Galway 4-10

Tipperary 3-4

Ivan Smyth in Moyne-Templetuohy

GALWAY ladies footballers secured top spot in Group 4 and a home quarter final as they downed a spirited but outgunned Tipperary on Sunday.

Although eyes may have been firmly fixed on the tussle of Padraic Joyce’s footballers and Mayo at Pearse Stadium, which started an hour after this game, Maghnus Breathnach and Fiona Wynne’s charges had an important assignment of their own to handle.

They needed a win to ensure they would host a quarter final on the weekend of July 15/16. Galway overcame a poor start when conceding a goal inside the opening 90 seconds to Aishling Moloney while the dangerous Tipp forward also slotted 1-1 late on. Between those two junctures, the table toppers were the better outfit as the hosts piled bodies behind the ball with Moloney being left to forage for herself up front.

Moloney proved a handful for Galway full back and captain Sarah Ní Loingsigh as despite Louise Ward dropping back as sweeper, the Tipperary powerhouse was always a threat. Galway’s lack of height in the full back line is a concern with the redeployment of Ward helping to deal somewhat with the direct ball used by both Cork and Tipperary.

In saying that both of Moloney’s goals came from her punching long, high deliveries to the net while goalkeeper Karen Connolly did enough to prevent the sharpshooter from grabbing another fisted major late on. Unfortunately for the Premier county, Moloney lacked a supporting cast in front of the posts while this Galway side possess a multitude of threats as nine players found the target for the winners.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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