Never-say-die young side relieved to get another chance

Date Published: 20-Sep-2012

Eoghan Cormican

They could have snatched it, there’s no doubting that, but the figure cut by Player of the Match Emma Kilkelly underneath the Hogan Stand said it all. Relief. Pure and utter relief.

Galway had had their chances and plenty of them – full-forward Orla Curtin was twice denied by Derry ‘keeper Claire O’Kane; Rachel Monaghan fumbled possession with the goal at her mercy, while Rebecca Hennelly somehow steered the rebound off-target. For all that, however, a 61st minute Katie McAnenly goal moved Derry into a 3-12 to 3-11 lead and Galway’s goose looked well and truly cooked.

It is from this viewpoint that Emma Kilkelly – the contributor of five points over the hour – realises we could well have been sifting through another camogie final disappointment. We’re not and the centre-forward, along with the rest of the panel, is grateful for it.

“It’s hard to know what to make of a draw. It’s definitely mixed emotions. We could have lost, but at the same time we could have won, if we seen it out until the end. Everyone in that dressing room is absolutely delighted that we are getting a second chance.”

Whereas in other years, a Galway camogie team might have wilted when faced with such a perilous situation, Kilkelly was delighted that the team refused to throw in the towel – even with the clock rapidly ticking down on their All-Ireland dream.

The Kinvara stickwoman admitted that even though McAnenly’s penalty strike appeared to sound the death knell for Tony Ward’ss charges, she was confident there was one last kick from the Tribeswomen. And so it proved.

“Being honest, it looked like it was going from us. The girls in that dressing room though are full of heart and full of resilience. I knew we were going to get another score after it, we wanted it so much,” she said.

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