Impressive Galway go to town in group clash mis-match

GALWAY came into the All-Ireland senior ladies football championship round-robin series as firm favourites to top Group 3 but nobody expected them to negotiate their two hurdles with the minimum of fuss as they delivered another emphatic result last Saturday.
Following up their 16-point dismantling of Waterford, Stephen Glennon’s charges put Leinster runners-up Westmeath to the sword in setting up a Connacht Final rematch against Mayo on Sunday, August 12.
A Louise Ward goal after just 16 seconds and a Roisin Leonard strike helped Galway to a commanding 2-12 to 0-3 interval lead. And the maroon and white (Westmeath wore green) kept punishing their opponents through two Leanne Coen goals and further green flags from Sarah Conneally and Emma Reaney.
This display wasn’t without faults or concerns. Galway were caught napping for a late Aoife Connolly Westmeath goal; they missed straight-forward chances in the first half; three defenders were yellow carded; and midfielder Aine McDonagh left injured before the finish.
Galway wanted a good start but few could have imagined how good it would be. Ward took possession from the throw-in before feeding Tracey Leonard. The captain returned the ball to the Kilkerrin/Clonberne attacker who ran nearly half the length of the field. The visitors stood off and Ward finished for a memorable goal. Tracey Leonard and Sarah Conneallly quickly added points to make it 1-2 to 0-0 inside just two minutes.
Westmeath had calls for a third minute penalty after Johanna Maher was fouled but they fluffed the resulting free. And their fortunes over the hour were going to prove equally disappointing.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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