Galway claim Winter League title

The Galway side which captured the Winter League at the weekend. Back row, from left: Emma Reaney, Johanna Connolly, Aine McDonagh, Lisa Gannon, Sarah Lynch, Gillian O'Connor, Dearbhla Gower, Dora Gorman, Barbara Hannon, Ciana Ní Churraoin, Charlotte Cooney, Lucy Hannon, Noelle Connolly, and Deirdre Brennan. Front: Mairead Seoighe, Ailbhe Davoren, Aoife Ní Cheallaigh, Eimear O'Kane, Shauna Hynes, Shauna Molloy, Sarah Conneally, Eimile Gavin, and Aishling Donnelly. (Missing from photo: Geraldine Conneally).

placeholder image — The Galway side which captured the Winter League at the weekend. Back row, from left: Emma Reaney, Johanna Connolly, Aine McDonagh, Lisa Gannon, Sarah Lynch, Gillian O'Connor, Dearbhla Gower, Dora Gorman, Barbara Hannon, Ciana Ní Churraoin, Charlotte Cooney, Lucy Hannon, Noelle Connolly, and Deirdre Brennan. Front: Mairead Seoighe, Ailbhe Davoren, Aoife Ní Cheallaigh, Eimear O'Kane, Shauna Hynes, Shauna Molloy, Sarah Conneally, Eimile Gavin, and Aishling Donnelly. (Missing from photo: Geraldine Conneally).

Galway 1-2

Sligo 0-3

A first-half Ailbhe Davoren goal ultimately proved to be the difference for Galway in a lively, if low scoring Connacht Winter League final against Sligo at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan on Sunday.

Having put 7-10 on the board against Mayo the week previous, this was a case of the extremes for the Tribeswomen, who struggled to break down an ultra-defensive and well-organised Sligo outfit.

At any rate, it was Sligo who emerged out of the blocks the quicker, kicking the opening three points through full-forward Ciara Gorman (play and free) and Laura Ann Laffey in the opening quarter.

Playing against the breeze, Galway were forced to go more and more through the hands and it paid dividends as wing-forward Davoren slipped through the cover and netted a crucial goal to ensure the sides were level at 1-0 to 0-3 at half-time.

The second half was just as tight with scores few and far between. In the end, points from Davoren and Mairead Seoighe (free) edged Galway in front although both teams were left to rue the succession of gilt-edged chances they missed on the day.

In Galway’s case, they clocked up 13 wides in all, dropped six efforts short, had two blocked down and one hit the post and they will acknowledge that a return of just three scores from those 22 opportunities will not be good enough when they face Mayo in their opening National League fixture in a fortnight’s time.

That said, their defensive showing over the two games against Mayo and Sligo – conceding no goal – is a major positive and should stand them in good stead going forward.

Galway: D. Gower; A. Ní Cheallaigh, S. Conneally, E. Gavin; A. Donnelly, D. Gorman, C. Cooney; S. Lynch, A. McDonagh; S. Hynes, Lisa Gannon, A. Davoren (1-1); M. Seoighe (0-1, free), C. Ní Churraoin, E. O’Kane. Subs used: B. Hannon for McDonagh, inj.; S. Molloy for Hynes; G. O’Connor for Ní Churraoin.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.