lway enjoyed a winning start to the Liberty Insurance Camogie Championship at the weekend, overcoming Tipperary by 13 to 1-10 at Kenny Park.
Galway, this year's league finalists, did not have it all their own way against a determined Tipperary outfit. Although Galway led from start to finish, it was neck and neck for most of the game.
Galway started with intent, and were off and running within minutes with two points from opener Ailish O'Reilly and Niamh McGrath. However Tipperary were level by the seventh minute with Orla O'Dwyer and Nicole Walsh replying for the visitors.
Galway looked to be in control when Noreen Coen, Aoife Donoghue and O'Reilly were all on target to open up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 15 minutes. Yet they could never shake off Tipperary, who closed the gap with two points. Although Orlaith McGrath kept Galway's noses in front, Nicole Walsh replied with her third point to leave the minimum between the sides again.
The 29th minute looked to be the turning point when Noreen Coen struck for the game's first goal to take a 1-6 to 0-5 lead. Walsh and McGrath traded points before O'Dwyer followed up with a Tipperary goal just before the break to close the gap to a single point again, 1-7 to 1-6.
Sharpshooters McGrath and Coen edged Galway out to a a three-pooint lead soon after the restart, but Tipp refused to buckle with Walsh and Megan Ryan replying. Such was the see-saw nature of the game that both sides traded scores until the 54th minute when Galway pulled away with Donoghue and McGrath pushing their side into a three-point win.
Galway are not in action this weekend. Derry host Tipperary and Kilkenny face nDublin in the other group two fixtures. However Galway's intermediate side will face Kildare in Clane on Sunday (2.30pm ). Galway's next outing in the senior championship is on July 2 against Dublin.
Galway scorers: A O’Reilly 0-02, N Kilkenny 0-01, N Coen 1-02, A Donoghue 0-02, O McGrath 0-01, N McGrath 0-04, AM Starr 0-01
