Galway minors suffering a disappointing 2-8 to 2-4 loss to Cork in the Tesco Ireland Minor A All Ireland final on Saturday in Semple Stadium.
The girls worked hard throughout the whole contest, but they were unlucky not to get the rub of the green with goal chances in the second half that could have sealed the deal for Galway.
Starting the game strongly, they put pressure on the Cork defence with Catherine Hanley opening the scoring with a free in the fourth minute.
A mishit Ciara Hickey free found Alannah Fahy, who slotted over in the 10th minute before Orlaith Cahalane opened Cork’s scoring on the 15th minute through a free .
Galway, however, kept in front through Olwen Rabbitte before Laura Freeney denied Cork a goal in the 20th minute, deflected the ball for a 45. However, Cahalane hit the resulting free with a low trajectory and the ball ended up in the back of the Galway net, which was a psychological blow for Galway who failed to score for the rest of the half.
Instead Fiona Twohig pushed Cork’s tally 1-3, ensuring Galway had it all to do in the second half, particularly after Ciara Morison blasted the ball past Freeney and into the Galway net on the 34th minute to leave six between the teams.
Although Rabbitte added another point for Galway, Ana Fahy and Morrison extended Cork’s lead with 21 minutes remaining.
The Galway girls fought back after Cork goalkeeper Jill Connaughton made a mistake from a long McInerny delivery, providing Hanley with the chance to goal and keep Galway's hopes alive.
Cork responded with two points, while Galway kept the Cork goalie on her toes as she denied three goal efforts from Hanley, Rabbitte and Aoibheann Barry .
Megan Gannon, however, delivered a goal after a superb fantastic solo, and Hanley, through a free, McInerney and Barry all added points to leave just one between the teams. Cork, however, finished the stronger with points from Morrison, Cahalane and Eimear Duignan to secure the title.
Scorers for Galway: C Hanley 1-1, M Gannon 1-0, O Rabbitte 0-2, C Hanley (45 ), N McInerney, A Fahy, A Barry 0-1 each.Scorers for Cork: O Cahalane 1-4 (1-2 45, 0-1 f ), C Morrison 1-2, F Twohig 0-3, A Fahy, E Duigan, 0-1 each.
GALWAY: L Freeney; H Kenny, J Glynn, A Crowe; R Kelly, A Hesnan, K Coleman; M Gannon, C Hickey (c ); N Mc Inerney, O Rabbitte, A Dillon; C Hanley, A Fahy, A Barry.Subs: T Maher for H Kenny(40 ), M Mulryan for A Fahy (45 ), O Mullins for A Dillon (49 ).
CORK: J Connaughton; M De Burca, M Barrett, T Elliot; E Sheehan, A Healy, E Duignan; O Cahalane, A Cashman; C Morrison, M Condon, A Fahy; L Hallihan, O Mullins (c ), F Twohig.Subs: E Crowley for A Fahy (56 ), C Walsh for L Hallihan (56 ).
