Galway took an early lead racking up 1-4 unanswered in the opening quater of the All Ireland U16 Semi Final in Kinnegad on Sunday. The Tribeswomen worked together to make openings through the Dublin defense, creating scoring opportunities from high percentage positions.Extremely economical with their scores, they sent only 4 balls wide on their 15 shots at the target in the first half.
It seemed the young Galwegians had a stranglehold on the game when they reopened the score board with a point from play 30 seconds into the second half -But to overlook how much the Dubs adapted their play and responded to the lessons learned in the first half, would be very shortsighted.
After the break, the defense tightened, Jamieson-Murphy (Na Fianna) shut down their runner and prevented balls being fed down the pitch. Jones (BBSE), took advantage of the wind behind her puck outs and she ensured they found their way into the hands of Coffeey (Castleknock), and Davis (Crokes) at midfield, creating more opportunities for the forwards. Clohessey (Commericals) was unlucky to clock up just two points when she broke through the relentless Galway defense, but Commerford (Crokes) took advantage of the frees awarded and converted 3 points.
There is no doubt that the management team -Murphy (Kilmacud Crokes), Stack (Raheny) and Clohessy (Commercials), have over the last four years cultivated a team that can absorb and adapt to their advantage as a game progresses. To put it into perspective both teams clocked up 5 scores a piece in the second half, but it was not enough for the Dubs to secure a place in the final.
The county board would like to thank the management team for their tremendous work with this team over the last four years, and congratulate the girls-in-blue on battling their way to the All Ireland Semi Final.