Dublin 3-14

Galway 2-14

THIS cruel defeat will torment Galway for a long time. Seconds away from thwarting title favourites Dublin for the second year running, the Tribeswomen let their opponents fatally off the hook.

Twice they had possession after substitute Andrea Trill had shot them into the lead with less than two minutes remaining, but Galway’s game management let them down presenting the Dubs’ Hannah Tyrrell with the opportunity of forcing extra time.

It must have been a deflating end to normal time for the Connacht champions after a heroic second half display against the wind. Galway might have only manged four points in that period, but the scores had also dried up for Dublin.

That closing 30 minutes which turned into a physical and cautious battle bore little resemblance to the fluid counter-attacking play of the opening 30 minutes when Galway failed to finish several goal chances.

Ultimately, that’s when Daniel Moynihan’s charges lost this thrilling semi-final in Tullamore on Saturday evening. Instead of being five or six points up at the break, they were only level.

But Galway came oh so close to overcoming their inability to find the net in normal time. This is a group of players who were unbeaten all year and they fought tooth and nail against the elements on the resumption

Dublin just couldn’t shake them off and when Trill edged Galway back in front in the 58th minute, a second big championship victory in 12 months over the sport’s dominant force of modern times was on the cards.

In last year’s epic quarter-final at Parnell Park, Galway had stunned the Dubs and they must be devastated this week after failing to repeat that magnificent victory. They had the chances to do it, but the necessary ruthlessness was missing.

Twice in the first half, they cut the Dublin defence open only for Ailbhe Davoren and Kate Slevin to be denied from close range by goalkeeper Abby Shiels and full back Leah Caffrey respectively.

That’s not forgetting the tireless Louise Ward seeing a handpassed effort rebound off the crossbar when she would have been better off electing to shoot or when Slevin pointed on the turn when another goal chance appeared on

Dublin were probably the more athletic outfit, with the likes of Eilish O’Dowd, Niamh Hetherton, Caoimhe O’Connor, until forced to retire injured, and the fit-again Carla Rowe testing the fitness of their Galway rivals, but in footballing terms last year’s All-Ireland finalists are a match for anyone.

Pictured: Galway’s Noone sisters, Lynsey and Hannah, preparing to block the scoring attempt of Dublin’s Hannah Tyrrell during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final at O’Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday evening.  Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.