U23A Championship Round 5 Waterford v Galway

May 1, 2026
| No Comments

2026 All Ireland U23 Championship – Round 5

Waterford v Galway
Date: Fri May 1, 7:30pm
Venue: St Paul’s GAA
Ref: Liz Dempsey

FT: Galway 6-22 Waterford 0-4

Match Report

by Sarah Gaughran, PRO

The Galway U23 team continued their impressive winning streak with a dominant victory over Waterford at St Paul’s GAA Grounds on Friday evening. It was a must-win encounter for Galway, as they aimed to secure their place in the knockout stages—and they did so in emphatic fashion.

Galway fielded a refreshed lineup, with experienced players such as captain Katie Anna Porter, Ciara Hickey, and Shannon Corcoran making their first starts of the campaign after recent involvement with the senior setup in the lead-up to the league final.

From the outset, Galway took full control of the contest, delivering a relentless attacking display. They amassed an incredible 3-11 in each half, showcasing their scoring power and depth.

Shannon Corcoran was in outstanding form, netting a hat-trick of goals and adding three points. Aoibheann Barry Glalso played a crucial role, contributing 1-8 and proving clinical from placed balls. Kayla Madden added two points, while Leah O’Halloran also got on the scoresheet.

Galway’s strength in depth was further highlighted by their impact off the bench. Laura Kelly marked her return from injury with 1-3, Sophie Flynn added 1-1, and additional points came from Katie Gilchrist, Catherine Hanley, Ava Bloomer, and Emily Lawless.

Waterford, in contrast, struggled to make an impact and had just one scorer throughout the game. Rhona Drohan accounted for all of their tally, registering 0-4, including three points in the first half and one from a free in the second.

At the final whistle, Galway were comprehensive winners on a scoreline of 6-22 to 0-4.

Attention now turns to their upcoming clash with Kilkenny, scheduled for 3PM on Saturday at Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park in Birr. The match will precede the All-Ireland U16A replay between the same counties at 5PM.

Manager Murray will be encouraged by Galway’s recent performances, particularly the return of several senior panelists to the squad. Over the course of the round-robin campaign, he has also succeeded in giving valuable game time to a wide range of players.

With just a single point separating Galway and Kilkenny in the group stages, Murray will be optimistic that the return of key players will strengthen Galway’s chances as they push for back-to-back U23A final appearances.

Team

U23 PANEL

Captain – Katie Anna Porter (Davitts)
Vice-captain – Ciara Hickey (Davitts) and Reitseal Kelly (Sarsfields)

County, County U23
| Tags: