Tough outing for Galway as Donegal cut loose in Tuam

Donegal 4-21

Galway 2-11

GALWAY’S bid for a place in the LGFA National League Division 1 semi-finals fell significantly short at Tuam Stadium on Sunday, as Donegal – led by an explosive full-forward line that tallied 4-14 of their total – tore the home side asunder.

The damage was done in the opening half when experienced campaigners Karen Guthrie and Geraldine McLaughlin struck for two goals each to put this contest well and truly to bed – Donegal leading 4-8 to 0-9 at the break.

McLaughlin and Guthrie finished with 2-8 and 2-4 respectively while corner forward Niamh Hegarty also helped herself to two points. With Katy Heron also chipping in with four points off her deep runs from midfield, it further underlined the porous nature of the Galway defence.

However, the caveat must be that this was a largely experimental Galway outfit, with new boss Gerry Fahy using the opportunity to expose more young players to senior inter-county football. This included Sophie Healy, Laura Ahearne and Hannah Noone, all of whom are young defenders.

In addition, forwards Andrea Trill – the four goal star of their victory over Westmeath – and Kate Slevin are still players learning their trade at this level while, in contrast, Donegal are a seasoned team with experienced manager Maxi Curran now in his fourth year in charge.

Consequently, the narrative of both these sides is substantially different and this was evident in the opening half where there was a symmetry to Donegal’s play that only comes with years of lining out together.

This was particularly so in the Donegal attack and whenever the victors countered, they instinctively knew how to exploit the gaps in the Galway rearguard, as emphasised by the quick free from McLaughlin on two minutes that resulted in Guthrie tucking away their first goal.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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