Galway get the ideal boost ahead of Connacht decider

 Mayo 0-9

By Eanna O’Reilly at Tuam Stadium

THE Galway senior ladies footballers comprehensively overcame Mayo BY a ten point margin in Sunday’s Connacht championship group clash at Tuam Stadium, in a game which served as a dress rehearsal for the provincial final on May 25.

The Tribeswomen were vastly superior throughout this contest and the visitors never looked capable of mounting a significant challenge.  Daniel Moynihan’s charges essentially had the result wrapped up by half-time when they had established a ten point lead.

Galway were superior in every aspect of the game and thoroughly outclassed a weak Mayo side. Despite their intensity dropping somewhat in the second half, Mayo were unable to reduce the margin or put any significant pressure on the home side.

Moynihan made nine changes to the Galway team from their victory over Leitrim in the last round. Dearbhla Gower, Aoibhinn Eilian, Bronagh Quinn, Charlotte Cooney, Aisling Madden, Kate Thompson, Shauna Hynes, Ailbhe Davoren and Kate Slevin all came into the starting 15.

Ailbhe Davoren opened the scoring, with a point from the left wing, before Kate Slevin tallied her first score from a free. Shauna Hynes then scored Galway’s third, after a pacey attacking move.

Eva Noone added another point four minutes later, after some good work from Nicola Ward, before a Mayo error gave Galway their first goal from the subsequent kick out. Mayo goalkeeper Julia Gawalkiewicz’s loose kick was intercepted by Slevin, who chipped the retreating ‘keeper for a goal. At 1-4 to 0-0 down, Liam MacHale’s charges had a mountain to climb.

The visitors registered their first score after 20 minutes when Sinéad Walsh pointed a close range free. Walsh soon added a point from play after a strong run, but Galway responded emphatically, going into top gear to score 1-4 without reply.

A pacey attack down the left wing involving Davoren and Slevin ended with a point for the lively Hannah Noone. Davoren then pointed her second, after displaying excellent footwork. A minute later, Kate Thompson landed an impressive score from the right wing, to make it 1-7 to 0-2.

Pictured: Galway's Aisling Madden breaking away from Aoife Geraghty of Mayo during Sunday's Connacht Senior Ladies Football Championship group tie at Tuam Stadium. Photo: David Cunniffe.