The Galway Intermediate camogie team retained the Connacht title with a comprehensive victory over Roscommon in an entertaining game played in Athleague last Friday evening.
By Marie O’Brien
File Picture – Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Grealy
Roscommon looked the better side in a keenly contested first half. The early exchanges saw the sides swap scores and with 10 minutes on the clock is was two points apiece. Cliodhna Walshe then struck for the first of Galway’s goals but Roscommon responded well. The home side dominated the next 15 minutes and outscored Galway by Four Points to one to leave the scores 0-6 to 1-3 after 25 minutes. The Roscommon points coming from two Kelley Hopkins frees and excellent points from play from Caitriona Regan and Sinead O’Brien. Then disaster struck for Roscommon when misplaced passes gifted Galway a goal and a point within a minute, undoing all the good work of the previous 15. Annette McGeeney responded with a point before the break and despite playing poorly, Galway went into the half-time break leading by 2-4 to 0-7.
Galway upped the tempo in the second half and Roscommon never really got to grips with them and had no answer to the powerful play of Rachel Monaghan. The Galway Corner Forward’s expertly taken point from the wing just 3 minutes into the half was ominous for the home side. When one considers that all of Galway’s scores bar one came from play in the second half it gives some idea of their dominance. Roscommon lost the midfield battle which meant that a plentiful supply of ball made its way to the Galway forwards, who wasted few opportunities. Roscommon’s cause wasn’t helped either by some poor decision making. Hopkins opted to go for goal with two frees early in the half when easy points were on offer that would have kept them in the game. Added to that, about six attempts by Roscommon came off the post but the Galway defence were first to react to the bounce and clear their lines.
The Roscommon defence were pretty solid throughout with Elaine Daly and Patricia Lennon strong at full and centre back and minor Norah Brennan playing in her first game for the Juniors showed great promise. However as the pressure mounted through the second half some loose clearances were quickly punished by the Galway attack. Indecision also saw Galway pounce for a third goal with time almost up. The final score line was a little harsh given the Roscommon effort but one could have no argument with the result.
Final score: Roscommon 0-10 Galway 3-11
Roscommon: C Connaughton, A Fallon, E Daly, N Brennan, S Spillane, P Lennon, J Beattie, A Mc Geeney (0-2), R Fitzmaurice, N Coyle, K Hopkins (0-5, All Frees), C Curley, N Watson (0-1), C Regan (0-1), S O’Brien (0-1).
Subs used: D Regan for C Curley, C Dowling for N Coyle, S Fallon for S O’Brien, L Rowe for K Hopkins.
Galway: S Skehill, C Donoghue, L Coen, L Ward, E O’Donovan (0-1), L Brennan, M Connaughton, P Kenny, A Kelly, A Fallon, L O’Neill (1-0), L Freany (1-2), M Burke, C Walshe (1-2), R Monaghan (0-5, 3F).
Subs used: A Cormican (0-1).