O’Reilly goal propels Galway to Division 1A final

A 48th minute goal by ace poacher Ailish O’Reilly turned the Very Camogie League Division 1A tie between Cork and Galway on its head, propelling the visitors to a 1-11 to 1-10 victory at Páirc Uí Chaoimh that rubber-stamped the champions’ place in the final against the Rebels in two weeks.

Cathal Murray’s outfit were given a chance as two injury-time points by Kilkenny’s Denise Gaule consigned Tipperary to a 0-14 to 0-13 loss to at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday.

Had the Premiers won, Galway would have needed a mathematical miracle to advance. Due to that result, a draw was sufficient but they were able to inflict a first reverse of the campaign on Cork.

With the two teams scheduled to kickstart the championship in the first round, they will be very well acquainted by the first week in June.

LOW SCORING

Galway supporters got an early boost when much like Dublin footballers and Stephen Cluxton, they saw two-time All-Ireland-winning captain and seven-time All-Star, Sarah Dervan arriving with the squad.

The visitors’ greater need was evident for most of the first half. Yet despite their dominance for 20 minutes or so, they only went in at the break level on 0-6 apiece, as the Rebels managed to reset and find a completely different level of workrate and intensity in the closing 15.

Carrie Dolan and Amy O’Connor have been their teams’ leading scorers and they exchanged early points but it was the former who had far more of a say, as Cork were unable to get their talisman into the game at all and on the rare occasion the sliotar did go somewhere in her vicinity, the likes of Rachel Hanniffy, Shauna Healy and Róisín Black were commanding.

Less than 24 hours after scoring a goal for the footballers in their win over All-Ireland champions Meath, Libby Coppinger was imperious at the other end, but Dolan restored Galway’s advantage with a lovely score from play and by the time she scored her fifth point, her side was leading by 0-6 to 0-2.

They failed to score again in the half though, as Cork, following a stoppage for treatment to Laura Treacy, moved up a couple of gears, led by the athleticism and shooting of Saoirse McCarthy.

McCarthy has flourished since being relocated to midfield this term and she thundered into the fray with three consecutive points. A pointed free by O’Connor brought the teams level.

The momentum continued with Matthew Twomey’s side after the resumption, Fiona Keating and Sorcha McCartan, from a long-distance free, pointing either side of a score from Shannon Corcoran.

A 42nd minute goal from Emma Murphy seemed significant in a such a low-scoring encounter and a glorious score it was. Cork worked it out in trademark fashion from a short puckout to Méabh Cahalane, who drove forward before delivering towards Murphy. The Glen Rovers forward used her body well to make space, soloed in from the flank and from a very tight angle close to the endline, sent a rasper to the net.

A further boost came with the arrival of Orla Cronin for her first appearance of the season, having stepped away last year but disaster struck – for Cork and Tipperary – when Molly Lynch, who had been the epitome of poise between the posts, mis-controlled. That allowed O’Reilly to close her down and then block the netminder’s attempted pass. O’Reilly latched onto the sliotar first and hit a ground-shot to the net.

That put a pep in the Galway step and three pointed frees from Dolan to bring her tally to nine edged them home.

DUBLIN RELEGATED

Dublin will be relegated to Division 1B despite continuing their progressive arc and securing a 1-10 to 1-10 draw against Clare at Cusack Park, but they needed an eightpoint win to send the Banner down instead.

TIPP LADIES LOSE OUT

Denis Kelly’s Tipperary side were left shellshocked as two injury-time points from Denise Gaule, no stranger to clutch scores, snatched a 0-14 to 0-13 triumph for Kilkenny in a hard-fought Very Camogie League Division 1A tie at UPMC Nowlan Park.

Gaule converted a free to win the All-Ireland final last August and she wasn’t found wanting once more when presented with two opportunities at the death.

Tipp had their fate in their own hands and a victory would have sealed their place in the decider but were overhauled by Galway, who defeated Cork.

There was never much between the sides in a real dogfight, with the teams level on nine occasions.

Tipp got the better start with points from Eimear McGrath and Eimear Heffernan. Julianne Malone and Sophie O’Dwyer, who scored eight points between them, brought Kilkenny back level and it was nip and tuck before O’Dwyer delivered from a free to make it 0-5 to 0-4 for the home team.

Defences were definitely on top, but one player enjoying herself was Heffernan, the Knockavilla forward carrying on the good form with UCC that earned her a Third Level All-Star to finish with three points.

The second of those started a run of four points in seven minutes that moved Tipp 0-9 to 0-7 clear. Gaule (free) and Malone replied, and there was a further exchange of scores before Cáit Devane and Heffernan provided apparently significant separation with 52 minutes gone.

Again Brian Dowling’s Stripeywomen dug deep via a pair of Gaule scores. McGrath looked to have grasped a famous win with her fourth point in the third minute of injury time, but that was to reckon without the nerveless Gaule, who brought her tally to five and enabled Kilkenny to finish a largely forgettable campaign in the best possible manner.

DIVISION 1B

In Division 1B, Waterford made it five wins from five when maintaining their rich vein of scoring form to account for Down by 3-16 to 0-10 at SETU Arena in Carriganore.

Last year’s All-Ireland semi-finalists had already booked a place in the decider courtesy of their 100 per cent record, which allowed new manager Seán Power to make some changes but they were too strong nonetheless, indicating a real competition for places ahead of the final on the weekend of April 8/9th.

Two goals from Niamh Rockett gave the home team the upper hand in the first half, establishing a 2-8 to 0-6 lead and were content to keep the scoreboard ticking over until Anne Corcoran registered their third goal, two minutes from the end of regulation time.

With the game between Antrim and Wexford having been postponed, they will have to wait to find out who will be in opposition.

LIMERICK PULL THROUGH

What is known is that Offaly have been relegated to the third tier as a result of their 2-14 to 1-14 defeat to Limerick at Mick Neville Park. Both senior sides were in danger of making the drop to Division 2A, with Offaly having managed a draw and Limerick after losing all of their previous four games.

However, last year’s All-Ireland quarter-finalists struck gold with the last six points of the game, having looked to have been in trouble trailing by three entering the final quarter.

They had goalkeeper Laura O’Neill to thank for not being further behind in what had been a close affair for the majority of proceedings before the see-saw conclusion.

DIVISION 2A

In Division 2A, Patrice Diggin scored ten points, half of which came from play, as Kerry cruised to a 2-15 to 1-5 triumph over Laois to qualify for the final on April 16 as table toppers, where they will face either Meath and Derry, who cross swords tomorrow.

The visitors to Austin Stack Park were in touch at half-time, trailing by just 0-9 to 1-2 but Kerry imposed themselves impressively to maintain their unbeaten record to date.

Also in this division, Westmeath outscored Cavan by 2-9 to 0-6.

DIVISION 3A

The Division 3A semi-finals were also played and second-half goals from Breege Nolan and Emma Cody propelled Carlow to a 2-12 to 0-4 success over neighbours Kildare. They will Armagh, who defeated Roscommon, 1-14 to 1-6.

DIVISION 4

Mayo will play Tyrone in the Division 4 final, after the westerners defeated Wicklow 2-12 to 4-3 and Tyrone beat Louth 1-24 to 2-5.