The Galway Intermediate Camogie team got their Very Division 2B league campaign off to an ideal start as they overcame Kilkenny in windy conditions in Kinvara on Saturday. Conor Dolan’s charges showed how they have improved from their 2023 season campaign and the win was essential to help with building their confidence for the year ahead.
It was a game of two halves in Kinvara and Galway played with the aid of an extremely strong breeze in the first half. It was Kilkenny who opened the game with a free from Rachel Dowling in the opening 2 minutes. That was the only score that Kilkenny registered in the half. Galway had some missed opportunities in the opening 8 minutes as they tried to adjust to the windy conditions. Niamh Spellman with 0-7 points (two from play ), 0-3 from Aoibheann Barry and 0-2 from their captain, Ava Lynskey meant that Galway went into the break 0-12 to 0-1 ahead at the half time.
Galway must be commended for their work rate throughout the half. The strong wind meant that Kilkenny had to use the short game to work the ball up the field but Galway hunted in packs to overturn the Kilkenny defence and worked hard at running off the shoulder to work their scores.
Galway knew that scores would be hard to come by in the second half for Galway as they were playing against the elements and the Galway girls knew that they would have to work hard and keep the Kilkenny scores to a minimum. Dicksboro star, Dowling, Kilkenny's main scorer throughout the contest, opened the scoring with two frees on the 32nd and 35th minutes. Spellman extended Galway’s lead on the 42nd minute with a well taken free. Dowling added 0-4 more points (0-3 frees ) and substitute Ellen Gunner reduced the deficit to five.
A score was badly needed by Galway and minor star from 2023 Barry added a free to her tally on the 52nd minute. The Galway backs stood strong in the final few minutes of the half. Galway were unlucky for one or two goal chances throughout the half. In the 62nd minute a long ball came off the upright for Kilkenny and into the path of Afton Grace, she pulled on the ball into the back of the Galway net to leave three between the sides at the end as Galway ran out 0-14 to 1-8 winners on the day.
Galway will be delighted to have gotten their campaign off to the perfect start. There was some fine performances from Ellen Burke, Réitseal Kelly, Zoe Rodgers, Aoibheann Barry and Niamh Spellman, while Mairead Kennedy, Rachel Dowling and Hannah Scott preformed well for Kilkenny. Galway will be hoping to continue their winning streak win when they take on Cork in Kinvara on Saturday at 2PM.
