Galway v Kilkenny – Round 5, 2022 Senior All-Ireland Camogie Championship

June 30, 2022

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Galway v Kilkenny: 2022 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, Round 5

Venue: Kenny Park, Athenry
Date: 2 Jul 2022, 4pm
Referee: Andy Larkin

FT: Galway 1-17 Kilkenny 2-14

Player of the match: Sabina Rabitte

Match Photos

Match Report

By Sarah Gaughran in Kenny Park

Galway booked their ticket in the semi-final stages of the Glen Dimplex Senior Camogie Championship after substitute Áine Keane struck over a point in the 61^st minute. Due to Galway having a greater scoring difference over Kilkenny, the draw was enough to see Galway top the group. Galway who lined out with Shauna Healy coming in for the injured Rebecca Hennelly worked hard throughout the physical contest with Kilkenny.

It was Kilkenny who started well with Denise Gaule slotting over two points, one through a free, in the opening 4 minutes for the Cats. Gaule added another free to Kilkenny’s tally on the 9^th minute while Racheal Hanniffy replied with a point for Galway a minute later. Miriam Walsh got through on the goal side of the Galway defence on the 10^th minute to leave the visitors 4 points in front. Siobhan McGrath broke through for a goal opportunity on the 13^th minute, but her shot was blocked down by the Kilkenny backs as they hunted in packs. While Aoife Norris did clear the ball out to the edge of the square, she only found the oncoming Sabina Rabbitte and Rabbitte made no mistake in blasting the ball into the back of the Kilkenny net. Galway, who were flat in the opening few minutes, took inspiration from the goal and began to push on. They scored seven points without reply through Carrie Dolan 0-4, 0-2 through frees, Hanniffy, Siobhan Gardiner and a fantastic long-range effort from Dervla Higgins. Michaela Kenneally got Kilkenny’s first score in nearly 20 minutes on the 30^th minute while Jullianne Malone also added a point in injury time to leave it Galway 1-9 Kilkenny 1-5 at half time.

Walsh got the opening score of the second half inside the opening 20 seconds of the second half with Rabbitte replying for the Tribeswomen 4 minutes later. Gaule and Dolan swapped frees on the 37^th and 38^th minutes. On the 39^th minute, Walsh was left wide open for Kilkenny on the Galway 21-yard line and Gaule crossed the ball over from a free and Walsh made no mistake in sticking the ball in the back of the Galway net to leave 1 between the teams. Donohue did break through for a goal chance for Galway a minute later, but her shot was well defended. Dolan, through a free and Katie Nolan swapped scores on the 43^rd and 44^th minutes. Nolan brough the team’s level on the 48^th minute but player of the game Rabbitte replied with a well taken score for Galway and she helped in restoring Galway’s lead. Gaule put Kilkenny in front with two points, one through a free, but Rabbitte stepped up again for Galway and brought the sides back to level terms with 8 minutes to go. Gaule added another free to her tally for the day while Mary O’Connell got on the end of a mix up in the Galway defence to put Kilkenny back in the driving seat. Siobhan McGrath and Donohue responded in the 58^th and 59^th minutes to bring the teams back level heading into injury time. Walsh put the Cats back in front in the 60^th minute but substitute Áine Keane stepped up with a well taken score from the sideline in the 61^st minute to leave it Galway 1-17 Kilkenny 2-14.

Galway will be happy to get a physical and close game under their belts as they head into the All Ireland Semi Final. They will be delighted with their performance, and they will be pleased with some of the well taken scores they took throughout the contest. Siobhan Gardiner, Dervla Higgins, Niamh Kilkenny, Carrie Dolan, Niamh Hanniffy and player of the match Sabina Rabbitte were some of Galway’s top performers on the day while Michelle Teehan, Claire Phelan, Miriam Walsh, Katie Nolan and Denise Gaule all worked hard for Kilkenny. Up next is an All Ireland Semi Final for Galway in Croke Park on the 23^rd of July.

TEAMS

GALWAY: 1. Sarah Healy, 2. Rachael Hanniffy (0-1), 3. Sarah Dervan (C), 4. Heather Cooney, 5. Siobhan Gardiner, 6. Roisin Black, 7. Dervla Higgins (0-1), 8. Aoife Donohue (0-1), 9. Niamh Kilkenny (0-1), 10. Carrie Dolan 0-5 (0-4F), 17. Shauna Healy, 12. Niamh Hanniffy (0-1), 13. Siobhan McGrath (0-1), 14. Ailish O’Reilly (0-1), 15. Sabina Rabbitte (1-3). Substitutes: Áine Keane (0-1) for S Healy, Emma Helebert for R Black, Catherine Finnerty for A O’Reilly, M Cooney for S Gardiner.

KILKENNY: 1. Aoife Norris, 2. Michelle Teehan, 3. Grace Walsh, 4. Tiffany Fitzgerald, 5. Miriam Bambrick, 6. Claire Phelan, 7. Laura Murphy, 8. Steffi Fitzgerald, 22. Mary O’Connell (0-1), 10. Miriam Walsh (2-1), 11. Katie Power, 12. Michaela Kenneally (0-1), 13. Denise Gaule (0-7, 0-5F), 14. Jullianne Malone (0-1), 15. Katie Nolan (0-2). Substitutes: Asha McHardy for M O’Connell, Sarah Crowley for L Murphy, Aoife Prendergast for J Malone.

ADDITIONAL: