The Galway Intermediate camogie team's hopes of winning the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate championship were dashed on Saturday. They came up against an experienced Kerry outfit, and were beaten on a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-15.
The Kerry side were predominantly made up of players from the Clanmaurice club, who were All-Ireland Intermediate club champions last year. Galway did come close, but missed goal chances throughout the contest are sure to haunt the westerners.
It was Kerry who started quickly out of the blocks, with points from Patrice Diggin and Amy O’Sullivan. It was Diggin’s first day out after she returned to the starting 15, and her presence alone was a massive boost for the Kerry side. She has been a key player in their recent success at club and county level.
Ava Bloomer got Galway’s opening score in the second minute, but Kerry hit back with three frees through the stick of Jackie Horgan, leaving Kerry 0-5 to 0-1 in front after eight minutes. Aoibheann Barry brought the sides to within one point by the 16th minute as she scored three points, two through frees.
Horgan, who was presented with the player-of-the-match award struck two more points - one through a free to extend Kerry’s lead.
Barry and Horgan swapped frees in the 21st and 24th minutes. But it was Galway who finished the half the strongest with two points from Barry - one through a free - and another score from the Galway captain Ava Lynskey. Diggin replied with one at the end of the half for Kerry, as the Kingdom went in 0-9 to 0-8 in front at half-time.
Kerry started the second half just like they started the first, with points from O’Sullivan and Horgan. Scores were very hard to come by in the second half as both defences stood strong.
Three quickfire points from Chloe Allen, a free from Barry, and a point from Caoimhe Kelly brought the sides level with 12 minutes of normal time left on the clock.
Kerry started to push on again with three unanswered points through O’Sullivan, Horgan and substitute Kate Lynch. Barry brought it back to one by the 63rd minute with a point from play and one through a free, but it was Horgan who had the last say in the game. She pointed another free in the 65th minute as Kerry ran out 0-15 to 0-13 winners on the day. They have booked their spot in the Intermediate Semi Finals for their first time in their history.
Galway will be disappointed that their championship season has come to an end, but they should be delighted with the progress that they have made, especially considering they did not make the knockout stages of the championship last season.
Galway had a youthful squad this year, with manager Conor Dolan using the Intermediate side as a stepping stone for younger players on their pathway to the Senior team.
