Galway finally get off the mark
It’s taken seven months for the Galway senior camogie team to return to the winners’ enclosure following last August’s All-Ireland success, but Cathal Murray’s charges finally opened their account in this year’s National League at the Ragg last Saturday.
Aoife Donohue’s 17th minute goal was crucial in staying in contention with the hosts but five unanswered second half points within seven minutes of the restart put the Tribeswomen in control to earn a first victory at the Tipperary venue since 2019.
Galway now sit in joint third on three points, level with the Premier County, Cork and Antrim with one of those four likely to be relegated. A near five-hour trip to the Ulster outfit awaits this Saturday (Robert Emmets, Cushendun, 2pm) in order to move clear of the dreaded drop.
This was an encounter not lacking in intensity or physicality. Shannon Corcoran (2), Niamh Niland, Carrie Dolan and Niamh Mallon got the scores between the 31st and 37th minutes to put the Tribeswomen four ahead after they earlier trailed by five.
Even though Galway have beaten Tipperary in the last two All-Ireland semi-finals, the Premier County were unbeaten their last four league meetings; and with their Thurles Sarsfields contingent back from a team holiday, manager James Heffernan fielded nine starters from 2025.
Mary Burke got the opening point on two minutes after being fed by Caoimhe Stakelum before Galway – who welcomed back keeper Sarah Healy and vice-captain Dervla Higgins meaning they commenced with nine of their All-Ireland winning team – levelled with a Dolan free 60 seconds later.
Stakelum, McGrath (2), Caoimhe Maher and Grace O’Brien put the hosts 0-6 to 0-1 clear by the quarter hour but Galway did receive a break in the 17th minute. Raiding down the right, Mallon sent a ball inside which an opposing defender touched.
Donohue was waiting and went for a point, but the ball dipped underneath the crossbar catching Áine Slattery off guard and landed into the goal.
Galway still hadn’t shaken off the rustiness that followed their delayed return from New York and subsequent loss to Waterford seven days previously. Healy and Dolan seemed indecisive on taking certain frees but both did land white flags to level by the 21st minute.
Tipperary ended their 15-minute drought with a McGrath free before Mallon’s movement on the right allowed Niamh McPeake get Galway’s first point from play. However, the Munster support were shouting loudest at the whistle when McGrath floated over the last score from 50 yards.
The blue and gold were deserving leaders, but Galway’s resolve was about to show. They pushed up on their opponents from the first ball, pressing Tipperary as Niland found Corcoran for a point after just 35 seconds.
She added another three minutes later before Niland put her name on the scoreboard. Dolan was in a more unforgiving mood with a free on 36 minutes before Jennifer Hughes helped reward Mallon for her overall industry with a white flag and Galway were 1-9 to 0-8 ahead.
Galway were guilty of five wides in the second period. Tipperary also left behind some uncharacteristic misses, but McGrath and McIntyre halved the deficit by the 40th minute.
Tipperary scored seven goals in their last two fixtures against Galway at the Ragg. Healy needed to deflect O’Brien’s attempt over the bar in the first half, but her goal never appeared in serious danger.
Dolan made it 1-10 to 0-10 and Corcoran split the posts. Tipperary hit back through McIntyre and Stakelum, but Dolan replied each time from play to leave no doubt about the result.
Galway: S Healy (0-1, 1f); K Manning, R Black, R Hanniffy; D Higgins, C Hickey, KA Porter; J Hughes, C Dolan (0-6, 4f); N Mallon (0-1), N McPeake (0-1), A Donohue (1-0); S Corcoran (0-3), N Niland (0-1), C Kelly.
Subs: M Dillon for Niland (54mins), K Madden for Kelly (54mins), A Crowe for Porter (60mins), T Canning for Corcoran (60mins).
Tipperary: Á Slattery; S Corcoran, M Eviston, E Loughman; C Guinan, C McCarthy, M Burke (0-1); K Kennedy, C Maher (0-1); A Dwyer, A Quinlisk, C McIntyre (0-2); G O’Brien (0-1), E McGrath (0-5, 4f), C Stakelum (0-2).
Subs: I O’Donnell for Burke (46mins), R Howard for Maher (46mins), E Heffernan for Quinlisk (53mins), E Carey for Corcoran (56mins), N Treacy for O’Brien (59mins).
Referee: L Dempsey (Kilkenny).