Holders Galway hand title on plate to hungrier Cats

Kilkenny 2-7

Galway 0-7

THE next month will be a period of reflection for Galway camogie after they surrendered their league title following a disappointing, lacklustre display last Sunday. Goals for Anna Farrell and Julie Ann Malone saw Kilkenny crowned National Senior Camogie League champions, but they were always one step ahead over the hour.

The result won’t hurt the Tribeswomen. Their season won’t be defined on winning league titles.  But the nature of their defeat will have Ollie Bergin and his players scratching their heads ahead of the championship in June.

Quite simply, Galway didn’t show up! Or it felt like that. Kilkenny hit the ground running, building up a match winning advantage as the maroon and white struggled to find shape and beat their opponents to the breaking ball. And Ann Downey’s side were allowed to control the contest.

That being said, Galway can’t be faulted for their character to make a fight of it and they continued battling until the final whistle. Again, like last year’s All-Ireland final, they needed a break that never came but, at least they have seven weeks to put things right.

Galway had the first attack when Niamh Kilkenny’s effort drifted wide and it was a surprising decision to see the Pearses captain deployed at full forward before being move out to the wing within two minutes. It would be the quarter hour before Galway did open their account when Niamh McGrath split the posts but already Kilkenny were in the ascendancy.

Despite having won this title in 2014, the Noresiders looked hungry to put one over their opponents. They broke ball smartly in midfield while their defenders crowded any Galway player fancying their chances.

Malone opened the scoring in the third minute before the Farrell sisters combined three minutes later with Shelly setting up Anna for a point and Kilkenny led 0-2 to 0-0. Galway would spend the afternoon playing catch up.

Galway’s defence contained plenty of experience but found themselves pulled apart on occasions.  Sarah Ann Quinlan started an attack, putting Shelly Farrell free but Shauna Burke showed bravery in closing down the shot.

The Craughwell custodian has had a solid league campaign but she suffered one of those unfortunate goalkeeper moments on 11 minutes. Anna Farrell was dominating around the park all afternoon, but her most defining impact was when a delivery aimed for the posts deflected off Burke’s hurley and over the line for Kilkenny’s first goal.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.