Galway have booked their place in the semi-final stages of the Glen Dimplex Senior Camogie Championship after substitute Áine Keane struck a point in the 61st minute to force a 1-17 to 2-14 draw with Kilkenny.
Due to Galway having a greater scoring difference over Kilkenny, the draw was enough to see Galway top the group, and they now head to Croke Park for the All Ireland semi-final on July 23.
In a physical and close game which is what Galway needed heading into the All Ireland semi-final, they will be pleased with some of the well-taken scores throughout the contest.
Galway, who lined out with Shauna Healy coming in for the injured Rebecca Hennelly, were made to work hard for the draw in a physical contest with Kilkenny, who had started well. Denise Gaule slotted over two points, one through a free, in the opening four minutes for the Cats, while Gaule added another free to Kilkenny’s tally on the ninth minute.
Racheal Hanniffy replied with a point for Galway a minute later before Miriam Walsh broke through the Galway defence for a goal in the 10th minute to leave the visitors four points in front.
Siobhan McGrath did her best to respond in kind on the 13th minute, but her shot was blocked by the Kilkenny backs who hunted in packs. However, while Aoife Norris did clear the ball out to the edge of the square, she only found the oncoming Sabina Rabbitte, who made no mistake in blasting the ball into the back of the Kilkenny net.
Galway, who were flat in the opening few minutes, took inspiration from that goal and began to push on. They scored seven points without reply through Carrie Dolan 0-4, 0-2 through frees, Hanniffy, Siobhan Gardiner and a fantastic long-range effort from Dervla Higgins.
Michaela Kenneally scored Kilkenny’s first score in nearly 20 minutes on the 30th minute, while Jullianne Malone also added a point in injury time to leave it Galway 1-9 Kilkenny 1-5 at half-time.
Walsh was first out of the block in the second half, scoring within 20 seconds, but Rabbitte replied for the Tribeswomen four minutes later before Gaule and Dolan swapped frees on the 37th and 38th minutes. However, in the 39th minute, Kilkenny's Walsh was left free on the Galway 21-yard line, and when Gaule crossed the ball over from a free, Walsh made no mistake in sticking the ball in the back of the Galway net.
It left just one between the teams, and although Donohue broke through for a goal chance for Galway a minute later, her shot was well defended.
Dolan, through a free, and Katie Nolan swapped scores on the 43rd and 44th minutes before Nolan brough the teams level on the 48th minute.
However, player of the game Rabbitte replied with a well-taken score for Galway and she helped to restore Galway’s lead. When Gaule put Kilkenny in front with two points, one through a free, Rabbitte again stepped up and brought the sides back to level terms with eight minutes remaining.
Gaule added another free to her tally, while Mary O’Connell got on the end of a mix-up in the Galway defence to put Kilkenny back in the driving seat. Siobhan McGrath and Donohue responded in the 58th and 59th minutes to bring the teams back level as the game headed into injury time.
In the see-saw nature of this game, Walsh put the Cats back in front in the 60th minute, but substitute Áine Keane struck a well-taken point from the sideline in the 61st minute to leave it Galway 1-17 Kilkenny 2-14.
Siobhan Gardiner, Dervla Higgins, Niamh Kilkenny, Carrie Dolan, Niamh Hanniffy and player of the match Sabina Rabbitte were some of Galway’s top performers on the day, while Michelle Teehan, Claire Phelan, Miriam Walsh, Katie Nolan and Denise Gaule all worked hard for Kilkenny.
Up next is an All Ireland semi-final for Galway in Croke Park on July 23.
Galway: Sarah Healy, Rachael Hanniffy (0-1 ), Sarah Dervan, Heather Cooney, Siobhan Gardiner, Roisin Black, Dervla Higgins (0-1 ), Aoife Donohue (0-1 ), Niamh Kilkenny (0-1 ), Carrie Dolan 0-5 (0-4F ), Shauna Healy, Niamh Hanniffy (0-1 ), Siobhan McGrath (0-1, Ailish O’Reilly (0-1 ), Sabina Rabbitte (1-3 ). Substitutes: Áine Keane (0-1 ) for S Healy, Emma Helebert for R Black, Catherine Finnerty for A O’Reilly, M Cooney for S Gardiner.
Kilkenny: Aoife Norris, Michelle Teehan, Grace Walsh, Tiffany Fitzgerald, Miriam Bambrick, Claire Phelan, Laura Murphy, Steffi Fitzgerald, Mary O’Connell (0-1 ), Miriam Walsh (2-1 ), Katie Power, Michaela Kenneally (0-1 ), Denise Gaule (0-7, 0-5F ), Jullianne Malone (0-1 ), Katie Nolan (0-2 ). Substitutes:Asha McHardy for M O’Connell, Sarah Crowley for L Murphy, Aoife Prendergast for J Malone.
