Page 53 - INTO THE WEST - March-April 2018

O’Reilly comes to the rescue
GALWAY: Catríona
Daly; Emma Helebert,
Sarah Dervan (capt), Heather Cooney;
Róisín Black, Shauna Healy, Lorraine Ryan; Ann Marie Starr, Finola Keeley; Aoife Donohue (0-1), Rebecca Hennelly (0-11, 8f, 1 '45), Catríona Cormican (0-2); Ailish O'Reilly (2-1), Niamh Hanniffy, Ciara Murphy (0-1). Subs: Leanne Freaney for Murphy (47), Carrie Dolan for Donohue (60+2).
WEXFORD: Laura Brennan; Eimear O'Connor, Shauna Sinnott, Derbhla Doyle; Amy Cardiff, Sarah O'Connor, Ciara Storey; Emma Walsh (0-1), Shelley Kehoe (0-3); Linda Bolger (0-2, 1f, 1 '45), Jackie Quigley, Una Sinnott (0-1); Joanne Dillon (0-1f), Una Leacy (capt, 2-0), Aoife Guiney (2-0).
Subs: Stacey Kehoe for Bolger (44), Leah Walsh for Quigley (47).
REFEREE: Eamon Cassidy (Derry).
Galway .............2-16 AWexford .............4-8
By DARAGH Ó CONCHÚIR
at the other end and maintain their advan- tage.
iLiSH O’reilly scored two crucial goals for Galway as they advanced to a Camogie league semi-final meeting
When the experienced Leacy became the third player to bag two goals, it was back to being a closely fought contest but Galway held out for victory.
with Kilkenny, after victory over Wexford at innovate Wexford Park.
Goals from Aoife Guiney and Úna Leacy gave Wexford an early advantage but Galway kept the scoreboard ticking over via Caitriona Cormican, Aoife donohue and rebecca Hennelly, who finished with eight first-half points including two brilliant efforts from play.
Then Ailish O’reilly struck for a goal to move Tony O’donovan’s women 1-10 to 2-4 ahead at the change of ends.
The second half was equally as free-flow- ing as Guiney notched up her second goal for Wexford, only for O’reilly to repeat the trick
Hennelly penalty not enough for Galway
Kilkenny ...........2-10 KGalway ...............1-9
Tony O'donovan's crew were rocked back on their heels however by a goal from Julieann Malone and the Cats capitalised on the opposition's uncertainty with four consec- utive points from danielle Morrissey, Gaule, Katie Power and Morrissey again to make it 2-7 to 0-5 at half-time.
By DARAGH Ó CONACHÚIR
The westerners composed themselves at the break though and despite being without the Sarsfields contingent that would play in following Sunday’s AiB All-ireland Senior Club Camogie Final, they chipped away at the deficit and kept Kilkenny to just three second half points.
iLKEnny remained on target for a third Littlewoods ireland Camogie League division 1 title in a row and fourth in five
seasons after getting the better of Galway by 2-10 to 1-9 in Banagher.
They moved on to face familiar opposition in the decider, with All-ireland champions Cork making it a repeat of last year's Final and three of the past four All-ireland finals as a result of their 2-17 to 2-13 defeat of Limer- ick in CiT.
niamh Kilkenny led the resistance with three points to go with an early score from Ciara Murphy, and when rebecca Hennelly provided her trademark goal-scoring finish from a penalty in the 58th minute, there was just a goal between the teams.
Kilkenny got off to a dream start thanks to a goal from Leaving Cert student Aoife doyle but four points from Aoife donohue kept Galway in touch and though denise Gaule found the target on three occasions, the sides were separated by just the minimum after 23 minutes.
Ann downey introduced Anna Farrell in response and the experi- enced heads reigned, as Anne dalton converted an injury-time free to confirm her team's place back in another final.
LITTLEWOODS IRELAND CAMOGIE LEAGUE
DIVISION 1
TARGET: Galway forward Ailish O’Reilly in action
against Wexford in the National Camogie
League at Innovate Wexford Park.
Photo: Sam Barnes/ SPORTSFILE
SEMI-FINAL
TARGET: Rebecca Hennelly scored a penalty against Kilkenny at Banagher.
Photo: Matt Browne/SPORTSFILE
INTO THE WEST – Page 53