Galway girls prove class apart against Monaghan

Monaghan 0-9

By Ivan Smyth in Longford

GALWAY booked their passage to the All-Ireland Minor Ladies Football final as they eased past Monaghan at the Longford Slashers GAA Grounds last Wednesday. The win ensures Galway will face Kildare in the final on Saturday, August 5.

The Tribeswomen will be relatively familiar with their opponents as they defeated the Leinster side in last year’s All Ireland semi final. It is an interesting tie for Galway manager Daniel Moynihan who took charge of Kildare’s Intermediate outfit from 2018 to 2021.

Galway’s defence has grown in stature over the course of the campaign. After being cut open frequently by an extremely wasteful Sligo side in the opening game of the Connacht championship, Galway have built their foundations off a tight defence with Klara Banek’s deployment as sweeper helping to copperfasten what was an already improving rearguard.

Between the Connacht final win over Mayo and this All Ireland semi final success, Galway have conceded just five points from open play in 120 minutes of football. Monaghan entered this contest having buried a total of 20 goals in their previous five games. They didn’t create an opportunity of note with defensive lynchpins Maryanne Jordan, captain Aoibhinn Eilian and Shiofra Ní Scanlain all assured. Katie Slattery was outstanding in midfield while Siún McGovern kicked eight points, half of which were from play.

Monaghan manager Darren Greenan issued one last rallying cry to his players moments before throw in when he bellowed: “No team in Ireland can live with us.” Galway not only hung in with their opponents but gradually sucked the life out of the Monaghan challenge to the point where the eight minutes of injury time at the end of the game were elementary.

Pictured: Galway's Lauren O'Donnell is tackled by Monaghan's Lauren Markey during the All-Ireland Ladies Fooball Minor semi-final at the Longford Slashers GAA Grounds last Wednesday. Photos: John McDerrmott.