41 GALWAY ALL IRELAND MINOR CAMOGIE CHAMPIONS Galway were crowned All-Ireland minor camogie champions for the second time following a well merited 2-12 to 1-10 victory over Kilkenny at McDonagh Park, Nenagh. For Ger Lyons and his background team of Michael McGrath, Helena Huban and Paul Killilea, this proved a bitter sweet success as Kilkenny had overcome Galway in the first round of the championship before glorious redemption was achieved on that faithful Saturday in late April. While Galway were forced to exhaust every last ounce of energy and effort in a hugely entertaining decider, their greatest test, undoubtedly, was the challenge of Tipperary in the penultimate round for which a replay was required to separate two evenly matches sides. In the drawn game, Galway appeared poised to exit the championship but for a 65th minute Rachel Monaghan point forcing a replay. Galway stepped it up several notches for the subsequent encounter and six unanswered points directly after the change of ends put the Westerners on the road to success with Lisa Hynes’ injury time goal finally ending Tipp’s resistance. In the final, Galway delivered a powerful second half display, outscoring Kilkenny by 1-10 to 0-4 to take the verdict. In truth, the Tribesgirls could-and probably should – have won by a greater margin, but for a lethargic opening thirty which yielded just three scores. In a peerless performance from the front eight where Mullagh’s Rachel Monaghan, the contributor of 2-8, was awarded player of the match, there was excellent showings from Ailish O’Reilly, Orlaith McGrath and Marie Cooney. Lacking nothing by the way of commitment and spirit, the young tribeswomen defended their lead vigorously in the final quarter, epitomised by the ferocious nature of Galway’s half back line who were quicker and hungrier in the scavenge for possession. In any event, All Ireland success in April was the last thing on peoples mind in the aftermath of Galway’s first round defeat at the hands of Kilkenny, where the visitors let slip a five-point interval advantage, losing out in the end by 1-19 to 1-8. Galway though, regrouped and recorded a comfortable 6-15 to 1-6 over Clare to leave them just sixty minutes from a third ever All Ireland final appearance since. The semifinal, as noted, required a second day out where Galway eventually scraped through. Kilkenny elected to play with the wind in the opening half of the decider, but it was Galway who received an early boost as Rachel Monaghan’s speculative effort went all the way to the net, moving Galway into a 1-1 to 0-2 lead. Orla Hanrick reduced arrears to the minimum subsequently, before Catherine Foley finished a sweeping move involving Aine Kinsella and Julie-Anne Malone to hand Kilkenny the initiative. Kilkenny were, by now, relentlessly sweeping forward and Orla Hanrick, Sarah-Ann Quinlan and Aine Kinsella all found the target to extend their advantage. It could have been much worse from a Galway perspective as Julie-Anne Malone looked poised to register Kilkenny’s second major of the contest, but for a lastditch tackle from Sarah Keehan to scupper the chance. Clodagh McGrath pointed in the subsequent action and a four point interval deficit was by no means an insurmountable target for Ger Lyons’ troops. Galway, however, wasted three opportunities early in the second half and nervousness began to emanate from those in attendance as Orla Hanrick pushed Kilkenny five clear. The front six, who had struggled up to this point, made amends in a ten minute purple patch that yielded 1-6. Ailish O’Reilly, Rachel Monaghan and Orlaith McGrath (2) raised white flags and then came the game’s crucial moment as Rachel Monaghan, set-up by Ailish O’Reilly, rattled the roof of the Kilkenny net with a thunderous strike from outside the ’21. Monaghan nailed the target on three occasions in the ensuing passages of play and though Kilkenny refused to throw-in-thetowel, Galway were on course for a second ever minor All-Ireland, leading by 2-10 to 19 with just seven minutes remaining. Kilkenny tried in vain to breach the Galway rearguard for the required major, but the Westerners stood firm and fittingly, it was Monaghan who completed the scoring with a further two minors late on. Scorers: R Monaghan (2-8, 1-6 free’s, 0-1 ’45), O McGrath (0-2), A O’ Reilly (0-1), C McGrath (0-1). Galway: Sarah Skehill (Ardrahan) Linda Porter (Craughwell) Aisling Spellman (Sarsfields) Sarah Keehan (Ardrahan) Siobhan Gardiner (Ardrahan) Lorraine Farrell (Davitts) Michelle Dunleavy (Turloughmore) Maria Cooney (Sarsfields) Clodagh McGrath (Sarsfields) Rachel Monaghan (Mullagh) Ailish O’ Reilly (Oranmore/Maree) Aoibhinn Kenny (Sarsfields) Orlaith McGrath (Sarsfields) Marie Brehony (Davitts’) Lisa Hynes (Craughwell) Subs: Aoife Dolan (Kiltormer), Niamh Hannify (Oranmore/Maree) BY EOGHAN CORMICAN GALWAY MINOR CAMOGIE TEAM Back Row, Left to Right: Olivia Keehan, Tara Murphy, Niamh Hanniffy, Edel Murray, Siobhan Gardiner, Sarak Keehan, Clara Linnane, Shauna Broderick, Sinead Cormican, Aisling Spellman, Michelle Dunleavy, Linda Porter, Sarah Skehil, Aine Dervan, Rachel Monaghan, Marai Cooney, Front Row, Left to Right: Ciara Lohan, Karen Earls, Aisling Coen, Aisling Breheny, Maria Breheny, Clodagh McGrath, Orlaith McGrath, Aoibhin Kenny, Lorraine Farrell (Capt. ) Ailish O Reilly, Lisa Hynes, Laura Porter, Lisa Shiel, Lauren Lee, Shauna Coen, Aoife Dolan. Absent from photo: Ciana Ni Churraoin.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzM2OTY=