Late-goal heartbreak for Tribeswomen in semi-final
Dublin 2-8
Galway 2-7
Finding positives from Sunday's heart-breaking loss in the Ladies National Football League semi-final will be difficult for Galway, but they finished their Spring programme with plenty to encourage them ahead of the Connacht Final in June.
It could, and should, have been better as the determined Tribeswomen held firm against the All-Ireland champions in Coralstown GAA Club before substitute Nicole Owens eventually broke through in the final minute.
Galway led 2-5 to 1-4 at half-time thanks to goals from Leanne Coen and Mairead Seoighe, and looked to strengthen their position as Coen and Tracey Leonard added points to make it 2-7 to 1-5.
But a strong gale on an otherwise sunny Sunday meant it was backs-to-the-wall for Galway in the second-half, though they will be disappointed they went scoreless for the last 25 minutes.
The talk beforehand was about the need for a good start and being competitive, and Stephen Glennon’s charges delivered. The Galway manager shuffled his deck, bringing Nicola Ward back to follow the movements of Dublin’s lethal attacker Noelle Healy.
But that didn’t stop the Kilkerrin/Clonberne defender from her trademark blitzing runs, and a speedy link-up with the returning Caitriona Cormican yielded dividends. Leonard and Seoighe were also involved before Coen finished to the net and Galway's purpose was revealed.
They had the wind and a Leonard free made it 1-1 to 0-0 on four minutes but keeping Dublin at bay was also going to be as important.
Mick Bohan’s team unlocked the opposing rearguard through Healy and Sinead Aherne only for Dearbhla Gower to produce an important stop. The Corofin ’keeper denied Aherne again later, but the St Sylvesters’ corner-forward did open the Dublin account with a placed ball on eight minutes. Little things are always a big factor in a match of this magnitude and the umpires didn’t show any degree of confidence in awarding Dublin's opening point.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.