Galway 0-17

Waterford 0-11

By Darren Kelly in Kenny Park

The Carrie Dolan/Niamh Mallon axis was blossoming to full effect again last Saturday as Galway secured group victory over contenders Waterford in a wet and misty Athenry to take direct passage into a 20th consecutive All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final.

Galway’s two top-scorers shared 0-13 as the former kept the scoreboard ticking in the first period, before the latter delivered a sting in the third quarter and the team finished with six unanswered points.

This was a workmanlike performance from Galway.  They suffocated the highly-fancied Deise after leaving space in the early stages, and left nobody in any doubt that the Tribeswomen are still the main challengers to Cork’s three-in-a-row ambitions.

“We came here to get a result and we got it,” said Galway captain Dolan after the final whistle.

“Waterford, they were the form team in the group. We knew we had our work cut out for us today.  Draw going in at half-time; draw there coming down the home stretch 11-11; but in fairness to our girls, they shoved on and got the next six scores.

“We went with a few short puck-outs and it’s very hard against the breeze with short puck outs.  Waterford picked off a few scores.

“Credit to the girls there, the way they stood up there in the second-half. They [the defence] won the battles out there and they set the platform for the forwards getting the scores.

“You can never predict the weather here. We were down in Nowlan Park last weekend and it was 30 degrees, and you’re coming up here and it’s raining and it’s windy. Look, you have to practice in all conditions,” she said.

The Rebelettes are also through to the final four in Nowlan Park on Saturday July 26, and the winners of next week’s quarter-finals in Croke Park will join them. Waterford clash with Clare on Saturday, before Kilkenny and Tipperary join their hurling counterparts on Sunday.

Waterford, like Galway, were also on three wins from three going in to last weekend’s game, and had a superior scoring difference following games with Derry, Dublin and a historic first success over Kilkenny. They were also looking for a maiden win in Galway.

The Munster side had been getting closer with their last three encounters, including the 2024 All-Ireland quarter-final, seeing them no more than one score short.

Pictured: Galway’s Caoimhe Kelly and Sabina Rabbitte scrabble for possession with the Waterford duo of Kate Lynch and Keeley Corbett Barry. Photos: INPHO/James Lawlor.