The Galway Senior Camogie team is one game away from booking its spot in the Division 1A Final. Galway secured a narrow victory over Waterford in Loughrea last Saturday.
The Tribeswomen overcame a strong second-half revival from Waterford as they ran out 0-13 to 0-12 winners on the day.
Galway were assisted by a very stiff breeze in the opening half, which they made good use of. Niamh Niland opened the scoring in the first minute for Galway.
Corner back Dervla Higgins then made her way up the field to receive a pass from Carrie Dolan, before Higgins made no mistake in striking the ball over the bar for her first point in the league campaign to date. Dolan scored her first free of the day a minute later to leave Galway 0-3 to 0-0 ahead after three minutes.
Player of the year 2023, Beth Carton, got Waterford off the mark in the 5th minute when she slotted over a free. Dolan and Carton swapped scores from play on the 8th and 10th minutes to leave two points between the sides. Galway’s top scorer, Dolan added three more points to Galway’s tally: two through frees to leave it 0-7 to 0-2 at the midway point of the half.
Carton, Waterford’s only scorer of the first-half, scored her third point of the day in the 18th minute with a great score from play. A minute later, Niamh McPeake worked hard to win the ball back after being dispossessed, clipping over her first score of the day. Niland got her second point in the 22nd minute with a fantastic effort from play. Carton and Dolan swapped frees before the end of the half as Galway went in 0-10 to 0-4 ahead at the interval.
Galway were facing testing conditions in the second half, operating against a stiff breeze.
Waterford started well, with a free through Carton and points from Lorraine Bray and Niamh Curran leaving the score-line reading Galway 0-10 Waterford 0-7 after 34 minutes. Dolan got her 7th point of the day in the 36th minute through a free.
Waterford made great use of the wind advantage and scored the next five points without reply; three Beth Carton points, one through a free and two wonderful long range free efforts from the Waterford keeper Brianna O’Regan - left Waterford one point ahead with three minutes of normal time remaining.
However, a late Galway comeback materialised. A free from Dolan and a late point from play from centre forward Ailish O’Reilly, meant that Galway ran out one point winners on the day.
A win or a draw against Cork next weekend will secure a spot for Galway in the league final, but a considerable improvement is required to ensure they get a result. Galway will have home advantage against the Rebelettes. They will be hoping to bring about a big performance as they look to win their third league title in a row.
