Galway 1-18

Roscommon 1-11

By Ian Cooney at Tuam Stadium

Kate Slevin’s accuracy from frees and open play was Galway’s trump card on in Tuam Stadiuu8m on Sunday as the Claregalway player kicked 1-0 of her side’s total in a surprisingly tight Connacht derby with Roscommon in Division 2 of the league.

Full-back Maryjane Jordan, along with Siobhan Divilly, Ailbhe Davoren, and Shauna Hynes, were also hugely influential for Daniel Moynihan’s side, but it was the boot of Slevin which made the major difference.

The defining patch in the game came in a spell either side of half-time when Galway kicked an unanswered 1-9 – with Slevin accounting for all but one point of that tally – to see the Tribeswomen make it three wins from three to keep them top of the table ahead of next weekend’s clash with Westmeath.

There was one moment of contention in that purple patch for the home side, and it went the way of the Galway women when referee Eddie Cuthbert awarded them a penalty right on the brink of half-time.

Trailing 0-8 to 0-7, Slevin shaped up to take a ’45, but the Down official adjudicated that Roscommon corner-back Saoirse Wynne had dragged Eva Noone to the ground as the Galway forward 13 made a run from the edge of the small square.

It was an incredibly harsh call and pretty much unravelled all of Roscommon’s first-half prosperity when Slevin tucked away the resultant spot kick with aplomb. Galway won the next kickout and Slevin was on hand to kick her third point of the half.

The home side were somehow 1-8 to 0-8 ahead at the change of ends. It was a reminder to Roscommon about the cruelty involved when competing at a higher altitude; and Galway hammered that message home in an utterly dominant third quarter.

While Roscommon manager, Finbar Egan, didn’t agree with the decision to award the penalty, he was more concerned how Slevin was allowed to kick seven unanswered points inside the first 12 minutes of the second-half.

Pictured: Lynsey Noone goes on the attack for Galway as Rachel Brady of Roscommon tries to halt her progress. Photo: David Cunniffe.