Galway minor ladies have captured their third Connacht title in a row after a hard-fought battle with Mayo in Ballyhaunis on Monday.
The 3-15 to 2-6 scoreline might suggest otherwise, but for three quarters of this game there was nothing between the teams.
Galway were 0-3 to 0-2 points ahead, with points from Eimear O’Kane (2 ) and Caoimhe Boyle when Shauna Howley scored Mayo's first goal in the 16th minute.
For long periods Mayo were camped in the Galway half and only the combination of good goalkeeping and the woodwork kept the Mayo score down.
On 25 minutes Caoimhe Boyle rattled the net for Galway's first goal, and when O’Kane and Claire Dunleavy added points as the half closed, Galway led by 1-06 to 1-04.
Galway opened the second half with a point from Ciara Naughton, but Mayo replied with a Saoirse Ludden goal to level.
The turning point came after O’Kane added two frees when Mayo full back Aoife Brody received a yellow card and three minutes later Rachel Kearns received a red card. Galway took full advantage, adding 1-05 without reply, the goal coming from sub Evie Lowndes.
Riona Ni Fhlathara added another goal late on as Galway ran out winners for a third season.
