By Sarah Gaughran
Galway camogie team recorded its first victory in the U16A All Ireland Camogie Championship when they overcame Tipperary by 2-15 to 0-8 in a sun drenched Duggan Park on Sunday.
Tipperary entered the contest with a win under their belts, while Galway were looking for their first win in the championship having drawn with Wexford the previous weekend.
Tipperary were quickest out of the blocks, posting three points without reply in the opening three minutes through Lucy O’Brien (2 ) and captain Caoimhe Stakelum.
Galway began to settle into the game with a point from Laoise McGrath in the fourth minute before captain McGrath found the back of the Tipperary net, giving Galway the lead.
Grace Tarpey, through a free, and Emily Lawless extended Galway’s lead before O’Brien added another point to Tipperary’s tally to leave two between the teams.
Katie Lawless, Mary Bridget Cosgrove and Tarpey all added points for Galway between the 14th and 17th minutes, extending Galway’s lead even further. Stakelum and Tarpey exchanged two frees each before Stakelum added a free on the cusp of half-time to leave it Galway 1-8 Tipperary 0-7.
Galway turned around to take control in the second half, holding Tipperary to a single point over the 30 minutes.
Leah Behan (2 ) and Tarpey, through a free, opened the scoring for Galway, while Stakelum replied with a free for Tipperary’s only score of the half on 37 minutes.
Galway dominated to the finish with points from Emily Lawless, Cara O’Brien, Danielle Grealish and Mia Rodgers, while Rodgers also finished the ball into the back of the Tipperary net on the 50th minute to ensure Galway won convincingly.
Galway's point-scoring ability from play was a big bonus - something that will stand to them as the championship progresses. Leah Horan delivered in the Galway net, pulling off some super saves throughout the contest, while Ruth Kilkenny, Kerri O’Driscoll, Leah Behan and Mary Bridget Cosgrove were some of Galway’s top performers on the day.
Galway U16A camogie: L Horan, A Morrissey, A Morgan, M Ní Lionsaigh, E Dillion, R Kilkenny, R Gardiner, G Tarpey (0-5, 0-4F ), L Behan (0-2 ), K O’Driscoll, K Lawless (0-1 ), E Lawless (0-2 ), K Flaherty, L McGrath (1-1 ), M B Cosgrove (0-1 ). Substitutes:M Rodgers (1-1 ) for McGrath (25m ), C O’Brien (0-1 ) for Flaherty (43m ), D Grealish (0-1 ) for Tarpey (48m ), E Noone for E Lawless (50m ), E McGlynn for K Lawless (58m ).
