Galway let a five-point lead slip in group loss to Rebels
Cork 1-12
Galway 1-10
By Ger McCarthy MTU Cork
GALWAY threw away a five-point lead before succumbing to Cork in Group 3 of the LGFA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship at MTU Cork last Saturday.
A seven-point swing between late in the first-half and the beginning of the fourth quarter cost Galway dearly on Leeside.
Having gone toe-to-toe with a resurgent Cork for much of an entertaining opening half, the Tribeswomen moved 1-7 to 0-5 ahead courtesy of a cracking Olivia Divilly goal.
Instead of kicking on however, Galway were pegged back by a gutsy opponent that reduced the deficit to three by the interval, Hannah Looney’s 47th minute goal handed the Rebels a lead they would never relinquish.
The Connacht champions contributed much to an evenly fought encounter but that will be of little solace ahead of a must-win final group outing against minnows Laois.
“It is make or break now and we have to get a result against Laois,” Galway manager Daniel Moynihan said.
“That is championship football. We win and we will get ourselves into an All-Ireland quarter-final. That is the aim, simple as that.
“You have a lot of leaders in that dressing room who are going to respond positively to today’s result. We will rely on them to bring the younger players through and get us in the right frame of mind for facing Laois. If we can do that and stay focused then we have to feel positive about that.”
Galway trailed a fast-starting Cork 0-4 to 0-2 with Nicola Ward and Emma Reaney finding their range. Newcomer Ava McAullife (two), Katie Quirke (free) and Daire Kiely were on target for the Rebels.
Both defences were making scores hard to come by, but it was Galway who steadily improved as the half progressed. Olivia Divilly and Leanne Coen scores made it 0-4 apiece. The impressive McAuliffe restored Cork’s advantage only for Coen to level matters for a second time.
Pictured: Galway's Ailbhe Davoren is challenged by Abbie O’Mahony of Cork during the All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Round 2 tie at MTU Cork on Saturday. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile.