Galway, having kicked off their campaign with a win over Cork last weekend, now face a different challenge when they are back on the road to Lisseagh, Emyvale, on Saturday (2pm ) to face Monaghan in the second round of the Lidl National League.
Manager Tim Rabbitte has made three changes to the team that overcame Cork by 1-8 to 0-5 last weekend with the Dunmore McHales Hannon sisters making their starts. Barbara Hannon comes in for Megan Glynn who picked up an ankle injury, while sister Lucy replaces Sarah Conneally who picked up a head injury.
In the third change, regular goalkeeper Lisa Murphy from Kilkerrin Clonberne returns as part of a policy to rotate the three keepers during the league competition.
Rabbitte has also confirmed that squad member, Aine McDonagh is out of action after an injury in a recent college game, and Nicola Ward is some weeks away from a full recovery from a cruciate injury.
Galway can expect a response from Monaghan, who were disappointed with their performance in Mullingar, losing to Westmeath by 1-14 to 0-7, while in Mallow, Galway captain Tracey Leonard helped her side to an opening day win in division one.
Galway were first off the mark when Roisin Leonard set up Tracey Leonard for the opening point. Two minutes later last year's All Ireland runners-up Cork, were back on level terms when Aine O’Sullivan pointed.
However, from the restart, Galway worked the ball down the pitch to retake the lead through Riona Ní Flahartha.
It took Cork 18 minutes to level, but before the break both sides found themselves a player down - Mairead Seoighe for Galway and Aine O’Sullivan for Cork. Tracey Leonard doubled Galway's lead to make it 0-4 to 0-2, and just before half-time Megan Glynn set up Roisin Leonard for a goal to propel her side into half-time 1-4 to 0-2.
Finn grabbed the first score of the second half for Cork, but Seoighe added two scores to keep Galway in front in a half in which both sides missed chances. When Tracey Leonard and Louise Ward made it 1-8 to 0-3, there was no way back for Cork.
Scorers for Galway: T Leonard 0-4 (0-1f ), R Leonard 1-0, M Seoighe 0-2, R Ni Flahartha, L Ward 0-1 each.
Galway v Cork: D Gower; M Coyne, S Lynch, F Cooney; S Molloy, L Ward, C Cooney; O Divilly, M Glynn; M Seoighe, T Leonard, L Coen; R Ni Flahartha, R Leonard, S Conneally. Subs: L Hannon for M Glynn (33 ), A Thompson for S Conneally (43 ), B Murphy for R Ni Flahartha (55 ), B Hannon for R Leonard (56 ), L Booth for M Coyne.
Galway team v Monaghan: Lisa Murphy, Mairead Coyne, Sarah Lynch, Fabienne Cooney, Shauna Molloy, Louise Ward, Charlotte Cooney, Olivia Divilly, Mairead Seoighe, Tracey Leonard, Leanne Coen, Riona Ni Flahartha, Roisin Leonard, Lucy Hannon, Roisin Ni Chonghaile, Bronagh Murphy, Eimile Gavin, Niamh Daly, Linda Booth, 21 Ciara McCarthy, Maebh de Burca, Sarah Conneally,Aine McDonagh, Megan Glynn, Aoife Thompson, Amy Coen, Dearbhla Gower.
