The Galway Senior Camogie team travel to Cork this weekend as the top two of Division 1A face-off in a bid to make the league final. Galway can only be caught by Tipperary who sit two points behind going into the last game of the group phase.
Galway will want to take care of their own destiny and more than likely will need to at least match Tipperary’s result against Waterford if they are to hold onto that other berth in the final.
Galway got back to winning ways with a six-point win over Dublin in a very physical battle in Kilbeacanty last Saturday. A very strong final quarter was pivotal to Galway’s victory and six unanswered points during this period were the difference between the teams at the end of the game.
It was the Tribeswomen who started the brightest with four points in the opening ten minutes. Three frees from captain Carrie Dolan and a point from Áine Keane. Dublin fought back however with three points from Aoife McKearney, two through frees, in three minutes. Dolan slotted over her third free of the day on the 17th minute but points from play for Aoife Heffernan and Aishling O’Neill brought the sides level by the 19th minute of the game. Galway edged in front again by the 25th minute.
Full back Dervla Higgins was fouled coming out of defence. A long ball in from the resulting free found Keane who laid the ball off to newly married Niamh Mallon who got through three of the Dublin defence to send the ball into the back of the net and restore Galway’s lead.
Dublin nearly got in for their own major when Emma Moran got in behind the Galway defence but credit must go to Sarah Healy in the Galway goals who pulled off a great save. McKearney and O’Neill did respond for Dublin to leave one between the sides heading into the break.
Dolan started the second half just like she started the first when she restored Galway’s lead to three as she slotted over two frees by the 36th minute. McKearney replied with a point from play for Dublin. Caoimhe Kelly got her name on the scoresheet by the 40th minute.
Dublin followed up with two points. But Galway finished the strongest with six unanswered points.
Four Dolan frees and two points from Mallon left Galway in the driving seat heading into injury time. Dublin substitute Aisling Maher and Dolan through a free swapped scores at the end of the half but it wasn’t enough as Galway ran out 1-16 to 0-13 winners on the day.
It was a much improved victory for the Galway ladies who now face a very tough test in Cork next weekend in their final group game. Murray would have been happy to get game time into some players like Aoife Donohue who have missed out in the league due to injury.
A win is key for Galway next weekend in order to ensure their spot in the Very Division 1A National League Title.
