Galway intermediate camogie manager Noel Finn was full of praise for his players after their one-point victory over Westmeath on Saturday, 21st July secured a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
Rachel Monaghan was their top scorer while Tara Ruttledge struck a crucial early goal to ensure the Tribeswomen stayed in front throughout in Duggan Park, Ballinasloe to qualify for the penultimate stages.
“The girls deserve massive credit there,” said Finn to Dermot Flaherty afterwards. “They showed massive heart. When the game was in the melting pot, they dug out a result.
“That’s one thing they’ve done all year is dug out results. Look, when you have that mental strength to get yourself over the line, you’ll win a lot of matches.
“Our work rate was good. If you have good work rate, you’ll get your results.
“A few things didn’t go our way or whatever but look, they deserve massive and massive heart. We were probably unlucky for a few scores above to try and kill the game off.”
With Tipperary also beating Kilkenny, Galway and the Premier County have 10 points from four games and can’t be caught by their rivals meaning they’ll sort out first place on August 4th.
Cork are Group 1 winners and will meet the Group 2 runners-up with Derry and Down among the favourites for the other slot.
Galway have a sizeable scoring difference advantage though their one-point win over Antrim won’t count due to the Saffrons conceding their away trip to Tipperary. However, if the maroon and white prevail in their final tie, Tipperary will have to better the winning margin by 20 points.
“The objective was we’d take every game as it came,” concluded Finn. “The bottom line is this – we’ve to play Kilkenny last now and we’ll be looking for a victory there as well. The group is so tight. Any of the four teams could have come out – ourselves, Kilkenny, Tipperary or Westmeath.”
Galway meet Kilkenny in their final group game of the 2018 All-Ireland intermediate camogie championship on Saturday, 4th August. It will be played in a Galway venue with venue and time to be decided.
(Video: courtesy – Dermot Flaherty Video)
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