Galway face Cork in Saturday's Tesco All Ireland Minor A final after a strong second-half performance against holders Kilkenny by 0-14 to 2-3 on Sunday.
With 13 players from last year’s panel that lost to Kilkenny after extra time last year, Galway exacted revenge this year, ensuring they booked their place this weekend's final which takes place in Semple Stadium on Saturday (5pm ).
Galway were quick off the mark with a Catherine Hanley free in the second minute, but they looked in trouble when Kilkenny hit the net twice in the seventh and eighth minute with goals from Emma Shortall and Amy Brennan.
The game ebbed and flowed before Brennan added another point to leave the holders 2-1 to 0-1 after which play was held up with an injury to Sarsfields' sharpshooter Shannon Corcoran.
However, Galway hit Kilkenny for six as half-time approached. Hanley slotted Galway’s first score in 22 minutes from a free in the 24th minute, but Galway pushed on, adding five more points through Hanley (2 frees ), Niamh McInerny, Alannah Fahy and substitute Aoibheann Barry to leave the teams level. However, when Emma Minogue added a point in the 33rd minute, Kilkenny went ahead, 2-2 to Galway's 0-7 at the break.
Galway started the second half as they had finished the first half, and pushed on to seal victory.
Ciara Hickey delivered a great ball into Fahy who slotted the ball over the bar to bring the teams level in the 32nd minute. And substitute Barry proved vital, scoring three successive points in a row in the 38th, 39th and 40th minutes, while Kilkenny captain Amy Clifford scored Kilkenny’s only score of the second half through a free.
McInerney, who also had an outstanding game, responded with two fantastic points from play, while Galway captain Hickey added another point from play in the 48th minute to push Galway five points ahead.
That was to be the final score of the game as Galway were reduced to 14 players on 50 minutes after Olwen Rabbitte received a second yellow card.
Kilkenny tried hard to reduce the deficit in the final 10 minutes when they had the numerical advantage, but Galway dug deep to keep Kilkenny scoreless and book their place in the final.
While Galway will be delighted to put last year's disappointment behind them and go one step further this year, they will face Cork in the All Ireland final, a team that overcame them in the first round of the championship.
Galway should be a much fresher side for this game with a number of players involved in the All Ireland Schools semi-finals the day before the Cork game, but one area of concern for Galway is their discipline, having received six yellow cards at the weekend.
Galway scorers: Catherine Hanley 0-4 (0-4F ), Aoibheann Barry 0-4, Niamh McInerney 0-3, Alannah Fahy 0-2, Ciara Hickey 0-1.
Kilkenny Sscorers: Emma Shortall 1-1, Amy Brennan 1-0, Emma Manogue 0-1, Amy Clifford 0-1. (0-1F )
Galway: Laura Freeney, Hayley Kenny, Jacqueline Glynn, Ava Crowe, Reitseal Kelly, Ally Hesnan, Keisha Coleman, Megan Gannon, Ciara Hickey (C ), Niamh McInerney, Olwen Rabbitte, Aisling Dillion, Catherine Hanley, Alannah Fahy, Shannon Corcoran. Subs,Aoibheann Barry for Corcoran, Tara Maher for Glynn, Aoibhe Carr for Hickey, Orla Mullins for Fahy, Molly Mulryan for Dillion.
