Galway intermediates book place in All-Ireland final

THE attention will be on their senior counterparts but the Galway intermediate camogie team could be the ones to watch after this convincing eight point victory over Waterford last Saturday.

For the first time since 1998, the Tribeswomen will send two teams to Croke Park for All-Ireland final Sunday and if the periods of dominance enjoyed by the second string are anything to go by, they could set up the perfect appetiser on September 15.

This win wasn’t without its faults! Galway’s attack wasted scoreable chances through carelessness, the defence suffered nervous moments while many middle third battles were conceded to their physical opponents. But when the young maroon and white turned it on, this victory was never in doubt.

Waterford were an experienced outfit, league champions two seasons ago and only lost to Galway by four points at the penultimate stage in 2012. They were strongly fancied with players of the calibre of Jennie Simpson, Nicola Morrissey, Karen Kelly and five time Puc Fada champion Patricia Jackman in their ranks.

But Aoife Donohue set the tone after just 35 seconds with Galway’s first attack. A score eluded her but she converted in the fourth minute after Aoife Callanan’s point. Finola Keely struck the third three minutes later but not before Orlaith McGrath cut through the centre to strike the Galway goal and they led 1-3 to 0-0.

Galway’s fearless young attackers were showing no mercy and had further goal chances through Donohue and Keely, but Waterford finally got to grips with the encounter reducing the deficit by half-time (1-6 to 0-6).

Morrissey, Zoe O’Donoghue (2), Jackman and Kelly helped the Deise back into proceedings though O’Donoghue’s first effort required and excellent save from Roisin Callanan to deny a green flag. Donohue got her second Galway point after a move involving Maria Cooney and Keely while Rebecca Hennelly added a brace, but the Tribeswomen needed a solid third quarter to quell the Waterford momentum. An extended match report appears in this week's Connacht Tribune.