League defeat to Wexford fails to stop Tribeswomen from reaching semi-finals

Wexford 0-11Galway 1-7

Darren Kelly in Enniscorthy

WHEN the camogie story of 2012 is told later this year, this result will be highly insignificant in regards the evaluation of Galway’s season.

What will concern the Galway camp was that a Wexford team playing just as poorly could overturn a five point deficit thanks to leaders like Catherine O’Loughlin, Mary Leacy and Ursula Jacob showing the way. And there is much improvement to come with the All-Ireland champions also.

The maroon and white were found wanting in a critical final quarter not for the first time and question marks will remain on whether this team can improve to lift that elusive O’Duffy Cup. Nobody will get carried away with the defeat but even when Galway led by double scores, one sensed that Wexford would come back.

When Galway link up, they are beautiful to watch and over the 60 minutes against Cork and the first half against the Metropolitans, the Tribeswomen displayed the camogie that still convince supporters they can be All-Ireland champions.

That opinion won’t change, but their lack of ruthlessness against the Dubs coupled with how Wexford were allowed overturn this game without moving out of third gear will act as a timely reminder that much work still needs to be done.

This much anticipated All-Ireland final rematch attracted punters to the South East and Galway started brightly through an Aislinn Connolly free after 50 seconds. Wexford’s attack was unusually malfunctioning in the first half but Jacob opened her account in the fifth minute. Fiona Rochford put the Slaneysiders ahead 60 seconds later, but they would only manage one more Jacob free before half-time.

Galway enjoyed the majority of possession and led by 0-6 to 0-3 at the change of ends, but while they’d be disappointed with five wides, O’Loughlin and Leacy were making life difficult for the visitors’ forwards.

Before Connolly’s second free, Galway were gifted a goal chance as Orla Kilkenny set up Brenda Hanney on the edge of the square but the Killimor forward didn’t get the proper connection as the ball went across goal and wide.

Kilkenny was the provider again in the 15th minute as Jessica Gill put Galway 0-3 to 0-2 ahead before Connolly with two more frees and Tara Rutledge gave them the three point cushion.

The breeze in Enniscorthy would favour Wexford during the second half and the question at half-time was how would Galway cope if one of the Wexford front six caught fire?

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.