Goals from Gilchrist and Fahy scuttle the Cats on home soil
GOALS from Alannah Fahy and Katie Gilchrist in either half secured Galway their first victory in this year’s All-Ireland under-23 camogie championship last Sunday as they left Kilkenny’s Dunmore Training Centre with a seven-point win on a sunny afternoon.
With the league final against Waterford one week away, manager Cathal Murray rested his senior representatives showing nine changes from last week’s opening round defeat to Cork.
Kilkenny took an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead on six minutes through Claire Doheny (2) and Amy Brennan. The Tribeswomen’s first score came from Emily Lawless on five minutes though she may have considered going low. The Shamrocks forward did test keeper Cara Duggan with a second effort immediately afterwards.
After conceding the early two-point advantage, Galway started taking control as Emily Brogan’s long ball was converted by Fahy. Two Gilchrist frees put the visitors ahead before Kilkenny’s Ellen Gunner levelled at 0-4 apiece.
However, on 12 minutes, Laura Freeney’s puckout started the move involving Ava Bloomer, Kerri O’Driscoll and Lawless that led to Fahy’s first Galway goal. Kilkenny replied with five of the next six points through Leah Brett and Gunner (4) with O’Driscoll registering for the girls in maroon.
Galway led 1-8 to 0-10 at half-time thanks to Bloomer and Gilchrist (2). Gunner’s response was followed by second half strikes from Lauren Ronan and Brennan before Aoibhe Joyce, Gilchrist, Emma Madden and Orla Mullins made it 1-12 to 0-12 in Galway’s favour on 47 minutes.
Ronan replied for Kilkenny before Galway concluded the scoring with 1-2 unanswered. Gilchrist got the second goal on 50 minutes and added a free while substitute Leah Murphy was also on target. Their next outing is away to the Premier County on April 19.
Gilchrist finished with 1-6 for Galway while Lawless, Bloomer, Mullins, Sarah Lyons, Freeney and half backs Chloe Allen, Joyce and Brogan also excelled as did substitute Madden.
Galway: L Freeney; A Greaney, L McGrath, S Lyons; C Allen, A Joyce (0-1), E Brogan; O Mullins (0-1), E Deeley; A Bloomer (0-1), C Hanley, K O’Driscoll (0-1); E Lawless (0-1), A Fahy (1-1), K Gilchrist (1-6, 4f). Subs: E Madden (0-1) for Fahy (39), K Earner for Hanley (39), K Lawless for Greaney (42), S Flynn for O’Driscoll (56), L Murphy (0-1) for Bloomer (56).
Kilkenny: C Duggan; R Brennan, R Whelan, S Kerr; N Phelan, Á Rohan, A Doheny; K Ryan, C Power; L Ronan (0-2), L Boyd, E Gunner (0-6, 3’45s, 2f); L Brett (0-1), A Brennan (0-2), C Doheny (0-2). Subs: T McGrath for Phelan (HT), R Kelly for Brett (42), M Conroy for Gunner (42).
Referee: B Nea (Westmeath).