Galway 3-12
Mayo 1-8
GALWAY senior ladies footballers stormed into the All-Ireland title race last Sunday after a blistering start secured a 14th Connacht title. Nobody saw this coming! The pundits felt a good performance might give them a chance, But a start that yielding 2-5 after 11 minutes wasn’t predicted
The Tribeswomen finished their league campaign with three consecutive losses, including a 16-point hammering to Donegal. They waited 10 weeks with no competitive action and looked a beaten docket, but they came to post in sensational style to remind others they will have to be watched.
Two first half Mairead Seoighe goals and a Niamh Duggan cameo got Stephen Glennon’s charges three majors that rattled Mayo. And while Frank Browne’s side did attempt to overturn a 12-point interval deficit, Galway always had the extra gear and should have added to their impressive tally.
Glennon made big calls with Barbara Hannon and Sarah Conneally swapping between defence and attack but it was young Aine McDonagh who set the tone, finishing a five-player attack for the opening score on 31 seconds. Galway did have a strong forceful wind and made it count with Conneally setting up Tracey Leonard for their second point.
The maroon and white acted like a child kept inside from the rain for days before finally being unleashed to play outside. Mayo knew the wind was against them but hadn’t planned for the gale force attack blowing in from Clonbur.
A rare poor kick out from Yvonne Byrne effectively conceded two goals. Conneally’s instincts were alert claiming possession despite injury and found Seoighe who finished to the net. Conneally left the field and was replaced by Niamh Duggan.
McDonagh and Seoighe were the livewires seeking enjoyment in torturing the opposing defence. They combined on five minutes to allow Duggan to leave her stamp with the second goal and a 2-2 to 0-0 lead. Leonard added a free before the name feared en route finally opened her account. Cora Staunton kicked a free on nine minutes, leaving it 2-3 to 0-1.
The Galway defence were equally astounding, displaying a mature approach to the tackle. Nobody was better at this then Noelle Connolly who frustrated Staunton by standing off and forcing the 10-time All-Star to commit before seizing a crucial touch for her team-mates to overturn.
With Olivia Divilly and Leonard working particularly hard, Galway stretched away as Seoighe and Leonard put ten points between the teams. But one area of concern was despite the comfortable margin, the Tribeswomen still wasted some glorious chances and ended with six needless first half wides.
Full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
