Off-field strife is untimely as Galway kick off new season

By Darren Kelly

GALWAY’S ladies footballers go into the unknown on Saturday when they begin their 2022 season with a National League opener against Donegal (Ballybofey, 7.30pm).

The Tribeswomen have made headlines for all the wrong reasons over the past fortnight with the shock departure of manager Gerry Fahy as they go up against a Tir Conaill outfit seeking revenge for a two-minute capitulation last year.

Galway beat Donegal 3-10 to 1-11 in their championship group clash – three goals from Ailish Morrissey (2) and Nicola Ward giving the maroon and white top spot.

They’d earlier beaten Kerry but a terrible opening half in the All-Ireland quarter-final last August saw them playing catch-up to Mayo before finishing four points short (1-15 to 1-11).

Kilkerrin/Clonberne’s players won’t be available for the February schedule following their recent All-Ireland club success, meaning Galway must plan without the aforementioned Morrissey and Ward, the latter’s sister Louise, Olivia and Siobhán Divilly, and Hannah Noone among others.

The Kilkerrin/Clonberne contingent account for 58% of the team’s scoring total during the previous summer and their absence will be felt for this encounter and Mayo a week later.

“We had been linking with Gerry before the club and he had been very good to us, giving us our time off just to focus on that,” said Nicola Ward at this week’s National League launch. “And I’d been in at the meeting the week before we played Donaghmoyne in the semi-final.

“There was a great structure and set-up in place. But myself or none of the Kilkerrin/Clonberne players were there when he decided to step down.

“It was obviously disappointing when the league is coming so close. But I think a few of the management have stayed on, so hopefully it will all come together for the league.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.