Galway v Down: 2024 All Ireland Senior Championship Round 3

June 8, 2024

2024 ALL IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 3

Galway v Down
Date: 8 Jun, 1pm
Venue: Pearse Stadium
Referee: Gavin Donegan

Galway 6-27 Down 0-4

Match Report

The Galway Senior Camogie team bounced back from their draw against Wexford, as they had a convincing victory over Down in a sunny and windy Pearse Stadium on Saturday. A Galway side who were missing some key players due to injury, proved that they have strength and depth throughout the panel with many players stepping up and preforming well throughout the contest.

It was Galway who started the brightest with two Niamh McPeake points and with points from Ciara Hickey and Carrie Dolan. Saoirse Sands, Down’s top scorer on the day opened the scoring for the visitors on the 5th minute but it was all Galway for the next 25 minutes as the Down failed to register another score in the half. Points from Shannon Corcoran (2), Dolan (2fs), Sabina Rabbitte (2), McPeake, Orlaith McGrath, Niamh Niland, Ailish O’Reilly and Niamh Kilkenny were all key to Galway’s substantial lead at half time. Galway did get in for a goal on the 20th minute. A long ball in from Olwen Rabbitte found McGrath and McGrath laid the ball off to O’Reilly who had her shot blocked initially by Aoife Sherry in the Down net but her block deflected off the Down full back Dearbhla Coleman and into the back of the Down net. Galway would have went in happy at half time but it was overshadowed by a bad shoulder injury to Corcoran during the half.

Galway never took the foot off the pedal from the restart as they got a dream start to the second half with a point from Niland and a goal from Sabina Rabbitte. Down, who were playing with the aid of the breeze in the second half, replied with another well taken score from play by Sands and a free from Fitzsimons on the 35th minute. Galway kicked into gear again for a twelve minute period. Goals from Sabina Rabbitte and O’Reilly while Niland, Sabina Rabbitte (2), Laura Kelly and Dolan all registered points for the tribeswomen. Gerra McGrattan ended the scoring spree with a point from play on the 49th minute. This however would be Down’s last score of the game. Galway finished strong with goals from McGrath and Niland while, Niland, O’Reilly, McGrath and Dolan (0-3, 0-2F) all added points to Galway’s tally as it finished Galway 6-27 Down 0-4.

Murray will be happy with the way his charges responded to Wexford game. Galway managed to score 6-23 from play and they will be hoping that they can bring this scoring threat going forward as they take on Clare and Cork in their final group games. The team have a break for a week before they welcome Clare to Galway for their penultimate game of the round robin series.

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