Galway v Clare: 2024 All Ireland Intermediate Championship, Round 2

June 8, 2024

2024 ALL IRELAND INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND 2

Galway v Clare
Date: 8 Jun, 3pm
Venue: Pearse Stadium
Referee: Bernard Heaney

FT: Galway 0-10 Clare 2-7

Match Report

The Galway Intermediate team suffered their first defeat in the Glen Dimplex Intermediate Championship on Saturday as they lost out by three points to Clare. Galway had a convincing win over the 2023 Premier Junior All Ireland Champions during the league, but with some players missing due to exams, Galway were missing some key players like Kayla Madden and Caoimhe Kelly for the clash.

It was Galway who got off the a great start with two points in the opening five minutes, one through a free, from their top scorer on the day and their only scorer of the first half, Aoibheann Barry. Clare kicked into gear however scoring 1-3 without reply in a 6 minute period. Points from play from Kate O’Gorman and Ella Cahill, a free from Aisling Cooney and a goal from Regan Conway meant that the Banner county were in the driving seat heading into the midway point of the half. Clare did fail to score for the rest of the half but Barry brought Galway back into contention before half time as she pointed three frees for the tribeswomen. Substitute, Sophie Flynn, did almost get in for a goal chance on the 30th minute but it was defended well by Sophie Cullen in the Clare net. Galway would have been happy to have weathered the early Clare storm and they would have been hoping that they could have used the wind advantage in the second half to help them kick on as Clare went in 1-3 to 0-5 ahead at half time.

Galway had the ideal start to the second half with three unanswered points through Aoibhe Joyce, Ava Bloomer and Barry in opening 9 minutes to bring them back into the lead. However, like the first half, Clare hit 1-3 without reply between the 42nd and 48th minutes to restore their lead. Two Cooney frees, a point from Cahill and a goal from Cooney too meant that they had a nice four point lead heading into the final few minutes of the half. Katie Donohue and Bloomer did get in for a goal chance on the 21st minute but both players had their shots well stopped by Cullen and Conway. Reitseal Kelly and Cahill swapped points on the 52nd and 54th minutes while Barry added another free to her tally on the 58th minute. Galway did get in for one more chance to level the contest on the 63rd minute. A crossfield ball from Donohue found Joyce but Joyce’s shot was well saved by Cullen again as it finished Clare 2-7 Galway 0-10.

Galway will be disappointed that they didn’t keep their winning streak going. They will be disappointed that they didn’t convert their goal chances throughout the contest, chances that could have secured their victory in the contest. They will have to regroup before they face Westmeath in two weeks time in a game that will be tough for the youthful Galway side.

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