Round 1 – Galway vs Dublin May 24 (Kenny Park )
Galway opened their championship campaign with an impressive 0-15 to 1-6 victory over Dublin at Kenny Park in Athenry.
The visitors made a strong start with a goal after ten minutes from Aisling Gannon, while points from Sinéad Wylde and Aisling Maher (free ) had the visitors 1-2 to 0-2 ahead after 18 minutes, threatening an upset win for the Dubs against last year’s All-Ireland finalists.
Galway leaned heavily on the expertise of team captain Carrie Dolan and her dead ball skills in the first half as she was the only scorer for the Tribeswomen in that opening 30 minutes.
The sharpshooter from Clarinbridge registered four frees, one 45 and two from play, with points from Wylde and Grace O’Shea leaving the sides level at half time, 0-7 to 1-4.
Galway proved too strong in the second half, outscoring the visitors by 0-8 to 0-2 in what were incredibly difficult conditions.
Dolan added four from placed balls while Sabina Rabbitte, Mairéad Dillon, Caoimhe Kelly and Niamh Mallon also chipped in. Two Maher frees were all that Dublin could add to their tally in the second half as the home side ran out 0-15 to 1-6 winners.
Round 2 – Galway vs Derry May 31 (Owenbeg )
Galway’s campaign continued with a dominant victory over Derry in Owenbeg as they flexed their muscles in a 4-25 to 0-5 victory.
Niamh Mallon and Aoife Donohue opened the scoring for Galway and the Tribeswomen kept the scoreboard ticking with two Carrie Dolan points, scores from Mallon and Olwen Rabbitte, and a goal from Mairead Dillion left Galway 1-6 to 0-1 ahead coming up to the midway point of the half.
Galway finished the half the strongest with points from Mallon (0-4 ), Donohue (0-1 ), Sabina Rabbitte (0-1 ), Dolan (0-1F ) and Ailish O’Reilly (0-2 ) while Donohue and Sabina Rabbitte also raised green flags leaving Galway in the driving seat on a scoreline of Galway 3-16 Derry 0-3 heading into the half time break.
Mallon slotted over 0-9 for the day and Caoimhe Kelly got Galway’s fourth goal of the day while captain Dolan followed up with two points. Galway emptied their bench with substitute Niamh Niland also getting her name on the scoresheet before the end of the game.
Galway ran out 4-25 to 0-5 winners on the day.
Round 3 – Kilkenny vs Galway June 21 (Nowlan Park )
Galway maintained their unbeaten run in the championship as they overcame Kilkenny for a statement eight-point victory at Nowlan Park.
Kilkenny hit Galway hard for the opening 45 minutes but a strong performance in the final quarter consisting of good team work and experience from Murray’s side helped them in seeing out the victory.
Galway came out the strongest in a low scoring first half kicking things off with two quick fire points from Sabina Rabbitte and Ailish O’Reilly. Galway captain, Carrie Dolan responded to two Kilkenny points to restore the lead on the 11th minute with a free. Dolan then pointed two frees between the 19th and 25th minutes to restore the lead once more for Galway. Galway finished the half the strong with points from Aoife Donohue and Ciara Hickey as they went in 0-7 to 0-5 to the good at the interval.
Kilkenny were quickest out of the blocks in the second half but Galway’s lead was restored by the 36th minute. Aoife Prendergast followed up with another free but Galway started to get a grip on the game with three unanswered points through Donohue, a Dolan free and a point from play from substitute Caoimhe Kelly to leave the Tribeswomen four points clear heading into the final quarter.
There was three points between the sides by the 48th minute but Galway began to kick on with points from Niamh Mallon, and two from Dolan, one through a free. Laura Murphy and Dolan swapped scores on the 57th minute. Kelly done well at holding up two Kilkenny defenders a minute later to set up substitute Niamh Niland who came in a broke through the Kilkenny defence and made no mistake in blasting the ball into the back of the Kilkenny net.
Prendergast hit a free in injury time but it was not enough as Galway ran out 1-17 to 0-12 winners on the day.
Round 4 – Galway vs Waterford June 28 (Kenny Park )
The Galway Senior Camogie team booked their place in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-finals after they overcame Waterford in a top of the table clash in Kenny Park .
A strong final eight minutes from the tribeswomen was key to their victory as they dug deep to get the 0-17 to 0-11 victory.
A low-scoring first-half started with Carrie Dolan opening the scoring after five minutes with a free. Inspirational Dolan continued to lead from the front as she responded to two Niamh Rockett points by slotting over three unanswered points through placed balls, to give Galway a two-point lead by the 17th minute.
Galway continued to push on with a point from Niamh Mallon and a free from Dolan. Three Waterford scores brought the sides back level again. Dolan through a free and Fitzgearld, with her third point from play, swapped scores at the end of the half to leave the sides deadlocked at 0-7 points a piece at the end of the half.
Galway knew that a draw would not be sufficient to get their direct route into the semi-finals and that a big second half was needed to get over the line. Galway started the second half brightly with one Dolan free and two points from play from the on form Mallon to give Galway a three point lead by the 42nd minute.
A topsy-turvy second half ensued as Rockett got Waterford’s first score in 15 minutes through a placed ball. Mallon replied two minutes later to restore the three-point lead for Galway. This would be Galway’s last score for 11 minutes as Waterford brought the sides level by the 56th minute with points from Rockett through a free, 2023 player of the year Beth Carton and midfielder Eimear O’Neill to bring the sides level by th 56th minute.
Galway knew that in order to top the group, they needed the win. Galway sparked into life in the final eight minutes with six unanswered points through Dolan (0-2, 0-1F ), Aoife Donohue (0-2 ) and substitutes Ailish O’Reilly and Tegan Canning to give Galway a 0-17 to 0-11 win on the day.
All-Ireland Semi-Final – Galway vs Tipperary July 26 (Nowlan Park )
Galway booked their place in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Final with victory over Tipperary at Nowlan Park.
Cathal Murray’s side impressed as they secured a 1-18 to 1-11 semi-final victory. They did not have it all their own way, but the Tribeswomen prevailed to set up a repeat of last year’s final at Croke Park.
Galway’s full-back line of Dervla Higgins, Shauna Healy and Róisín Black laid the foundations. A sensational block from Higgins saved her side what could have been a nervy final few minutes.
But it is Galway’s scoring prowess and accuracy that catches the eye. Niamh Mallon’s goal on 38 minutes was a turning point, but Ailish O’Reilly’s four points should not slip under the radar. It was O’Reilly who drilled the pass into Mallon for her goal.
By the 25th minute mark, Galway were six points to the good with Croker in sight. An uncharacteristic goalkeeping error from Sarah Healy kicked off a Tipp resurgence that would see the sides go in level at the interval at 0-9 to 1-6 and all the momentum with Denis Kelly’s side.
Murray clearly used the half-time break well. The Tribeswomen weathered the storm and reassumed the lead and control right from the throw-in. Niamh Mallon was fouled, Carrie Dolan converted.
After Mallon’s goal put them four points clear, Tipperary faced an uphill task. From the 33rd minute to the finish, Galway dominated 1-8 to 0-4.
With revenge firmly in sight, Galway’s attention now shifts to putting an end to Cork’s three-in-a-row dream.
