she did. It was by no means however, a smash and grab victory from Noel Finn’s charges. The score was just reward for a mammoth second half effort where Galway dominated in almost every sector, bar the scoreboard.

Unquestionably the Galway team of 2010 is beginning to take shape. A side of character and steel and style is emerging. They showed it all in Athenry on Saturday.

Galway’s fourth championship triumph over Wexford in three seasons is attributed to a ferocious work ethic, dogged determination and a superb defensive effort that limited the league champions to just three points from play over the hour.

Most encouragingly this settling Galway outfit has now produced two consecutive performances of substance in a period of eight days. While the scalp of Tipperary was crucial to put one foot in the semi-final, mentally, the Wexford encounter was of immense importance.

Galway desperately needed to overcome one of the big three – Cork, Kilkenny and Wexford – to throw down the gauntlet as to their championship ambitions. For too often, this side has been the bridesmaid in heavyweight camogie clashes.

Athenry All-Star Regina Glynn, revelling on her home turf, was central to a frugal Galway defence, that for large periods of the game, suffocated the life out of a potent Wexford attack. Ann Marie Hayes delivered another wholehearted performance in the number six jersey, while Sinead Keane, replacing the injured Lorraine Ryan, dealt adequately with the threat of Wexford’s Katrina Parrock.

Behind them, the full back line despite a nervy opening, soon came to grips with Wexford’s most dangerous unit. Sandra Tannian was outstanding at corner back, holding the ever influential Una Lacey scoreless.

Encapsulating the closeness of the tie is the fact that the sides were level on five occasions during the first half. Aislinn Connolly (free) opened Galway’s account in the second minute. Subsequently, Katrina Parrock, who tore the Galway defence to shreds in the league meeting, registered Wexford’s first point rounding Sinead Keane with consummate ease.

Aislinn Connolly tagged on a second point before Ursula Jacob sniped a pair of frees to place the Model County in the ascendancy. Connolly and the lively Lenny Holohan traded efforts and when Regina Glynn was fouled after clearing her lines, Connolly levelled matters on 22 minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.