Loads of regrets for Galway as Cats end final heartache

GALWAY’S defeat to Kilkenny in Saturday’s All-Ireland camogie final was a very disappointing one for all concerned. The form the champions had taken into the game suggested they were a team ready to peak on All-Ireland Final day.

However, an underwhelming performance combined with the enormous hunger of a Kilkenny side looking to end their run of final defeats were major factors which Galway couldn’t overcome on the day.

The energy and physicality displayed by the Cats in the second half, when they turned a two-point deficit into a two-point lead, saw them take control of the contest. Kilkenny showed the greater hunger, particularly in the second period, but they also won the tactical battle hands down. In contrast with last year’s All-Ireland Final, Brian Dowling engineered the type of game which suited his side and successfully nullified some of Galway’s major strengths on the night.

An evenly contested first half saw the Tribeswomen take a two-point lead into the half-time. Galway could have been reasonably happy with their first half performance. Kilkenny’s two marquee forwards, Denise Gaule and Anne Dalton, had been very quiet and were superbly marked by Shauna Healy and Caitríona Cormican respectively.

However, there were signs that Galway were not as sharp or energetic as usual. Aoife Donohue being left behind by the pace of Kilkenny’s Grace Walsh was a very unusual sight, while Niamh Kilkenny made a couple of errors in possession which were uncharacteristic.

Of course, there were numerous errors made by Galway players throughout the match, but the consistency of Donohue and Kilkenny is such that their influence on proceedings was conspicuous by its absence.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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