Galway take down Cork to set up camogie league final rematch 

Cork 0-13 Galway 0-19

Galway got the win they needed as they defeated Cork in their Very Division 1A clash at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The Tribeswomen knew a win would see them into the league final, against Cork, in two weeks and they made sure of it with an impressive display.

Cork started with eight of the side that played against Galway in the All-Ireland final last year, and the Tribeswomen had nine of that team starting.

Cork won’t be happy with their overall display, which was flat by their high standards and they will need a much-improved performance in the league final if they are to beat Galway in that.

Using the strong wind in her favour Saoirse McCarthy opened the scoring for Cork in the first minute from a long-distance free.

Ailish O’Reilly had the sides level a minute later as she pointed from a tight angle, with Emma Murphy putting the Rebels back in front from the restart.

Aoife Donohue, who started instead of the named Niamh Mallon, who was missing due to a family bereavement, had the sides level again after four minutes.

Katrina Mackey put the Rebels back in front before Carrie Dolan had the sides level for the third time, when she pointed from a free.

Galway took the lead after 15 minutes when O’Reilly got her second.

She added her third to stretch their lead to two points, 0-5 to 0-3, as they were enjoying more possession at this stage.

O’Reilly made it three in a row for Galway when she capitalised on two uncharacteristic defensive mistakes by the home side.

Olwen Rabbitte added another with Dolan also pointing from a free as Galway were playing much the better camogie at this stage, as they led by 0-8 0-3 after 22 minutes.

Another free from Dolan put six between the sides, with four minutes until half time, as Galway had hit seven in a row without reply.

Amy O’Connor, in her first start of the season, pulled a point back for the Rebels, with Dolan replying from another free and Aine Keane adding another as Galway led by 0-11 to 0-4 at half time.

Galway were turning to play with the strong wind at their backs and were in pole position to take the points, which they needed to reach the league final.

Cork weren’t going to go away easily and they showed that just 20 seconds into the second half when Murphy burst forward to score.

Dolan replied from a free with O’Connor getting her second, to make it 0-12 to 0-6 after 33 minutes.

Donohue got Galway’s second after the restart, again from another Cork error.

Donohue was on target again as Galway were keeping the scoreboard ticking over, which is all they had to do at this stage.

Dolan landed a other long range free, to make it 0-15 to 0-6 after 40 minutes, before O’Connor pulled a point back for Cork.

Mackey pulled another back for the Rebels, but there were making little inroads to the Galway lead.

O’Connor had another chance from a free, but was told to go for goal, which was saved on the line.

Clodagh Finn pulled a point back for Cork, with Dolan rounding off the scoring as the visitors ran out deserving winners.

Scorers for Cork: A O’Connor 0-5 (0-3 f), E Murphy, K Mackey, L Hayes 0-2 each, S McCarthy (f), C Finn 0-1 each.

Galway: C Dolan 0-10 (0-8 f), A Donohue 0-3, A O’Reilly 0-4, O Rabbitte, A Keane 0-1 each.

CORK: A Lee; M Murphy, L Coppinger, A O’Neill; M Cahalane, L Treacy, L Hayes; S McCarthy, M Condon; E Murphy, K Wall, C O’Sullivan; C Finn, K Mackey, A O’Connor.

Subs: R Harty for A O’Neill, O Mullins for K Wall (both ht), N O’Leary for M Condon (41), M De Burca for M Murphy (51), A Sheppard for C Finn, D O’Brien for C O’Sullivan (both 57), N McNabola for S McCarthy, C Kingston for M Cahalane (both 58),

GALWAY: Sarah Healy; Shauna Healy, D Higgins, R Hanniffy; C Hickey, E Helebert, AM Starr; A Keane, J Hughes; C Dolan, O Rabbitte, A Donohue; M Dillon, A O’Reilly, C Kelly.

Subs: N Niland for C Kelly (49), A Rabbitte for J Hughes (54), A Kelly for AM Starr, A Lynskey for C Hickey, (both 58), R Kelly for O Rabbitte (60), S Gardiner for R Hanniffy (61).

Referee: Justin Heffernan, Wexford.