Galway ladies footballers face another huge assignment on Sunday when they face an in-form Dublin in round three of the Bord Gais Energy National League.
Home advantage should help the Galway cause, with the game scheduled to take in Monivea (2pm ), but they will also need to be in top form against a Dublin outfit that would be almost guaranteed a quarter-final place if they take full points.
Galway, now under new manager Gay O'Brien, need some points on the board, having lost their first two outings in the league. A heartbreaking late goal by Clare denied them victory, while last weekend they suffered a heavy defeat to champions Cork. Another loss would put them in danger of relegation.
The JFC-sponsored Galway team played host to three-times All-Ireland champions Cork on Sunday in Cregg. Galway played with the wind in the first half and held their own for the first 20 minutes after Cork opened the scoring with a point from Valarie Mulcahy in the first minute of the game.
Una Carroll then pointed two frees in the sixth and seventh minutes, which were quickly cancelled by Nolaig Cleary. Crucially Cork enjoyed a purple patch in which Amy O'Shea goaled for Cork, O'Shea and Cleary added another point apiece, and Rhona Buckley hit the back of the Galway net followed in quick succession by a point from Ciara O'Sullivan. Another goal for Rhona Buckley and a point from Nolaig Cleary had the Leesiders well in front.
Gillian Joyce did put over a free for the home side, but the last two scores of the half came from Juliet Murphy and Nolaig Cleary as Cork led by 3-9 to 0-3.
Una Carroll goaled for Galway 20 minutes into the second half, while Lisa Cohill brought the curtain down with a penalty to give them a final tally of 2-3.
Although under pressure to get a victory, Galway are still developing. With Aoibheann Daly and Edel Concannon back in action, having returned from Australia, Galway could also welcome back Anne Marie McDonough, currently out with a knee injury.
Matches between the two have usually been highly competitive affairs, but Galway will have their work cut out for them if they are to record their first league win against an in-form Dublin outfit.
