Hanniffy and O’Reilly prove the difference in league win

Offaly 0-11

The first half of a Pearse Stadium double header was Galway’s senior camogie team keep up their side of the bargain as goals from Niamh Hanniffy (2) and Ailish O’Reilly secured a second win in the National League.

After beating Tipperary two weeks earlier following their opening loss to Cork, this sets them up for an ‘effective’ quarter-final against Wexford this Sunday as they seek a semi-final meeting with Kilkenny.

That being said, Ann Downey's team suffered a mishap going down 1-14 to 1-9 against Limerick, but they are still in pole position to top Group B.

Galway were raging hot favourites on Sunday but recent history carried warning signs as their 2015 championship meeting saw only three points separate the teams.

And despite two defeats already, Offaly were determined to put the challenge to the home side with Patrice Delaney converting two frees in the opening seven minutes.

Offaly are missing established names like Siobhan Flannery, Lorraine Keena, Grace Teehan, Jean Brady and Slaughtneil’s Tina Hannon, and it eventually told. While Galway suffered an early one-point deficit, they’d already shown their scoring threat.

Caitriona Cormican, who scored 1-2 for the footballers the previous Sunday against Mayo, took Aoife Donohue’s pass and forced a save from Mairead Jennings.  Rebecca Hennelly put over the resulting 45 leaving them 0-2 to 0-1 behind but the maroon and white eventually found the breakthrough.

Hanniffy’s positioning on the edge of the square could reap dividends as she gains more inter county experience, and she tormented the Offaly rearguard in a 10-minute spell that saw Galway go 2-2 to 0-2 clear.

After the Tribeswomen coughed up possession in the 10th minute, Hanniffy led the charge to dispossess Triona McDonald before turning for goal and hand-passing past Jennings for the first goal.

She added a point within seconds and nearly did more damage on 12 minutes.  Ann Marie Starr was the provider as Hanniffy rattled the crossbar.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.