Galway fail to fire in home defeat
GALWAY suffered their second defeat of the National League on Saturday in Athenry as Waterford recorded a four point victory over the All-Ireland champions. The Déise backed up their impressive opening round win over Cork by taking the spoils against the Tribeswomen on a day when the home side failed to fire.
Due to a snowstorm in the US, Galway’s return from their team holiday in New York was delayed by three days, with the players and management only returning to Ireland early on Thursday morning.
In the circumstances, it was always going to be a major challenge for the Tribeswomen to produce their best form on Saturday. From the outset, they looked flat and laboured against sharp and determined opponents.
Waterford made an impressive start to the game and had four points on the board before Galway registered a score. Beth Carton pointed for the visitors after two minutes, before Niamh Rockett converted her first free shortly after.
Midfielder Lorraine Bray scored their third point after a pacey run, before Carton tallied her second; an impressive effort from the left wing. At the other end, Carrie Dolan got Galway’s opening score, but Waterford’s dominance continued.
Rockett tallied three frees during the next ten minutes to stretch the Déise’s lead out to six points. Shortly before half-time, some strong Waterford pressure forced Alannah Kelly into overcarrying, with Rockett subsequently tallying her fifth free. The visitors led by 0-8 to 0-1 at the interval.
The Tribeswomen got a badly needed break early in the second half when a fifty yard free from Niamh Mallon dropped under the crossbar and deceived Waterford ‘keeper Noelle Murphy. Mallon followed up this goal with a pointed free shortly after.
At the other end, a Mairéad O’Brien effort from 45 yards made it 0-9 to 1-2. Mallon and Rockett soon exchanged frees, as a four point gap remained midway through the second period.
Bray registered her second point for Waterford after playing a neat one-two with Carton. Two scores from Mallon; a free and an impressive effort from play; kept the home side in touch.
However, the Tribeswomen failed to narrow the deficit below three points. An injury time free from Rockett was the insurance score as the visitors wrapped up a well-deserved win for Mick Boland’s side.
After the game, Galway manager Cathal Murray was disappointed with the result and is keen to see his side respond when facing Tipperary this weekend.
‘‘It’s been two fairly mediocre performances from us so far in the league,’’ he said. ‘‘In both games so far, I thought we created chances but didn’t take them, and that’s something we have to learn from.’’
‘‘Waterford were the better team out there today and they definitely deserved the win. We’re not going to use the holiday [late departure] as an excuse.”
On a forgettable day for Galway, the home side were best served by Laura Freeney, Róisín Black, Ciara Hickey, Aoife Donohue, and Niamh Mallon.
Galway face Tipperary in their third national league outing on Saturday (2pm) in the Ragg.
Galway: L. Freeney; A. Crowe, R. Black, K. Manning; A. Kelly, C. Hickey, K.A. Porter; R. Hanniffy, A. Carr; J. Hughes, C. Dolan (0-1), A. Donohue; N. McPeake, N. Niland, N. Mallon (1-4, 1-3 frees). Subs: K. Madden for A. Kelly (41), M. Dillon for Niland (41), C. Kelly for McPeake (49), S. Corcoran for Porter (61).
Waterford: N. Murphy; V. Falconer, C. Carroll, A. McNulty; R. Walsh, K. Corbett-Barry, O. Hickey; L. Bray (0-2), C. Sherlock; E. O’Neill, B. Carton (0-2), B. Bowdren; N. Rockett (0-7 frees), S. Lacey, A. Flynn. Subs: M. O’Brien (0-1) for Flynn (24), L. Forrest for Lacey (45), A. O’Sullivan for Sherlock (54), M. Gostl for Bowdren (57).
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork).