Sports
Chicks with camogie sticks
NINE months since that historic day in Croke Park last September, Galway’s time to defend their All-Ireland titles begins this weekend with the senior and intermediate camogie sides commencing their championship campaigns.
All eyes will be on Kenny Park, Athenry ON Saturday (2.30pm) when Tony Ward’s charges go in search of back-to-back titles against the then four-in-a-row chasing Wexford side they dethroned last year.
The maroon and white squad is very settled from last year excluding Therese Maher’s retirement, but the home side are missing a few players with Clodagh McGrath out with a long-term injury and Maria Cooney, Siobhan Coen and Maria Breheny all exam-tied.
Who’ll fill the iconic number six jersey is generating much debate. Lorraine Ryan, Shauna Healy, Heather Cooney and Aislinn Connolly have all filled that position during the spring while one also can’t rule out former holders Sarah Dervan or Ann Marie Hayes slotting in at centre back either.
Indeed, Connolly’s return along with the improvement of some of last year’s All-Ireland winning intermediates gives Ward confidence ahead of this season.
“Aislinn Connolly is back into the fold from the 2012 team,” said the Galway manager. “The likes of Rebecca Hennelly, Tara Kenny, Aoife Callanan and Aoife Donohue have stepped up, while Eva Concannon is playing well as is Shauna Healy and Paula Kenny.”
The Tribeswomen should be a side with plenty of experience nonetheless. All-Star Susan Earner will be in goal while Dervan, Ryan and Heather Cooney will take up defensive positions with Therese Manton and Sinead Cahalan also in contention.
Niamh Kilkenny will be expected around midfield with Molly Dunne and Hennelly battling to partner her. Niamh McGrath returns to the attack that should include Emma Kilkelly, Ailish O’Reilly and possibly Hayes with Emer Haverty, Brenda Hanney, Connolly, Donohue and Orla Kilkenny also contending for a starting place.
After six consecutive group victories over Wexford, Galway will be favourites but the Slaneysiders have shown plenty of promise recently including a 2-12 to 1-10 Leinster final victory over league champions Kilkenny.
Ursula Jacob (1-8) and captain Kate Kelly were superb that day both scoring and assisting for the two majors; Katriona Parrock and Brid Gordon contributed points; and in defence Noeleen Lambert, Karen Atkinson, Deirdre Codd and Mary Leacy showed that the hunger is back in the South East.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
Four teams are vying for promotion to the Premier Division, and with University of Galway, Loughrea, Dynamo Blues, and Colemanstown United all having played each another twice, there is no room for error as they play out the last few games of the campaign.
Loughrea are in pole position, but the chasing pack all have games in hand as they try and reel in the table toppers. All four were winners over the weekend, with three of the games decided by just a single goal.
Elsewhere, the draw for the last eight of the Connacht Junior Cup took place as four Galway League teams remain in the competition. Athenry will be pleased to have drawn a Cois Fharraige side who caused a huge upset when defeating West United in the last round, but it would be an even bigger shock if the Division One outfit were to prevail on this occasion.
Two Galway sides head to Mayo for their ties and Mervue United will fancy their chances against a Westport United B side who defeated Colga B 4-2 at the weekend. It will not be as comfortable for University of Galway who will meet Castlebar Celtic; while Cloonfad and Strand Celtic meet in the remaining tie. The games are scheduled to be played on April 9.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Knocknacarra 0
University of Galway 1
Just a month ago these two sides played out a scoreless draw in Dangan and in the reverse fixture at Cappagh park on Sunday, little separated the sides once more, before a Stephen Gilmore goal on the hour mark settled a contest played in dreadful conditions.
With every point crucial to the Students in their quest to remain in the promotion shake up, they were mainly the better side, but also had to endure some anxious moments as the home side always offered the potential of a breakthrough.
However, their opportunities were more limited than the College side, with just a Marc Lucero effort that struck the woodwork the closest they went to a breakthrough.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 1-14
Dublin 0-9
Eanna O’Reilly at Duggan Park
THE Galway senior camogie team recorded their third victory of the National League campaign, with a straightforward success over a limited Dublin side on Saturday in Ballinasloe. This expected win puts Galway in with a chance of qualifying for the league final. To do so, the Tribeswomen must overcome Cork on Saturday in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Galway lined out against Dublin without injured duo Siobhán Gardiner and Niamh Hanniffy, while Niamh Niland (Clarinbridge) and Laura Kelly (Salthill-Knocknacara) made their first starts for the senior team. The Tribeswomen made good use of the wind in the opening quarter and raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead.
Carrie Dolan pointed an early free, followed by a ’45 to get the scoreboard ticking. Laura Kelly then sent over an impressive score from the left wing. Two minutes later, Dublin had a goal chance, but Aishling O’Neill was superbly hooked by Shauna Healy. Galway quickly worked the ball forward to Ailish O’Reilly, who added a neat point.
Carnmore midfielder Jennifer Hughes soon fired over another score for the home side, after a strong run. Dublin were already chasing a five point lead but opened their account in the tenth minute with a point from Gaby Couch.
Two minutes later, Aisling Maher sent over Dublin’s second score, before Dolan replied with an excellent point at the other end, after a good pass from Hughes. Maher pointed a free to make it 0-6 to 0-3, but the home side soon struck for 1-2.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
THE frankly bizarre nature of the URC schedule came into focus again this week as the league is set to resume after a two-week break for the Six Nations championship with Connacht welcoming Edinburgh to the Sportsground on Saturday (3pm).
The league might be entering the business end of the campaign, but the last few weeks has felt like more like pre-season preparation than a final push for glory, with Saturday’s game set to be only the third game in eight weeks for Connacht.
“After the Christmas period, it is kind of stop-start. Yeah, you probably do get a bit bored with training, you are looking forward to playing a game, and now we have back-to-back games which lets you get a bit of momentum,” Connacht centre, Tom Farrell, said in the media briefing this week ahead of this Saturday’s tie.
Connacht go into the game on the back of three consecutive wins – 22-20 away to Dragons, 57-34 away to Zebre, and 43-24 at home to the Lions – but it is hard to take any momentum from those games considering they were three, five, and eight weeks ago respectively.
Any momentum they might have had from that winning run will have been hit with the injury list issued this week that is nearly as long as the list of those players who are available. Grand Slam heroes Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen have yet to return to the province, while Finlay Bealham is out for at least a month with a knee injury.
He’ll have plenty of company in the treatment room as Denis Buckley (ankle) and Jack Carty (hamstring) have both been ruled out for this weekend; Josh Murphy (head) is following concussion GRTP protocols and is unavailable for selection this week; and Conor Fitzgerald has had surgery on his ankle and is out for the remainder of the season.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Full preferred route for Galway-Athlone cycleway to be published tomorrow
Safety fears abound over Aran Island’s top attraction
Galway Gardaí on high alert for Presidential visit
Lidl appeals planning refusal for Claregalway supermarket
Mairead Farrell suggests Government bringing Ireland “full circle” back to 2008
City seeks to annex Oranmore, Claregalway, Moycullen and Barna in boundary extension
Man awarded €142,000 over unprovoked attack in toilet of County Galway pub
Woman convicted of harassing social media guru
Galway family’s plea – help us save our home
What’s the issue with grants for dribble bars?
