Galway 3-18 Dublin 1-12
The
mercury was touching 27 degrees in Coolock at the superb Parnells venue when
Dublin scorched into a 1-5 to 0-2 lead after just 12 minutes. Galway playing their first championship match of the season were rocked and looking extremely vulnerable every time Dublin raided. But in a 10 minute spell Galway stopped the
rot and struck 2-4 that possibly saved their day.
Dublin
were worth a four or five points half-time lead but as it was it was the
Westerners that went to the dressing rooms in front 2-8 to 1-9.
Had
Dublin taken a half time lead of 4-5 points – it might not have been enough to
win the game but it would certainly have given them a platform that their first
half performance deserved. Dublin had played close to top gear in the half - Galway found a higher one in the second.
Dublin will be disappointed with the two goals conceded in the 14th and 23rd
minutes. Before Aoife Donohue dispatched
both to the net, the Dublin defence’s uncertainty and lack of ruthlessness in
clearing the danger led to the chances being created in the first place.
Encouragingly
on each each occasion, Dublin responded with great points from Ali Twomey and
Aisling Maher in the 15th minute and 21st minutes. And again when Galway got the second goal,
Siobhan Kehoe and Ali Twomey showed tremendous resilience to level the
game. But Ailish O’Reilly was in super
shooting form and would finish the game with 0-11.
Playing
into the scoreboard end Dublin scored first thanks to an Aisling Maher
free. Galway took the lead by the 3rd
minute through two frees by Ailish O’Reilly but Dublin then hit 1-4 without reply.
Dublin
were level from the puckout. Miriam
Twomey who had another super game was covering the pitch and from one of her
deliveries Aisling Maher took possession to raise a sublime white flag from almost on
the sideline.
Faye
McCarthy in her first season in the senior colours is already making a name for
herself.
She pointed a great free from
almost on the sideline in the 5
th
minute to give Dublin the
lead.
Another belter from 80m had danger
written all over it and so it proved as it ended up in the net.
No sooner had she that done, when she was on
her way to the sideline 45m from the Galway posts to nail another free for a
foul on Miriam Twomey.
Again off another
Faye McCarthy, Siobhan Kehoe took a great score.
Could
it get better?
Unfortunately not and the
concession of those softish goals brought life back into the Galway side that
had been seriously troubled by Dublin’s running and tigerish tackling.
Despite
the setbacks, Dublin had reason to feel optimistic going into the second
half.
The good vibes grew further when 2
minutes after the restart, Faye McCarthy pointed from 80m and Dublin were
within a point of a Galway side laden with All-Stars.
But they have those awards for a reason. Galway had sorted their problems out at half-time and playing with an extra defender in their own half of the field,
Dublin could make little headway in attack where the Connacht side’s half
backline of Lorraine Ryan, Rebecca Hennelly and Heather Cooney was superb.
Building from their own half,
Galway were clinical in the second half and time and again were able to find
their danger players Ailish O’Reilly and Aoife Donohue.
Maria Cooney was also a key cog in the
half-forward line.
Dublin
defended bravely with Aisling Carolan having her moments at No. 6 but the
concession of frees and a penalty would yield 1-5 for Galway in the second period. Playing their second game in 7 days may not
have helped Dublin in the searing heat but the side was in contention until the
clinical finish from a penalty in the 47th minute from Rebecca
Hennelly put significant daylight between the teams. Teams of the quality of Galway do not allow
one back at this juncture in a championship game.
Dublin
had introduced Ali Maguire at half-time and brought on Claire Donnelly, Zoe
O’Donoghue as well as debutantes Eimear O’Leary and Megan Lewis but the experienced Galway girls had come good.
There were no routes through the defence and try as Dublin did they were
limited to one point in the period from the 32
nd
to the 59
th
minute.
A
disappointment but hard lessons will have been learnt and the three weeks gap
to the crucial away game with Waterford will be a welcome break to get the
girls missing due to the Leaving Certificate and injuries back into playing
contention.
Galway
Scorers: Ailish O’Reilly (0-11), Aoife Donohue (2-3), Maria Cooney, Niamh
McGrath, Fiona Keely, Noreen Coen (0-1 each)
Dublin
Scorers: Faye McCarthy (1-4), Aisling Maher (0-3), Siobhan Kehoe (0-2), Ali Twomey (0-1), Alison Maguire (0-1).
Referee: Liz Dempsey