2024 National Camogie League Division 1A – Round 3
Galway v Kilkenny.
Date: 9 March 2024, 2pm
Venue: Loughrea
Referee: Gavin Donegan
FT: Galway 1-12 Kilkenny 0-9
Player of the Match: Rachel Hanniffy
Mascot: Kate Quinn, Portumna
LISTEN: Live coverage via Galway Bay FM
Match Images
Match Report
By Sarah Gaughran Galway Camogie PRO
Galway have gotten their league campaign back on track on Saturday when they overcame Kilkenny in a blustery St Brendan’s Park in Loughrea. A strong second half showing was key to the success as Galway scored 1-5 without reply in the opening 18 minutes of the second half.
Galway were playing with the aid of the strong breeze in the opening half of the game but both sides found it easier to score against the swirling wind. It was the Cats who got off the mark the quickest with Aoife Doyle slotting over the opening score of the game in the first minute. Carrie Dolan and Aoife Prendergast swapped frees on the 3rd and 4th minutes while Dolan got her second one of the day on the 6th minute to leave the sides level. Galway almost got in for a goal on the 9th minute but Niamh Deely got a brilliant hook on Siobhán McGrath. Galway looked like they were going to get in again a minute later but Aoife Donohue’s pass to Siobhán McGrath went too far. Ailish O Reilly and Katie Power swapped scores on the 11th and 12th minutes. But sides found it hard to score in the final 15 minutes of the game. Donohue got her name on the score sheet on the 23rd minute while Steffi Fitzgerald pointed just on the stroke of half time as the sides went in deadlocked at 0-4 a piece at half time.
Galway knew that they needed a massive second half to keep their hopes of a league final spot alive. They put a lot of pressure on the Kilkenny defence and their ability to create the overlap was critical to a lot of their scores. Orlaith McGrath opened the scoring in the first minute of the half. Dolan followed up with two frees on the 32nd and 33rd minutes. Siobhán McGrath followed up three minutes later with her first score of the game. Then on the 38th minute, a long ball in from O’Reilly found the oncoming Donohue and Donohue made no mistake in sticking the ball in the back of the Kilkenny net. Niamh McPeake followed up with point on the 43rd minute to leave Galway 1-9 to 0-4 ahead. Kilkenny did start to get a run on Galway with two Asha McHardy points and one from Doyle to reduce the deficit to four. Substitute Niamh Niland ended their scoring streak on the 59th minute with a well taken score from play. Sophie O’Dwyer and Sabina Rabbitte swapped scores on the 61 st minute. Katie Nolan replied with a point on the 62nd minute but it was Carrie Dolan who had the final say of the game as she pointed a free at the end as it finished Galway 1-12 Kilkenny 0-9.
With Tipperary overcoming Cork on Saturday too, the league has been left wide open heading into the final two group games with four teams on four points in the league standing. Galway will be happy that they created goal opportunities throughout the game. It was a much improved performance from two weeks previous in The Ragg and Galway will be looking to push on and book a place in the league final as they welcome Waterford and Cork to Galway on the 23rd and 30th of March.
ADDITIONAL
- Galway prove too strong for off-colour Cats – Connacht Tribune
- Kilkenny scalp for Galway as league final dream still alive – Galway Advertiser
- All to play for in VERY National Camogie League following Galway’s win this afternoon – Galway Bay FM
Team
Match Preview
This could be the clash of the weekend. It is always well contested when two of the game’s heavyweights go toe-to-toe and while both Galway boss Cathal Murray and new Kilkenny manager Peter Cleere are prioritising the identification of fresh blood capable of operating at elite level, this is a game they want to win.
The Cats surprised many by how close they came to taking out Cork when the League got under way on February17, falling short by just a point without former players of the year Denise Gaule and Miriam Walsh, as well as the likes of Claire Phelan and Grace Walsh.
With Steffi Fitzgerald, Katie Nolan and Aoife Prendergast among those standing out, they then recorded a professional ten-point triumph over Clare and now take to the road after enjoying home comforts at UPMC Nowlan Park to this juncture.
Galway have managed to win the last two League titles while blooding younger players and claimed the honours three times in all under Murray so be assured they will be making it hot for the visitors.
Róisín Black leads the team and a defence without two long-time anchors in her predecessors as skipper, Sarah Dervan and Shauna Healy. Aoife Donohue, Carrie Dolan and Siobhán McGrath are other leaders in what is still a star-studded squad however, and this should go down to the wire.
ADDITIONAL
- Galway vs Kilkenny (National Camogie League Preview with Cathal Murray) – Galway Bay FM
- Galway vs Kilkenny (National Camogie League Preview with Ailish O’Reilly) – Galway Bay FM
Senior Team
Captain – Róisín Black (Oranmore Maree)
Vice Captains – Siobhan McGrath (Sarsfields), Carrie Dolan (Clarinbridge)
Division 1A League Results to Date
- Feb 17 Round 1 Galway 0-17, Clare 0-8
- Feb 24 Round 2 Galway 1-13 Tipperary 3-10
