The Galway Intermediate team started their championship the way they finished their league campaign with a twelve point win over Wexford in Carnmore on Saturday.
The youthful Galway side looked sharp as they welcomed the addition of some of the minor players such as Caoimhe Kelly, Michelle Gately and Ava Bloomer into their team.
It was the tribeswomen who started the better with points from Chloe Allen, Aoibhe Joyce, Ava Bloomer and Caoimhe Kelly. Nora Higgins reduced Wexford's deficit to two by the 7th minute with two points through placed balls. Aoibheann Barry and Higgins swapped frees on the 8th and 10th minutes. Galway then went on another scoring spree with three Barry points, and one from Kelly.
This left it 0-9 to 0-3 in favour of Galway in the 23rd minute. Sarah Doyle got Wexford's only point from play in the 24th minute, but two more Barry points through frees and another one from young star Kelly were key to extending Galway’s lead. Higgins did hit back with two frees before the end of the half as Galway went in 0-12 to 0-6 ahead at the break.
Galway got another brace of scores in the opening ten minutes of the second half as Joanne Daly, Kelly, Bloomer and a free from Barry put Galway ten points in front of the model county. Doyle did manage to break down the Galway defence as she struck the ball into the Galway net on the midway point of the half. This would be Wexford's only score of the second segment.
Galway finished off the half the strongest with points from Bloomer, Kelly, captain Ava Lynskey and two Barry frees as they ran out 0-21 to 1-6 winners on the day.
Galway will be delighted with their perfect start to the campaign. It is already a massive positive on last years championship when they failed to register a victory in the contest. With players missing due to leaving cert exams and injuries, Galway will be hoping to go from strength to strength as the championship progresses.
They will face Clare next Saturday in Pearse Stadium as part of a double header with the Galway V Down senior game.
