Galway girls' three-in-a-row dream ended by Cork

Galway 2-4

TWO early second half goals last Monday undid Galway’s three-in-a-row ambitions as Cork claimed an eighth All-Ireland minor ladies football title in Thurles on Monday.

With the sides level at 1-2 to 0-5 at half-time, Daniel Moynihan’s charges were perfectly positioned but strikes from Shauna Cronin and Laura Cleary changed this contest’s complexion and left the reigning champions chasing.

Both counties have developed a strong rivalry in recent year. Indeed, Galway had beaten Cork in the 2014 decider, 3-21 to 4-13, but it was the Munster champions who made a brighter start.

Hannah Looney opened the scoring after just 27 seconds while Cork senior Eimear Scally sent over a second in the seventh minute. Cork were attacking from the front and Galway’s backs were forced into some heroic defending.  The full back line of Alannah McBrien, Sarah Donnellan and Ailbhe Davoren were giving nothing cheap to their opponents and nd they were well complimented by Shauna Hynes and Megan Glynn.

Cork kicked eight first half wides but they signalled their threat in the 10th minute when Kate Leneghan forced a save from Dearbhla Gower. However from the next attack, the Tribesgirls showed their clinical side. A quick move found Chelsea Blade before her low effort was stopped by Mairead O’Sullivan, but the young Corofin centre forward followed up to send the rebound to the net and Galway were 1-0 to 0-2 in front.

Following an opening game which saw Cork seniors rout Meath, spectators in Thurles were enjoying this encounter which saw Scally level affairs in the 12th minute. After the early pressure, Galway were now going toe-to-toe with Cork and both teams had goal chances.

Cronin found space two minutes later to beat Gower only for the left post to rescue the maroon and white. Caoimhe Boyle pointed at the other end but when Siobhan Divilly picked out Glynn on the 20 metre line, the Claregalway midfielder went through two defenders before seeing her shot rattle the crossbar.

Galway were 1-1 to 0-3 ahead but suffered a blow when Claire Dunleavy was sin-binned for a challenge on Evie Casey on 17 minutes. Cork seized the initiative again but the relentless workrate from Galway’s defenders kept John Cleary’s team at bay and they wouldn’t equalise until his daughter Laura split the posts 15 minutes later.

As the clock ticked down, both teams looked for the edge and Blade put Galway back in front. But Hannah Looney raised a white flag before the hooter to send the teams in all square.

Full report in this week's Connacht Tribune.