Galway’s intermediate team maintained its unbeaten recorded in the Glen Dimplex Intermediate Camogie Championship when overcoming the 2019 champions Westmeath in this round three game by 1-15 to 0-11.
Galway, with two changes to the team that overcame Carlow, had not faced Westmeath at this level since losing the 2019 All Ireland final.
However, on Sunday they always looked the stronger, starting with Laura Kelly's long-range point within 20 seconds. Eight minutes later Niamh McPeake delivered a cross-field ball into the path of Cora Kenny, who took on the defence before striking the ball in the back of net. Kenny added another point 30 seconds later, while Emma Broughan responded with Westmeath’s first and only score of the half to leave it Galway 1-2 Westmeath 0-1 after 10 minutes.
In the driving seat for the rest of the half, Galway scored six points without reply through Tegan Canning, Niamh McPeake (2 ), Kelly (free ), Katie Glichrist and Laura Loughnane for a 1-8 to 0-1 at half-time lead.
After Megan Dowdall slotted a point straight from the restart for Westmeath, Kelly, with a free, and Broughan swapped scores before McPeake responded for Galway on the 38th minute. Shiela McGrath and Dowdall added to Westmeath’s tally, but another Kelly free saw Galway 1-11 Westmeath 0-5 in front with 15 minutes to go.
Dowdall added another 45m free to her tally before Loughnane and Niamh McInerny replied with points to extend Galway’s lead heading into the final 10 minutes. Westmeath did finish the stronger with points from Dowdall (2 ), Roisin Scally, and a long-range free from Muireann Scally, while Olwen Rabbitte struck a a point for Galway. Although Westmeath created two goal chances in the closing stages, Fiona Ryan pulled off two superb saves.
Fiona Ryan, Ciara Donohue, Lisa Casserly, Laura Kelly, Tegan Canning, Cora Kenny and Niamh McPeake were some of Galway’s best performers. Galway have a break for the upcoming weekend before taking on Dublin away on June 18.
Galway: Fiona Ryan, Caoimhe Starr, Alannah Kelly, Ciara Donohue, Katie Manning, Lisa Casserly (c ), Ciara Hickey, Laura Kelly, Jennifer Hughes, Niamh McInerney, Katie Gilchrist, Tegan Canning (vc ), Cora Kenny, Niamh McPeake, Laura Loughnane. Subs: Sarah Lyons for Kelly, Ally Hesnan for Hughes, Shannon Corcoran for Kelly, Olwen Rabbitte for McInerny, Siobhan Divilly for Manning.
Galway Scorers L Kelly 0-4 (0-3F ), C Kenny 1-1, N McPeake 0-3, N McInerny 0-2, L Loughnane 0-2, T Canning 0-1, K Gilchrist 0-1 and O Rabbitte 0-1.
