It was closer than Galway would have wanted, but a one-point victory over last year's intermediate champions Tipperary was enough to ensure Tim Rabbitt's ladies are in pole position in this season's TG4 All Ireland Champioship group two.
Tipperary certainly provided stiff opposition, and they will look for a victory over Monaghan in tomorrow evening's round two to ensure they stay in the hunt for a semi-final place in this round-robin group stage.
Meantime, Galway will have this week to prepare for a must-win clash with Monaghan in Carrick on Shannon on Sunday November 15.
Rabbitt will have been delighted with Galway's first-half effort, which helped last year's All Ireland finalists establish a 1-10 to 0-5 lead at the break. It proved crucial in the end, as Tipperary turned around with the wind in the second half to stage a fightback.
Galway had enjoyed a dominant start with the wind advantage - Tracey Leonard, Lynsey Noone and Olivia Divilly putting Galway into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after six minutes.
Tipperary opened through an Aishling Moloney free and closed the deficit to one with a great score from the right. Galway replied immediately - Lisa Murphy launching an attack, with captain Louise Ward finding Lucy Hannon who fired the ball to the top corner for a vital goal.
Tipperary lost Samantha Lambert to a yellow card, but they continued to fight hard, points from Moloney and Caitlin Kennedy reducing the deficit. However, Louise Ward was crucial in helping Galway into a vital lead. Five successive points from Ward, sister Nicola and Mairéad Seoighe, ensured Rabbitt's side went into the half-time break with a 1-10 to 0-4 lead.
As expected Tipperary, led by Moloney, staged a strong fightback. Orla O’Dwyer fired the first point, but Megan Glynn replied for Galway. However, Moloney who was a constant threat led the charge to see Galway's lead cut to 1-12 to 0-11.
When Moloney punched to the net with five minutes to go, there was only a point between the two, but the experienced Sinead Burke produced a superb defensive turnover to ensure Galway held on to win.
Scorers: Galway: T Leonard 0-6 (6f ), L Hannon 1-1, M Glynn 0-2, L Noone 0-1, O Divilly 0-1, M Seoighe 0-1, N Ward 0-1, A Davoren 0-1, L Ward 0-1. Tipperary: A Moloney 1-10 (7f ), C Kennedy 0-1, O O’Dwyer 0-1, E Morrissey 0-1, R Howard 0-1.
Galway: L Murphy; F Cooney, S Lynch, S Burke; L Coen, C Cooney, N Ward; O Divilly, L Ward (c ); M Seoighe, M Glynn, L Noone; A Trill, T Leonard, L Hannon. Subs: A Davoren for Noone (h-t ), S Conneally for Seoighe (44 ), C Miskell for Trill (49 ), S Molloy for Coen (53 ), N Connolly for Lynch (54 ).
Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; C Davey, L Spillane, E Cronin; E Moore, S Lambert (c ), O O’Dwyer; A McCarthy, A.R. Kennedy; C Kennedy, E Morrissey, L Dillon; A Fennessy, A Moloney, R Howard.Subs: M Curley for Davey (h-t ), N Hayes for Kennedy (36 ), A Carey for Dillon (36 ).Referee: Eamonn Moran (Kerry )
