Galway made it two wins from two outings in the 2019 Lidl National League with a hard-earned 1-9 to 1-7 win away to Monaghan.
Team captain Tracey and Róisín Leonard hit all nine of Galway’s points, while Sarah Conneally came off the bench to score the goal, but manager Tim Rabbitte said it was not Galway's best display.
“We were disappointed with our performance, but Monaghan were excellent," he says. "They put us under a lot of pressure. We’re delighted with the points and we’ll move on.”
The sides were level at the interval, but Galway would have been the happier after playing with the elements at a windy Cloghan, and despite scoring just twice from play over the hour, the Connacht champions made it back-to-back wins.
Monaghan were first off the mark with a Ciara McAnespie point, but Galway bagged the next two with frees from Tracey Leonard. Shauna Coyle brought Monaghan back on level terms, and although another Leonard free edged the visitors ahead again, Leanne Maguire responded.
Leonard’s fourth free had Galway one up for the third time, but once again Monaghan responded with a well-taken effort by Muireann Atkinson to level at 0-4 apiece at half-time.
A Maguire free opened the second-but frees by Tracey and Róisín Leonard regained a narrow lead for Galway. Cora Courtney got on the end of a dangerous centre from Ciara McAnespie to fist over an equaliser for Monaghan, only for Galway to hit back with 1-1 in quick succession. Róisín Leonard converted a second well-struck free off the ground, and when Galway won the following kick-out, they quickly worked it forward for half-time sub Conneally to fire home the opening goal.
Although Monaghan wrested a lifeline three minutes later when a Maguire free from distance dropped into the net, a point from play by Róisín Leonard doubled Galway’s advantage. Rosemary Courtney kept Monaghan in touch, but they could not add to their tally in the final quarter.
After Róisín Leonard blazed a penalty high and wide for Galway, Tracey Leonard tapped over a free six minutes from time, while Monaghan had goalkeeper Bridín Treanor sin-binned for dissent.
Galway: L Murphy; F Cooney, B Hannon, S Lynch; M Coyne, S Molloy, C Cooney; O Divilly, Á McDonagh; M Seoighe, T Leonard (capt ), L Coen; R Ní Flahartha, R Leonard, L Hannon. Subs: S Conneally for Ní Flahartha (h-t ), E Gavin for B Hannon (42 ), L Booth for Coyne (50 ), M De Búrca for Coen (57 ).
