Galway senior camogie players can now look forward to the Littlewoods Ireland League final on April 9 in what will be a repeat of the 2021 All Ireland final when they take on old rivals Cork.
Unbeaten Galway claimed their fourth win on the trot when accounting for Offaly by 2-21 to 1-8 in their final group game in the Littlewoods Ireland division one camogie league on Sunday in Kilbecanty.
Much-improved from last week's game against Tipperary, Galway eased past Offaly and looked the stronger side throughout the contest.
Quick out of the blocks, Galway's Ailish O’Reilly, Orlaith McGrath, Catherine Finnerty and Carrie Dolan had Galway ahead by 0-4 to 0-0 after six minutes before Offaly opened through Mairead Teehan.
Although Rebecca Hennelly responded with a point for Galway, Teehan kept Offaly in touch with a free, and when Galway lost possession in front of the Galway net, Siobhan Flannery produced the goal that had the sides level at Galway 0-5 and Offaly 1-2 after 11 minutes.
Hennelly and McGrath responded for Galway, but Louise Mannion, fresh from All Ireland success with St Rynagh’s, added another for Offaly.
However, Galway finished the half the strongest. After a host of scores from Carrie Dolan (0-2 ) through frees, Aine Keane, Niamh Kilkenny and McGrath, Ciara Murphy's goal then put Galway into 1-12 to 1-3 head at the break.
Galway's dominance continued when McGrath’s deflected shot was blasted to the net by O'Reilly.
Hennelly and Teehan exchanged points before Galway put the game out of reach with five unanswered from Kilkenny (0-2 ), O’Reilly (free ), Aoife Donohue and substitute Sabina Rabbitte before the final quarter.
Although Offaly had a goal disallowed during this period, it would make little difference to the result.
A much improved display, Galway, who also welcomed the return of Heather Cooney, having recovered from last year's cruicate ligament, produced an intensity that made it hard for Offaly.
Galway Scorers: A O Reilly 1-3 (0-1F ), O McGrath 0-3C, Dolan 0-3 (0-3F ),R Hennelly 0-3, N Kilkenny 0-3, C Murphy 1-0, S Rabbitte 0-2, C Finnerty 0-2, A Donohue 0-1, A Keane 0-1.
Galway: Sarah Healy; Shauna Healy, S Dervan, C Donohue; H Cooney, R Black, R Hanniffy; A Donohue, N Kilkenny; C Finnerty, R Hennelly, A Keane; C Dolan, A O'Reilly, O McGrath.? Subs: C Murphy (1-0 ) for A Keane (25m ), M Cooney for R Black (37m ), T Kenny for R Hanniffy (37m ), S Rabbitte for C Dolan (37m ), S Spellman for R Hennelly (40m ), F Ryan for S Healy (48m ) N McPeake for A Donohue (50m ).
Offaly: L Gallagher; S Killeen, A Feeney, S Guinan; S Walshe, A Brennan, E King; R Egan, L Mannion; O. Gorman, C Cleary, S Harding; S Flannery, M Teehan, C Leahy.? Subs: O Phelan for O. Gorman (40m ), S Shanahan for Killeen (42m, F Mulrooney for Harding (42m ), C Doughan for Flannery (53m ), K O'Connell for King (53m ).
