The Galway Senior Camogie team bounced back from their draw against Wexford with a convincing victory over Down in a blustery Pearse Stadium on Saturday.
A Galway side missing key players due to injury proved that they have more than adequate strength in depth. Many players from throughout the squad preformed well in a contest which lacked competitive edge.
It was Galway who started the brightest. Niamh McPeake scored two points which were supplemented by singles from Ciara Hickey and Carrie Dolan. Saoirse Sands, Down’s top scorer on the day opened the scoring for the visitors in the 5th minute. However it was all Galway for the next 25 minutes - as Down failed to register another score in the half.
Points from Shannon Corcoran (2 ), Dolan (2fs ), Sabina Rabbitte (2 ), McPeake, Orlaith McGrath, Niamh Niland, Ailish O’Reilly and Niamh Kilkenny were all key to building Galway’s substantial lead at half time.
The tribeswomen also rattled the back of the net in the 20th minute. A long ball in from Olwen Rabbitte found McGrath, who laid the ball off to O’Reilly who had her shot blocked initially by Aoife Sherry in the Down net - but her block deflected off full back Dearbhla Coleman and into the back of the Down net. Galway's half-time lead was subsequently overshadowed by a shoulder injury to Corcoran.
Galway never took the foot off the pedal from the restart. They had a dream opening to the second half with a point from Niland and a goal from Sabina Rabbitte. Down, who were playing with the aid of the breeze in the second half, replied with another well taken score from play by Sands - and a free from Fitzsimons in the 35th minute.
Galway kicked into gear again for a twelve minute period. The goals from Sabina Rabbitte and O’Reilly - while Niland, Sabina Rabbitte (2 ), Laura Kelly and Dolan all registered points for the tribeswomen. Gerra McGrattan ended the scoring spree with a point from play in the 49th minute. This would be Down’s last score of the game.
Galway finished strong with goals from McGrath and Niland. Niland, O’Reilly, McGrath and Dolan (0-3, 0-2F ) all added points to Galway’s tally as it finished Galway 6-27 Down 0-4.
Murray will be happy with the way his charges responded to the Wexford game. Galway managed to score 6-23 from play and they will be hoping that they can bring this scoring threat to Clare and Cork in their final group games.
The team have a week's break before they welcome Clare to Galway for their penultimate game
