Defiant Galway book place in camogie final
Date Published: 24-Aug-2010
Galway 0-10Cork 0-9
Eoghan CormicanIn Thurles
Storm clouds are gathering in the west that could spell the end of Galway’s success drought at senior camogie level which has spanned a remarkable fourteen years.
Sunday’s showdown against treble chasing Cork presented the ultimate acid test for Noel Finn’s charges. Despite showing admirable grit and determination to secure a draw in Nowlan Park, questions still remained over the mental toughness of this current crop.
If the Rebelettes forged ahead at crucial stages of the encounter, would Galway, as they have done so many times in the recent past wilt or would they stand tall to be counted. In the end, they silenced all those who ever doubted them.
Quite simply there can be no argument about the courage and conviction of the Galway side this week, but their clinical efficiency in front of goal is a facet of their play that requires serious surgery before September 12.
The tie itself was no advertisement for the game of camogie and will certainly not cause J.J Doyle or his Wexford squad too many sleepless nights ahead of the final. In truth, Galway were much the better team for large stretches of the encounter, but a strong second half showing from the champions meant the outcome was decided by the last puck of the ball.
Too often in the recent past Galway have come out on the wrong side of tight game’s such as this one. The team, though, appeared to have a turned a corner this season, the reward of which is a place in the All Ireland final and a shot at claiming the elusive O’Duffy Cup.
Nevertheless, trailing by 0-8 to 0-7, it seemed as if Cork were destined for yet another appearance at GAA headquarters, Galway, on the other side of the coin, looked like a side that had exhausted their every last ounce of strength and spirit.
On fifty seven minutes Eimear O’Sullivan seized possession in the Cork half back line, but was quickly swallowed up by a swarm of maroon jerseys. Referee Una Kearney adjudged the Ballinhassig centre forward to have over carried and pointed in the direction of Aoife Murray’s goals. From the ensuing dead ball, Aislinn Connolly stepped up and effortlessly levelled proceedings.