Galway 5-9  Dublin 1-7

The visitors did the damage in the opening 12 minutes when playing into the breeze naïve defending on the part of Dublin allowed Galway to get one on one with the Dublin ‘keeper Síle nic Coitir and in Noreen Coen and Ailish O’Reilly made no mistake.   Strange as it seemed Galway seemed to have no problem creating the extra attacker despite the fact that Dublin were playing with an extra defender.  

Dublin pressed hard for scores but with five forwards playing on six backs of the calibre of Sarah Dervan, Rebecca Hennelly and Ann Marie Starr the Galway defence was in complete charge and Dublin could only manage two points from frees in the opening 30 minutes.

Galway had the edge on pace in attack but the move of Eve O’Brien to full-back did tighten matters close to goal.   Dublin had a great goal chance in the 5 ^th minute when Siobhan Kehoe played a brilliant pass to Louise O’Hara whose first touch let her down.   From the clearance Noreen Coen goaled.

That was the pattern of the first half – Dublin errors were clinically punished.  

Ali Twomey won a great catch from a Galway puckout in the 12 ^th minute but possession was lost and from that move Ailish O’Reilly grabbed the first of her hat-trick of goals.    

The hard-working Áine Woods won a good ball on the stand sideline but again the ball was turned over and Noreen Coen was put in the clear close to goals and Síle nic Coitir had no chance.   Galway in front 3-4 to 0-2 as the half-time whistle went.

With the breeze helping Galway, followers must have been fearing the worst but from the restart Dublin responded.   The introduction of Gráinne Quinn, Áine Fanning and Sarah O’Donovan had much to do with Dublin’s second half improvement.   They brought a greater physical presence to the side and showed great leadership.  

Alison Maguire banged over a great free from 50m and Ali Twomey did likewise from a close range free but another defensive slip up let it Ailish O’Reilly for another goal.    Gráinne Quinn was fighting for everything and an inspirational point in the 46 ^th minute was Dublin’s first score from play.   

Another Ali Twomey free from close range cut the lead to 4 goals as likes of Catríona Power, Leah Butler, Miriam and Laura Twomey and Orla Beagan began to shake off the shackles.   It was 15 on 15 now and when Sarah O’Donovan’s Route 1 approach saw the ball drop at her feet she whipped to the net. In the 50 ^th minute.    Moments later she grabbed an Alison Maguire free to shoot for goal only to be denied by Shauna Burke.  

Galway were momentarily stung but super points from Niamh Kilkenny and Ailish O’Reilly settled the ship before Ali Twomey knocked over a great score.

Another sloppy defensive moment by Dublin was again punished by Ailish O’Reilly 59 ^th minute as the westerners ran out deserved winners.

Scorers:

Galway: Ailish O’Reilly 3-1, Noreen Coen 2-0, Niamh McGrath 0-5, Orlaith McGrath 0-2, Niamh Kilkenny and Shauna Healy 0-1 each

Dublin: A li Twomey 0-3, Alison Maguire 0-3, Sarah O’Donovan 1-0, Gráinne Quinn 0-1

Referee: Eamonn Cassidy