Galway made to work for camogie title

Galway 0-12 Limerick 0-10

Galway made to work for camogie title

Galway 0-12 Limerick 0-10

Galway claimed their third Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie title since 2004, following a hard-earned two-point win over Limerick at Croke Park this afternoon.

Orlaith McGrath fired four points from play, including three in the second half, as Tony Ward's side held out for victory.

The sides were level on three occasions in the opening half, including at the interval and although Limerick took the lead on the restart, with Niamh Mulcahy (0-8) in superb form, Galway dug deep for victory.

In search of their first title since 2007, Limerick started this game brightly with a point from half-forward Caoimhe Costello after two minutes.

Maria Cooney equalised for Galway two minutes late, but Limerick continued to look good with Mulcahy edging her side in front once more in the sixth minute.

Galway pushed ahead thanks to scores from Player of the Match Rebecca Hennelly and McGrath, and continued to shade the lead for the bulk of the second half.

Twice in this opening half Galway opened up a two-point lead, and indeed after 20 minutes the Tribeswomen extended their lead to three points on a 0-6 to 0-3 score-line, but Limerick weren't to go away.

Mulcahy was in impressive form from both open play and frees in the closing minutes of the half, as the Ahane clubwoman fired three unanswered points before the interval to tie the game at 0-6 apiece at the break.

Five of her six shots on target going over the crossbar in the opening 30 minutes.

Both managements rang the changes at the interval with Aoife Wilson coming into the Limerick attack in place of Marie Keating, while Deirdre Burke replaced Aoife Callanan at midfield

Limerick manager Joe Quaid opted to reshuffle his side, with Caoimhe Costello dropping back from the half-forward line to partner Deirdre Fitzpatrick at midfield.

The Shannonsiders exerted dominance in this sector in the opening stages of the half, with Limerick's forwards gifted plenty of possession.

Mulcahy was once again busy from frees in the second half, but her accuracy dwindled slightly as she converted three points from five frees, with a miss and a score in the opening two minutes of the half.

Galway rallied with a trio of points to push 0-9 to 0-7 ahead by the 42nd minute, with Orlaith McGrath (2) and Aoife Donoghue on target.

McGrath's 39th minute point breaking a run of four unanswered points from Limerick, either side of the interval.

Little separated the sides throughout the second half, but Limerick failed to regain the lead, despite the good work of Mulcahy and Mary O'Callaghan upfront.

An O'Callaghan point left the minimum between the sides in the 43rd minute, but Limerick came under sustained pressure in defence.

Substitute Karen O'Leary, corner-backs Fiona Hickey and Judith Mulcahy, along with goalkeeper Síle Moynihan were forced to work hard with Galway pressing hard for scores during the middle third of the second half.

The Tribeswomen attack were met with great resistance and only managed to sneak two points during this spell with Rebecca Hennelly and McGrath on target.

Galway were goal hungry, but Limerick failed to yield with Moynihan pulling off a fine save from a Karen Kennedy shot in the 55th minute.

Limerick cut the gap to a point thanks to two Mulcahy pointed frees, but Hennelly's third point handed Galway a two-point lead in injury-time.

Limerick pressed hard for a last gasp goal, but Galway were resolute as the Westerners held out for silverware.

After the game, Galway captain Sinead Keane received the McGrath Cup from Camogie Association President Aileen Lawlor.

GALWAY: R Callanan; T Kenny, S Healy, C Gill; P Kenny, S Noone, S Keane; A Callanan, C Cormican (0-1); K O'Dwyer, R Hennelly (0-4, 2f), M Cooney (0-1); F Keely, O McGrath (0-4), A Donoghue (0-2). Subs: D Burke for A Callanan (HT); K Kennedy for Donoghue (52); A Lynskey for Keely (56); L Mitchell for O'Dwyer (62).

LIMERICK: S Moynihan; F Hickey, S Carey, J Mulcahy; M Ryan, M Casey, R Delee; D FItzpatrick, K Campbell; C Costello (0-1), N Mulcahy (0-8, 7f), D Murphy; M Keating, M O'Callaghan (0-1), D O'Brien. Subs: A Wilson for Keating (HT); K O'Leary for Campbell (43); J Garvey for O'Callaghan (53); J Wilson for Ryan (58).

REFEREE: Aidan O'Brien (Wexford).

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CourtsGaaAll-Ireland final newsPlace: Croke ParkPerson: Orlaith McGrathPerson: Tony WardPerson: Niamh MulcahyPerson: Caoimhe CostelloPerson: Maria CooneyPerson: MulcahyPerson: Rebecca HennellyPerson: McGrathPerson: Aoife WilsonPerson: Marie KeatingPerson: Deirdre BurkePerson: Aoife CallananPerson: Joe QuaidPerson: Deirdre FitzpatrickPerson: Aoife DonoghuePerson: Mary O'CallaghanPerson: O'CallaghanPerson: Karen O'LearyPerson: Fiona HickeyPerson: Judith MulcahyPerson: Síle MoynihanPerson: MoynihanPerson: Karen KennedyPerson: HennellyPerson: Sinead KeanePerson: LawlorPerson: R CallananPerson: T KennyPerson: S HealyPerson: C GillPerson: P KennyPerson: S NoonePerson: S KeanePerson: A CallananPerson: C CormicanPerson: K O'DwyerPerson: R HennellyPerson: M CooneyPerson: F KeelyPerson: O McGrathPerson: DonoghuePerson: D BurkePerson: K KennedyPerson: LynskeyPerson: KeelyPerson: L MitchellPerson: O'DwyerPerson: S MoynihanPerson: F HickeyPerson: S CareyPerson: J MulcahyPerson: M RyanPerson: M CaseyPerson: R DeleePerson: D FitzpatrickPerson: K CampbellPerson: C CostelloPerson: N MulcahyPerson: D MurphyPerson: M KeatingPerson: M O'CallaghanPerson: D O'BrienPerson: A WilsonPerson: KeatingPerson: K O'LearyPerson: CampbellPerson: J GarveyPerson: J WilsonPerson: RyanPerson: Aidan O'BrienEvent: Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate CamogieOrganisation: GalwayOrganisation: LimerickOrganisation: AhaneOrganisation: ShannonsidersOrganisation: WesternersOrganisation: Camogie Association President Aileen
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