Gritty Galway make ideal start to league campaign

Kilkenny 0-11

GALWAY have appeared in the last five National League camogie finals, and it would take a brave punter to bet against the Tribeswomen reaching the competition’s climax again this year after Saturday’s statement of intent at the Dunmore Community Grounds.

Successful in three of those deciders, it’s no surprise that team manager Cathal Murray has targeted a protracted run in the league since taking over in 2018 given that Galway have no provincial championship in which to prepare for the All-Ireland series.

Despite missing a host of regulars including Aoife Donohue, Roisín Black, Áine Keane, Emma Helebert, Siobhán Gardiner and Niamh McPeake, Galway got their campaign off to the perfect start against Kilkenny in windy conditions on a soft surface.

Last year’s finalists had to do it the hard way, however, after finding themselves 0-5 to 0-1 in arrears barely nine minutes into the contest. Facing the elements, Galway were struggling until the team management took decisive action.

Athletic number six Ciara Hickey was handed sweeper duties, with midfielder Ann Marie Starr moving to the half-back line. And to complete the positional reshuffling, attackers Carrie Dolan and Niamh Mallon were assigned far deeper roles in assisting their under-pressure rearguard.

Galway’s tactical realignment was an instant success as Kilkenny would manage only six more points for the remainder of this Division 1A encounter, and all of them came from free-taker Aoife Prendergast.

Under new manager Tommy Shefflin, the Cats are in transition and have some ground to make up after last year’s shock championship exit to Dublin, but they were quick to settle on Saturday with defenders Michelle Teehan, Miriam Bambrick, midfielder Aobha O’Gorman and Katie Nolan setting the tone.

Nolan lofted two early points, and those scores were complimented by efforts from Bambrick, Asha McHardy and Steffi Fitzgerald. Kilkenny were on top and only for the quality of goalkeeper Sarah Healy, Galway would have been in even bigger trouble.

The Tribeswomen got off the mark in the sixth minute when Mairead Dillon hit the target (via the crossbar) after Sabina Rabbitte’s pass, but most of the play was at the other end of the field until the Galway sideline responded positively to the early flow of the exchanges.

Mallon, who was later forced to retire with a facial injury, and Dolan picked off important points as Galway bravely carried possession against the wind. Remarkably, given their early scoring spree, Kilkenny would only add two points – both from Prendergast frees – for the rest of the half as the gritty girls in maroon and white increased their resistance.

Pictured: Galway defender Ciara Hickey is chased by Kilkenny's Steffi Fitzgerald during Saturday's Division 1A senior camogie clash in Dunmore. Photo: Billy Culleton