Giblin’s late green flag earns brave Galway U-16s a replay
Galway 3-14 Kilkenny 2-17THE newly-named Kate Moran Cup for the All-Ireland U-16 A Camogie Championship was contested with style and panache worthy of the former Athenry and Galway star at St Brendan’s Park, Birr last Sunday, writes Daragh Ó Conchúir.
And supporters of both Galway and Kilkenny will mark this Saturday at the same venue in their diaries for what should be a tremendous replay after the two sides couldn’t be separated over the course of a remarkable hour’s play.
Late drama crowned a memorable contest. Galway centre-forward Cara Giblin, who finished with 1-4, went low with a last-gasp free to level the sides a minute into injury time.
Kilkenny, who had led by six points in the first quarter and by five with ten to play, couldn’t quite hold on to win their first title at this grade since 2008 as Giblin, Orna Dunne (2-2) and Maeve Cronin (0-3) shone in a stellar Galway attack.
Katie Brogan split the posts to put Galway in the lead after ten seconds, but Kilkenny led 0-8 to 0-2 after 14 minutes as their relentless running put the Galway backs under extreme pressure. The girls in maroon shot five first-half wides, while the Cats didn’t put a ball astray until the 22nd minute, punishing Galway with metronomic accuracy.
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Rachel Duff, Amy Walsh, Kate Dalton, Ruby Norris, Dearbhla Ryan and Elizabeth Sida were all opening-half point scorers for the Noresiders, while Katelyn Hynes, Giblin and Grace Roche provided responses for Galway.
Duff ran down the heart of Galway’s defence for a statement goal after 20 minutes, however Dunne responded with an equally fine finish into the corner of the Cats’ net three minutes later, leaving Galway 1-4 to 1-9 adrift with the margin four points at the break.
Dunne’s redeployment to the full-forward line proved successful as she shot a quickfire 1-1 to level the contest five minutes after the restart, but in a game packed with twists and turns, that served only to inspire another Kilkenny purple patch.
Ryan restored Kilkenny’s lead with a goal immediately after Dunne’s levelling effort and although Galway had the better of the next ten minutes, Kilkenny found a late surge that looked like it might be decisive.
Ryan finished as top scorer for her side with 1-6 and she extended their lead once more alongside efforts from Duff and Dalton to push Kilkenny’s advantage out to five, 2-15 to 2-10.
It only got better from there. Substitute Cronin made her minutes count with three scores, Giblin and Dalton swapped points, and the scoreboard read 2-16 to 2-13 entering injury time.
Cronin earned the crucial free that Giblin hammered in between a packed goalmouth full of Kilkenny hurleys, Ryan gave Kilkenny the go-ahead with a free once again, but Galway weren’t coming out of Birr with less than a draw as Giblin equalised once more.
Both teams had chances to avoid the game going to a replay in what remained, but tiring limbs were unable to hit the target and so the two teams will be back at the Offaly venue on Saturday at 5pm.
Meanwhile, the Galway U-23 camogie secured their place in the All-Ireland semi-finals after recording an emphatic 6-22 to 0-4 victory over hapless Waterford at St Paul’s GAA Grounds on Friday evening.
The reigning champions already had victory in the bag when powering into a 3-11 to 0-3 lead by half-time. Galway fielded a refreshed line up, with experienced players such as captain Katie Anna Porter, Ciara Hickey, and Shannon Corcoran making their first starts of the campaign after recent involvement with the seniors in the lead-up to the league final.
From the outset, Galway took full control of the contest, delivering a relentless attacking display. They amassed an incredible 3-11 in each half, showcasing their scoring power and depth.
Shannon Corcoran was in outstanding form, netting a hat-trick of goals and adding three points. Aoibheann Barry also played a crucial role, contributing 1-8 and proving clinical from placed balls. Kayla Madden added two points, while Leah O’Halloran also got on the scoresheet.
Galway’s strength in depth was further highlighted by their impact off the bench. Laura Kelly marked her return from injury with 1-3, Sophie Flynn added 1-1, and additional points came from Katie Gilchrist, Catherine Hanley, Ava Bloomer, and Emily Lawless.
Waterford, in contrast, struggled to make an impact and had just one scorer throughout the game. Rhona Drohan accounted for all of their tally, registering 0-4, including three points in the first half and one from a free in the second.
Attention now turns to their upcoming clash with Kilkenny, scheduled for Birr on Saturday (3pm). The match will precede the All-Ireland U-16 A replay between the same counties at 5pm.
Manager Cathal Murray will be encouraged by Galway’s recent performances, particularly the return of several senior panelists to the squad. Over the course of the round-robin campaign, he has also succeeded in giving valuable game time to a wide range of players.
With just a single point separating Galway and Kilkenny in the group stages, Murray will be optimistic that the return of key players will strengthen Galway’s chances as they push for back-to-back U- 23A final appearances.
GALWAY: C Doyle, K Melville, A Hughes, A Lawlor, E McDonagh, N Coen, K Dolan, M Nevin, K Brogan (0-1), K Hynes (0-1), C Giblin (1-4, 1-2 frees) O Dunne (2-2), E Harkin, C Mullins (0-1) G Roche (0-2, frees) Subs: S Maher for McDonagh (28), M Cronin (0-3) for Dolan (40), D Griffin for Harkin (48), K Burke for Mullins (58).
KILKENNY: H Culleton, S Cash, R Corcoran, C Joyce, S Farrell, R Murphy, I Carroll, A Walsh (0-1) R Smith, E Sida (0-1) R Norris (0-3), R Duff (1-3) K Dalton (0-3), M Kenny, D Ryan. (1-6, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘45). Subs: H Drennan for Farrell, S McCabe for Kenny, R Mullins for Walsh, L Ahern for Sida, R Gibbons for Rebecca Smith.
REFEREE: Simon Redmond (Dublin).