Galway camogie team back on track

Darren Kelly in Wexford Park

Late points from Noreen Coen and Niamh Kilkenny could prove to be defining scores in Galway’s 2013 season as the Tribeswomen left the South East last Saturday with a priceless victory over the All-Ireland champions.

Studying the formbook is often a wasteful exercise when evaluating the credentials of this Galway team but there was no doubt, they arrived in Wexford focused and determined to right the wrongs from their very disappointing display the first day against Kilkenny.

Wexford were a shadow of their conquering All-Ireland 3-in-a-row team featuring just seven of the women who lined out in Croke Park last September.  But they still carried threats despite managing just one point from play throughout the hour.  History teaches us though that they will be more formidable later in the championship.

After failing to score in the first half against Kilkenny, the Galway attack had a point to prove and Niamh McGrath led the charge with an excellent first half display.  She sent over a free from nearly 70 yards in the second minute before taking Therese Maher’s pass 60 seconds later to point from distance and Galway were 0-2 to 0-0 in front.

Maher was back to her natural position of number six and effortlessly settled the defensive sextet.  Even with some errors, the defence looked more assured and never reneged from their duties especially during a busy second half.

As Maher and McGrath were in control on opposing 40s, Molly Dunne and Kilkenny started to play their part in the middle.  Kilkenny had found herself isolated two weeks earlier but with a more fluent support, she grew into the game with another driving performance.

McGrath’s dream start continued when she sent another placed ball into the Wexford net only for Ann Marie Hayes to be pulled up for a square ball.  But Hayes made amends in the seventh minute when she took Emma Kilkelly’s pass for Galway’s third score.

Ursula Jacob finally got Wexford off the mark on nine minutes but she wouldn’t score again until injury time as with the elements, Galway stretched their advantage.  McGrath made it 0-5 to 0-1 after two quick points before Kilkenny opened her account in the 16th minute. McGrath’s fifth came eight minutes before half-time and Brenda Hanney concluded the Tribeswomen’s first half scoring when she received Dunne’s delivery. The full mach report appears in this week's Connacht Tribune.