The Galway U16 team suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Limerick in the All Ireland U16A Final on Saturday in Nowlan Park.
It was the first time in their history that Limerick contested the decider, and they clinched the title by the slimmest of margins at the first time of asking.
It was always going to be a tough one to call, and this was a game which went down to the wire.
It was the Galway side which started the better of the two teams, with two quickfire points from Nina McKeown and Katelyn Walsh in the 3rd and 4th minutes.
Limerick, with the aid of a stiff breeze began to kick on however. Caitlyn Ryan and Mia Smith, two players who were key in their drawn game against Galway in the group stages, started to show that they were on form.
Two Ryan frees and two Smith points had Limerick ahead by two with 26 minutes gone on the clock. Galway registered their first score in 23 minutes when Walsh slotted over a free, but another point from Smith and a free from Ryan saw Limerick head in at the break 0-6 to 0-3 in front.
Sinead Feeney got Galway off the mark in the opening minute of the second half with a well taken score from play. Smith followed up with her fourth of the day two minutes later to leave a goal between the sides.
Galway started to make use of the wind and brought the game back level by the 42nd minute - with two Feeney points from play and one free through the stick of Walsh.
Smith edged Limerick back in front in the 44th minute, but Walsh through a monster free brought the sides level at the midway point of the half.
Scores were hard to come by and the game ebbed and flowed for the next 11 minutes. This was before Walsh scored another free and edged Galway in front with four minutes left to play.
A late free in the 59th minute on the 45 meter line was slotted over by Ryan for Limerick, while Rachel O’Grady came up with the winning point in the 62nd minute to seal the victory for Limerick.
Galway will look back at the first half in particular, when they could have done more with their scoring opportunities. They battled hard throughout and made it hard for Limerick to win clean ball at times, but it just wasn’t to be.
While Galway will be disappointed, it is clear that the future is bright, having reached back to back finals and only loosing out by the slimmest of margins.
While some players are still underage for next year, some of the older girls will move into the minor rank where they will hope to continue their county careers.
