Galway returning to winning ways when inspired by Tracey Leonard in Sunday's Lidl National Football League fixture against Westmeath in Moate.
Leonard made a major impact on her return to the team, inspiring the Galway side which produced three goals in the final 10 minutes to ensure a 15-point victory (3-13 to 0-7 ) in the battle to avoid relegation.
Galway had held an 0-8 to 0-6 advantage when the former captain made her introduction on 43 minutes and she immediately set up Corofin clubmate Leanne Coen for a point.
Galway then took control with Andrea Trill, Ailbhe Davoren and Darina Keane all converting chances.
They were 0-12 to 0-6 clear with 10 minutes remaining when Charlotte Cooney reacted to a poor kick-out and finished for the first goal, setting up the vital win to ensure survival.
In an inspirational move, Leonard picked out Aoife O’Rourke, who in turn set up Trill for Galway's second goal, and when Galway turned defence into attack, a long ball to Leonard in the final minute saw her one-on-one with the defence, finishing for the third goal and a comfortable win.
Galway manager Maghnus Breathnach praised the heroics of the returning Tracey Leonard.
“Tracey’s come back in the last few weeks and even just seeing her composure for us, helping the young players around her and really guiding them was excellent,” said Breathnach.
It ensured Westmeath go into the relegation play-off against Waterford next weekend in the division one relegation play-off, while Dublin face Donegal and Meath clash with Mayo in the semi-finals on March 19.
Scorers – Galway: A Trill 1-3 (2f ), C Cooney 1-1, T Leonard 1-0, M Seoighe 0-2, D Keane 0-2, A Davoren 0-1, S Ni Loingsigh 0-1, L Coen 0-1, L Booth 0-1, A O’Rourke 0-1.
Westmeath: S Dillon 0-3, A Jones 0-2 (2f ), C Kelly 0-1, A Ruane 0-1.
GALWAY: A Griffin; F Cooney, E Gavin, A Ni Cheallaigh; C Cooney, C Trill, S Molloy; A Davoren, S Ni Loingsigh; L Coen, A Trill, L Finnegan; M Seoighe, L Booth, D Keane.Subs: A O’Rourke for Seoighe (38 ), K Geraghty for Ni Cheallaigh (38 ), T Leonard for Booth (43 ), E Power for Davoren (56 ), A Ni Dubhghaill for Trill (56 ).
WESTMEATH: C Faulkner; M Fagan, L Power, N Nolan; F Coyle, A Alford, C Kelly; A Ruane, T Dillon; A Jones, C Thornton, C Smullen; S Dillon, K Hegarty, C Blundell.Subs: A Gaynor for Thornton (36 ), K Boyce Jordan for Hegarty (43 ), M McDonald for Smullen (47 ), A O’Malley for Alford (51 ).
Referee: Brendan Rice (Down ).
