Galway just do enough to edge out Waterford rivals

Waterford 1-9

CATHAL Murray promised a ‘different Galway’ for Sunday’s All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final at Croke Park compared to the team that had surrendered tamely to Cork the previous weekend. His bullish prediction didn’t quite materialise, but the Tribeswomen still did enough to get over the line.

This was a scrappy affair where the result was everything for Galway. Sweeping changes from the heavy loss to the Rebels was a statement of intent and their reshuffled forces at least performed with greater energy and aggression in a contest which won’t live long in the memory.

Ultimately, an invaluable second-half goal from the fit-again Aoife Donohue proved decisive, with Carrie Dolan’s accurate free-taking and Niamh Mallon’s early prominence other central factors in Galway’s hard-earned win, but their stand-out performer was defender Dervla Higgins.

A rousing opening-half point from the Athenry player was the highlight of her display which, like the team, wasn’t blemish free but Higgins typified the overall work ethic of a Galway outfit which had some significant questions to answer after an indifferent championship campaign to date.

It’s not difficult to give Galway something of a free pass for an uneven effort against their injury-hit opponents. Their confidence and belief must have been rattled by that trimming down by the Lee and the camp didn’t have much time to recover mentally for Sunday’s knock-out clash.

Of course, Waterford are a step down from Cork’s class, but they had reached last year’s All-Ireland final and former Rebel All-Ireland minor winning manager, Jerry Wallace, was on their sideline. In the end, the Deise lacked Galway’s overall quality despite brave displays from the likes of Orla Hickey, Beth Carton, Bevin Bowdren and three-point scorer Niamh Rockett.

Pictured: Galway’s Dervla Higgins tussling for possession with Niamh Rockett of Waterford during Sunday's All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final at Croke Park. Photo: NPHO/Ryan Byrne