A spectacular goal in the 40th minute by Aoife Donohue was the fitting decider as Galway edged out last year’s finalists Waterford. They will now play Tipperary in the last four of the championship.
Beth Carton drove to the net from a penalty eight minutes from the end of normal time to reignite the Déise’s aspirations - and goalkeeper Brianna O’Regan pointed from a free to reduce the margin to the minimum. However it was Galway that struck the last two scores, via Donohue and the pacy Olwen Rabbitte to set up a semi-final that is a repeat of the League final won by Tipp.
This means champions Cork will play quarter-final winners Dublin in the other semi-final - with both games taking place at UPMC Nowlan Park on July 27.
The first half was cagey to the extreme, with Waterford deploying Alannah McNulty as an effective sweeper. This left Galway with a plus one of their own, most often in the form of the robust and clever Áine Keane.
Galway led at the end of the opening period by 0-7 to 0-5, which was probably a fair reflection of proceedings.
The loss of Mairéad O’Brien from the start to injury was a huge blow, particularly in the context of Waterford struggling to get their running game going.
Having a direct route has been a fruitful option for the Déise all season, with O’Brien scoring six goals in the group stages. The full-forward did come on at the three-quarter mark but was unable to get involved.
Also unavailable was Vikki Falconer, recovered from a cruciate ligament injury suffered in last year’s All-Ireland final, who strained a quad on Monday. Skipper Lorraine Bray’s influence was neutralised by a broken hand.
Galway weren’t without their personnel issues, with Annmarie Starr out due to an ankle injury.
Niamh Mallon shot the first point from play in the seventh minute, reacting well to a rebound. With the goal at her mercy, Niamh McPeake blasted the ball at goalkeeper O'Regan, when a simple pass to Down native Mallon was the better option.
Mallon had another soon after but Waterford managed to lock down the supply, and Laoise Forrest did well in the one-on-one tussles.
The second half didn’t open up to any degree, though there were two goals. Donohue’s was the key as she raced away with that trademark electric burst. Her first shot was saved by O’Regan, but the sliotar came straight back to her and she instinctively tapped it in.
A Carrie Dolan point put five between the sides. However when Niamh Rockett was unceremoniously downed in the square, having slotted three points from play up to that juncture, Carton drilled beyond the diving Sarah Healy and it was game on.
Galway gritted it out however, and though Jerry Wallace’s side left their all on the pitch - the facts remain that they never led - and it was the westerners who just about deserved to get over the line.
