A blistering start to second-half proves Galway girls trump card

Galway 1-15Tipperary 1-9

Eoghan Cormican in Clarecastle

A sublime opening ten minutes to the second half – in which a lively Galway minor camogie outfit hit six unanswered points – saw Ger Lyons’ charges advance to this weekend’s All Ireland decider at the expense of the reigning champions.

As whirlwind bursts go, this was as good as any and those that had descended on Clarecastle for the second bill of this camogie double-header could not but be impressed with the showing of the Tribesgirls.

Simply, all over the field during this period of excellence, Galway dominated and their pace, precision and power was really something else.

Similar to the drawn game, this was high octane stuff as the match was played at a frantic pace and it was Galway’s stunning second half performance which ultimately proved the difference.

Galway were worthy of the winners tag and were the better outfit for the most of the hour, but lapses in concentration and discipline that allowed Tipperary back into the contest could have proved costly. The Premier county displayed an over reliance on free-taker Caoimhe Maher and the industrious Sarah Fryday, but even their sterling efforts weren’t enough to take the spoils.

In essence, the foundations for victory were laid by a hugely impressive half forward line in which the mobility of Aoibhin Kenny and the long-range accuracy of Rachel Monaghan and Ailish O’Reilly augers well for the final.

O’Reilly seemed to pop up all over the field during a superb performance, while Monaghan helped Galway settle with some crucial early scores, but there was so much more to this display with the excellence of Lorraine Farrell and Orlaith McGrath, and the determination of Laura Porter and substitute Michelle Dunleavy pushing Galway over the line.

Aided by a stiff breeze, Tipperary were dominant in the opening exchanges and led 1-2 to 0-1 by the 10th minute. Tara Kennedy landed the opener with Caoimhe Maher also on target from the placed ball. Orlaith McGrath replied for Galway, but on nine minutes Aoife McGrath delivered the perfect pass for Mairead Teehan to blast past Sarah Skehill in the Galway goal.

Critically, Tipperary never pushed on and Galway outscored the Premier County by 0-4 to 0-3 for the remainder of the half. Caoimhe Maher (two frees) and Aoife McGrath swelled Tipperary’s tally, but they couldn’t shake off Galway.

Vital scores from Monaghan (two frees), Orlaith McGrath and O’Reilly – a terrific score where she broke through three tackles before splitting the posts – kept Galway in touch, so much so that when they re-emerged for the second half to hit six on the trot, Tipp simply had no answer.

Rachel Monaghan (0-3, two frees), Orlaith McGrath (0-2) and Aoibhin Kenny all found the range as Galway moved in front for the first time. Caoimhe Maher lifted the siege with two points before setting up Aoife McGrath for the equalising score on 49 minutes.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.