The Galway ladies have booked their place in the Ladies’ National Football League division two final after defeating Clare by two points at Banagher, Co Offaly, on Sunday by 3-06 to 1-10.
They now face neighbouring rivals Mayo in Parnell Park on Saturday week, and will need to show the same character and resilience that helped them to their semi-final win.
Behind by six points in the first half, goals from Edel Concannon and Tracey Leonard proved crucial.
Clare netted after only eight minutes from the impressive Niamh O’Dea. Marie and Emer Considine, along with O’Dea, added further Banner points to send them six in front, 1-4 to 0-1.
However Con Moynihan’s charges responded well with a goal from Emer Concannon. On the stroke of half time Claregalway's Deirdre Brennan was hauled down for a penalty, which Tracey Leonard converted to make it 1-8 to 2-1 at the break.
Galway got more crucial scores from Gillian Joyce and Claire Hehir, before Joyce's goal made it all square. With four minutes left, Deirdre Brennan pointed to put Galway ahead and Joyce sealed their trip to Parnell Park in stoppage time.
Galway: L Murphy; M Coyne, S Conneally, S Divilly; B Hannon, E Curley, S Burke; A Daly (E Gannon 60mins ), C Hehir (0-1 ); E Concannon (1-0 ) (C Cooney 48mins ), D Brennan (0-1 ), G Joyce (1-3 ); T Leonard (1-1 ) (B Walsh 50mins ), M Brennan (L Leonard 44mins ), G Conneally.
