Galway ladies footballers keep promotion prospects alive

GALWAY 4-12TIPPERARY 0-12

JASON BYRNE AT PEARSE STADIUMGALWAY made it five wins in-a-row in the Ladies National Football League as they hit another high tally to dispose of Tipperary’s challenge at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.  

The victory all but secured a league semi-final berth as Galway look for an immediate return to Division One football. Three first-half goals from Tracy Leonard, Aoibheann Daly and Lisa Leonard all but sealed Tipp’s fate as Daly and Claire Hehir once again produced a solid display in midfield.

A Deirdre Brennan point along with a snappy 1-2 from Tracy Leonard gave Galway an early edge that never looked under serious threat subsequently. A Gillian O’Brien double along with Jennifer Grant’s point reduced Galway’s lead to three, but two more goals thanks to Daly and Lisa Leonard left Galway cruising.

Tipperary got four on the bounce through O’Brien, Caitriona Walsh, Edith Carroll and Shauna Ryan, but they never looked like matching a Galway team that has continuously found an impressive rhythm in recent weeks. Sarah Conneally looked more than comfortable at full-back, while Fabienne Cooney impressed again in front of Conneally at centre back.

Coming into the second half with a six point lead at 3-4 to 0-7, Galway were also aided by the Salthill breeze and following early scores from Marie Brennan and Gillian Joyce, the St. Brendan’s forward lashed in Galway’s fourth goal following another swift attack which Tipperary simply couldn’t handle.

Gillian O’Brien’s scores were as good as Tipp could muster and although she managed another three in the second-half, Tracy Leonard, Hehir, Edel Concannon Eilis Gannon and two more from Daly ensured that clinical Galway sit second in the league table, a point behind leaders Mayo.

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