Having started the new season with a victory over Kerry, Galway Ladies now turn their attention to last year’s All Ireland finalists Dublin.
On Sunday (2pm ) Galway take on the Dubliners at Naomh Mearnog Portmarnock in the second round of the Bord Gais Energy League division one.
Both teams secured opening round victories. Galway edged Kerry by a point, while Dublin avenged their defeat in last year’s All Ireland final with a 1-12 to 3-3 win over Cork in Fermoy.
Galway, boosted by last weekend’s result, will be looking to bag as many points as possible if they want to book a place in the semi-finals, but they can expect a tough challenge from their opponents. Dublin have been touted as the main challengers to Cork’s domination of both league and All Ireland titles, and their victory over the Rebelettes will have enhanced that perception.
However Galway, with 11 players who featured in last year’s Connacht victory over Mayo, were deserving winners over Kerry at a windswept Castleisland.
In a tight game there was never more than a couple of points between the sides, but in the end Galway’s character shone through as Una Carroll scored the decisive point to edge this contest.
Kerry enjoyed the better of the opening 10 minutes but they failed to make it count. Bernie Breen opened for the home side, but they shot two wides before Galway had their first chance, which was also wide. After Lorraine Scanlon added a second point, Galway finally got on the scoreboard with an Una Carroll free.
That score settled the Tribeswomen with Lorna Joyce and Una Carroll adding points, although Kerry hit back with a free and a point during which time Galway had four bad wides. Una Carroll and Mags O'Donoghue exchanged scores, but when the Kerry forwards upped their game and were rewarded with a penalty, it could have proved decisive. However Tina Hughes proved reliable, making the necessary save, as Kerry saw out the half with another point from Joanne Brosnan.
Although Kerry's Louise Ni Mhurtaigh got the first point of the second half, Galway found the right gear and started to believe in themselves. Gillian O'Connor struck a point before Una Carroll and Aoife O'Sullivan exchanged points. However when Una Carroll pointed a free for Galway and Sinead Burke, a Trojan worker throughout, scored a dream point, Galway went ahead for the first time.
Kerry, never a side to give in easily, attacked with purpose resulting in a Sarah Houlihane goal, and when Kerry's Mairead Finnegan scored a point to put a goal between the sides and Galway lost Sinead Burke with injury, it was not looking good for the Tribeswomen. However digging deep, Galway were rewarded with a superb goal from sub Julie-Ann Russell to bring the sides level with five minutes remaining. It was end-to-end after that with both sides having opportunities to score, but lady luck smiled on Galway as Una Carroll scored the winning point from a free to seal a well deserved victory.
Galway: Tina Hughes, Niamh Lohan, Aine Gilmore, Caitriona Cormican, Aoibheann Daly, Emer Flaherty (capt ), Geraldine Conneally. Deirdre Lawless, Patricia Gleeson, Lorna Joyce, Edel Concannon, Sinead Burke, Una Carroll, Niamh Duggan, Gillian O'Connor. Subs, Johanna Connolly, Maria Connell, Nolle Connolly, Aisling Donnelly, Mairead Coyne, Meahbh Maloney,Kara Mullins, Becky Walsh and Maria Hoey.
