All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship – Sunday, 22nd July 2018
Kilkenny 1-17 Galway 0-13
Darren Kelly in Nowlan Park
Galway’s round-robin campaign in the All-Ireland senior camogie championship ended in disappointment as Kilkenny pulled clear, meaning Cathal Murray’s charges travel to Pairc Ui Chaoimh to face Dublin in the quarter-finals.
For the winners is another joust with Kilkenny, or Cork, and if the Tribewomen are to seriously challenge for the O’Duffy Cup in 2018, they will need to significantly improve from this display which promised so much in the opening quarter.
This wasn’t about the result though the Tribeswomen would have significantly benefitted with a first win against their opponents since 2016. This was about ensuring supporters left Kilkenny believing the O’Duffy Cup was within their grasp.
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCamogieAssociation/photos/a.10155895658521492.1073742120.217157391491/10155895659451492/?type=3&theater
It must be remembered that similar tales were expressed in 2013 following a shocking poor effort against the Noresiders in Athenry. But come September, Lorraine Ryan was walking the steps of the Hogan Stand.
That could happen again but a reaction is desperately needed following this tame collapse. And the legacy of a generation of Galway camogie players could be at stake with David Herlihy’s Metropolitans waiting in the long grass.
Unlike previous campaigns, the maroon and white started well going 0-5 to 0-1 up but were also guilty of seven wides. Ailish O’Reilly popped over two minors before Denise Gaule opened Kilkenny’s account. Carrie Dolan, Niamh McGrath and O’Reilly stretched Galway’s margin to four points by the 15th minute.
Anna Farrell, Gaule and Michelle Quilty reduced arrears before Walsh levelled on 21 minutes. McGrath put Galway 0-6 to 0-5 ahead. Gaule and Shelly Farrell overturned the deficit before a superb Dolan catch levelled at 0-7 apiece before Galway conceded two poor points before the break.
Dalton set up Gaule who was unmarked before getting a score herself and Kilkenny led 0-9 to 0-7 at half-time. Galway started the second half brightly as Dolan took a superb Hennelly pass before cancelling out two Gaule frees to leave it 0-11 apiece.
Shelly Farrell was taken down on 40 minutes for a penalty which Gaule blasted to the net before adding a free. Donohue and Coen tallied for Galway in the final quarter but with Quilty hitting three points from play, there was never any doubt about the winners.
Scorers:
Galway – Carrie Dolan 0-5 (one free), Ailish O’Reilly 0-4, Niamh McGrath 0-2, Aoife Donohue 0-1, Noreen Coen 0-1
Kilkenny – Denise Gaule 1-8 (1-0 penalty, six frees), Michelle Quilty 0-4, Anna Farrell 0-1, Miriam Walsh 0-1, Shelly Farrell 0-1, Ann Dalton 0-1, Claire Phelan 0-1
Galway: Sarah Healy; Shauna Healy, Sarah Dervan, Tara Kenny; Emma Helebert, Heather Cooney, Lorraine Ryan; Aoife Donohue, Niamh Kilkenny; Niamh McGrath, Catriona Cormican, Rebecca Hennelly; Carrie Dolan, Noreen Coen, Ailish O’Reilly. Subs used: Ann Marie Starr for Helebert (46 mins), Roisin Black for Kenny (55 mins), Siobhan McGrath for O’Reilly (58 mins).
Kilkenny: Emma Kavanagh; Colette Dormer, Catherine Foley, Michelle Teehan; Claire Phelan, Ann Dalton, Grace Walsh; Meighan Farrell, Davina Tobin; Anna Farrell, Katie Power, Denise Gaule; Michelle Quilty, Shelly Farrell, Miriam Walsh. Subs used: Edwina Keane for Teehan (53 mins), Julieanne Malone for M. Walsh (60 mins), Kelly Ann Doyle for Gaule (60 mins), Danielle Morrissey for M. Farrell (60 mins).
Referee: Eamon Cassidy (Derry)
Galway meet Dublin in the 2018 All-Ireland Senior Camogie Quarter-Final on Saturday, 4th August. Throw-in in Pairc Ui Chaoimh is 7.15pm.
