Galway 4-9
Dublin 3-11
Galway has secured its first ladies u-14 All Ireland title following a thrilling one-point victory over Dublin in Kiltoom on Saturday.
It is huge breakthrough for the Galway ladies who have contested the last three finals without victory.
Once again Galway showed tremendous character particulary after Dublin raced into a 1 - 3 to 0 - 1 lead.
Aisling O’Leary netted in the first minute for Dublin, and while they added three points without reply, Galway’s only answer was a point from Louise Warde.
However Johnny Carter’s charges responded superbly, hitting two goals in a minute . The first coming from pacey forward Katy Carter and the second was a stunning strike from Ciana Ni Churraoin, putting Galway into a 2-2 to 1-3 after 18 minutes.
A Leah Mullins double and a Simone Reilly score completed the Dubs’ first half tally, while Warde, Ni Churraoin, and Ciara Burke saw Galway edge it at the break at 2-4 to 1-6.
The second half was frantic and highly entertaining for the huge crowd that made the midlands trip, with Reilly and Mullins hitting early scores for Dublin.
Yet again Galway struck for goal when Aoibhinn Joyce completed a move orchestrated by skipper Warde. She added another point along with Siobhan Gavin to open up a four-point gap.
Dublin, however, were not prepared to lie down, and a high Reilly free eluded the Galway backs, ending up in the net. Carter then raised the white flag twice with goal number four arriving from the boot of Kelly Malone and Galway were rampant.
It was not until Carter pointed in stoppage time that Galway had one hand on the cup – and the score proved crucial as Dublin caused a nervy finish when Aisling O’Leary crept in and hit a fine goal. It was too late however to stop Galway sealing a stunning victory.
Galway: S Burke; A Meagher, S Gormally (N Ni Chualain 41mins ), E Gavin; M Heneghan, N Warde, N Hanniffy; S Gavin (0-1 ), C Burke (0-1 ); O Divilly, L Warde (0-3 ), K Malone (1-0 ) (L Costello 57mins ); K Carter (1-2 ), C Ni Churraoin (1-1 ) (S Keady 30mins ), A Joyce (1-1 ).
Dublin: D Aylmer; E Colgan, K Murray, A Curran; A Dunne, M Ni Scainaill, E Rutledge; K Garth (0-1 ) (D Mullany 50mins ), F Tuite; Simone Reilly (0-3 ) (Seanna Reilly 41mins ), S Troy (0-1 ), A O’Leary (2-1 ); K Murphy, L Mullins (0-5 ), T O’Flaherty (Z Murphy 36mins ).
Referee: B McCallion (Tyrone ).
