Galway fall to Cork but still in contention for semi-finals

Galway 1-11

AFTER various breaks going against them, a complicated qualification system has worked in their favour. And Galway's ladies footballers will take it before their final Division One outing against Westmeath on Sunday.

Goals for Orla Finn, Marie O'Callaghan and Ciara O'Sullivan put the Rebelettes into the semi-finals after winning this group contest, but Stephen Glennon's will be expected to join them.

Cork and Dublin sit top of Division One with 15 points and are guaranteed their knock out places. Mayo, on 12 points, will join them should they overcome Monaghan, leaving Donegal and Galway, locked on 10 points each, to battle for the final spot.

Should both remain level after their final assignments, the Tribeswomen will advance.  When just two teams are equal, head-to-head is the first method of separation but the two teams drew 0-16 to 1-13 in Glenfin in Feburary.

However, before scoring difference is applied, the next stage for differentiating between the sides is who kicked more balls over the bar. Galway were the county that got the 16 white flags and will be seeded ahead of Donegal.

The Tir Conaill women, however, have a much superior scoring difference. With effectively relegated Kerry's scores removed, they have 30 points to spare. But they'll only count if both win and Mayo draw leaving three teams on 13 points. In that case, a two-point win will send Galway through with the Ulster county.

Despite all those permutations, the maroon and white will focus on beating Westmeath after unforced errors and some excellent goalkeeping from Cork keeper Martina O'Brien denied them victory in Clonberne.

Full coverage in this week's Connacht Tribune.