Dolan’s stoppage time free sends defiant Galway into final battle against Cork

Tipperary 1-11

GRIT is the perfect word to symbolise to Galway’s dramatic victory over luckless Tipperary in a tense All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final at Nowlan Park on Saturday.

In an incredibly tight contest which only flickered into life in fits and starts, a more streetwise Galway outfit found the answers in a hectic finale to set up a daunting showdown against champions Cork on Sunday week.

Two late frees from Carrie Dolan and an Aoife Donohue special saw the Tribeswoman overhaul a 1-11 to 1-9 deficit in the closing seven minutes to extend Tipperary’s semi-final torment. They have now lost their last six appearances at the penultimate stage of the championship and are still seeking a first final place since 2006.

Tipperary could just as easily have won this semi-final as lost it but having edged into a two-point lead after 58 minutes, the demons of past near misses appeared to stalk them from there to the end as Galway admirably pulled the semi-final out of the fire.

Cathal Murray’s charges finished at they started: scoring three unanswered points, while a critical haul of 1-2 from their Down recruit Niamh Mallon either side of half-time also proved central to Galway making it back to the final for the first time in three years.

For the rest of a physical battle, Galway only managed four points and they went nearly 20 minutes without a score in the second-half, but still showed the necessary bottle down a frantic home stretch to get over the line.

That trait must please the Galway management most of all. There was nothing easy about this semi-final for the team in maroon, but they hung in there when Tipperary were in the ascendency even if a significant improvement will be required for their big clash with Cork.

Some observers wondered about the long-serving Niamh Kilkenny returning to this level after a long lay-off, but the Pearses clubwoman came up with a couple of priceless points which took on a greater level of importance in a relatively low-scoring struggle.

Saturday’s result confirms Galway’s rehabilitation after a heavy group defeat to Cork and they will surely relish the opportunity of showing themselves in a better light in the final, even if the Rebels’ dismantling of Dublin in the opening semi-final underlined the challenge facing Roisín Black and company.

Though Tipperary typically employed a sweeper, they were slow out of the blocks as Galway raced into a three-point lead inside six minutes. The impressive Kilkenny started the ball rolling after Áine Keane and Mallon did the spadework, while Dolan converted a brace of frees.

With the wind favouring Tipp, this was not the start they wanted but the ever-dangerous Eimear McGrath eventually secured possession from a Grace O’Brien delivery; bravely took on the Galway cover before finishing expertly to the roof of the net in the 12th minute,

McGrath had a goal chance earlier but carried the ball into trouble and saw a point effort come back off the post as well, so her goal was critical in giving the league champions some badly needed momentum.

Pictured: Galway’s Niamh Kilkenny is chased by Julieanne Bourke of Tipperary during Saturday's All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final at Nowlan Park. Photos: INPHO/Bryan Keane.