Galway v Antrim – Round 4, 2022 Senior All-Ireland Camogie Championship

June 22, 2022

Galway v Antrim: 2022 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, Round 4

Venue: Dunloy (Antrim)
Date: 25 Jun 2022, 4pm
Referee: John Dermody

FT: Galway 2-17 (23) Antrim 0-06 (6)

Player of the match: Carrie Dolan (Galway)

Scorers:
R Hennelly 0-3, C Dolan 0-8 (0-1 45m 0-6F), S Rabbitte 0-1, A O’Reilly 0-2, S McGrath 1-1, A Donohue 1-1, A Keane 0-1.

MATCH VIDEO: Galway v Antrim (Credit: Camogie Association)

Match Report

By Sarah Gaughran

The Galway Senior Camogie team made it four wins from four in the Glen Dimplex All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship on Saturday when they made the long trip up to Dunloy to take on the 2021 All Ireland Intermediate Camogie Champions Antrim. The conditions were not ideal for a game, but Galway were tenacious throughout the contest and grinded out the victory. Galway will be concerned after sharpshooter Rebecca Hennelly picked up a knee injury at the end of the first half. Emma Helebert and Sarah Dervan also went off with injuries and Cathal will be hoping to have his full compliment of players heading into the top of the table clash next week against Kilkenny in Kenny Park.

It was the hosts Antrim, who were playing against a stiff breeze, that got off the mark the quickest when Caitrin Dobbin broke through the Galway defence and slotted the ball over the bar. Rebecca Hennelly responded with two points from play for Galway on the 5^th and 6^th minutes. Roisin McCormack levelled the game for the 2^nd time on the 7^th minute with a well taken score Galway had two missed goal opportunities on the 8^th and 10^th minutes of the half. Credit must go to Catríona Graham in the Antrim net for pulling off two fantastic saves. Galway got four points without reply between the 11^th and 17^th minutes from Carrie Dolan 0-2 (0-2F), Sabina Rabbitte and Ailish O’Reilly to leave it Galway 0-6 Antrim 0-2. Antrim had a missed goal chance when Dobbin broke through the Galway defence only to see her shot blocked by the foot of Galway keeper Sarah Healy. Young Antrim star Aine Magill got a fantastic point on the 18^th minute when she took on the Galway defence on one of her trademark runs. Galway replied with 1-5 with scores coming from Dolan 0-3 (0-2F), Hennelly and 1-1 from Siobhan McGrath. Galway must be given credit for the well worked team goal with Niamh Hanniffy passing to Ailish O’Reilly and O’Reilly passing to the goal scorer McGrath. Magill and O’Reilly exchanged scores at the end of the day to leave it Galway 1-12 Antrim 0-4 at half time.

Antrim, who had the aid of a stiff breeze in the second half, failed to capitalise on it during the half. The Galway defence must also be commended for their performance in the second half as they defended all the Antrim attacks brilliantly. The opening 15 minutes of the half were very low scoring with Dolan adding two frees to Galway’s tally to leave it Galway 1-14 Antrim 0-4 at the halfway point of the half. McCormack responded with a free on the 48^th minute and a well taken score from play on the 50^th minute. But the Galway attack kicked into gear again with points from Aoife Donohue, substitute Aine Keane and a free from Dolan while Donohue also got Galway’s second major of the day to leave it Galway 2-17 Antrim 0-6.

Galway will be delighted with the performance as the conditions were not ideal with hail, rain, driving wind and sunshine throughout the game. While the girls have a place in the quarter finals secured, a win or a draw next weekend against Kilkenny will ensure that the girls will top the group and they will head straight into the semi-finals. Racheal Hanniffy, Dervla Higgins, Aoife Donohue, Carrie Dolan, Niamh Hanniffy and Ailish O’Reilly were some of Galway’s top performer’s while Catríona Graham, Niamh Donnelly, Caoimhe Conlon, Amy Boyle, Aine Magill and Roisin McCormack all tried hard for Antrim. It will be a double header in Kenny Park, Athenry next Saturday where the Intermediate team will take on Kerry and the Senior team will take on Kilkenny. The games take place at 2PM and 4PM.

Galway Scorers: C Dolan 0-8 (0-6F, 0-1 45M), A Donohue 1-1, S McGrath 1-1, R Hennelly 0-3, A O’Reilly 0-2, S Rabbitte 0-1, A Keane 0-1

Antrim Scorers: R McCormack 0-3 (0-1F), A Magill 0-2, C Dobbin 0-1

Galway: Sarah Healy, R Hanniffy, S Dervan, H Cooney, S Gardiner, R Black, D Higgins, A Donohue, N Kilkenny, C Dolan, R Hennelly, N Hanniffy, S McGrath, A O’Reilly, S Rabbitte. Subs: C Finnerty for R Hennelly (30 + 4), Shauna Healy for S Dervan (39), Á Keane for S McGrath (50), M Cooney for H Cooney (56)

Antrim: Catriona Graham, Chloe Drain, Niamh Cosgrove, Maria Lynn, Lucia McNaughton capt, Caoimhe Conlon, Katie Laverty, Coleen Patterson, Nicole McAtamney, Amy Boyle, Maedhbh Laverty, Áine Magill, Caoimhe Wright, Roisin McCormack, Caitrin Dobbin. Subs: Laoise McKenna for N O’Neill (38), Siobhan McKillop for M Laverty (42), Chloe McArthur for C Wright (46), Niamh Anne Donnelly for C Drain (54)