Karen Duddy in Nowlan Park.
In the dramatic closing minutes of injury time, Galway got the better of a strong Tipperary side to earn their place in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Final against Cork in two weeks’ time. Last minute points from the impressive Niamh Mallon and Aoife Donohue kept the Tribeswomen in the thick of it as they battled it out in Nowlan Park Saturday afternoon.
Galway started strong as they sent over three unanswered points thanks to Niamh Kilkenny and Carrie Dolan. Tipperary were unlucky in the opening minutes with a wide and a shot off the crossbar to deny putting themselves on the scoreboard.
But the Premier County settled into the game and began to pile on the attack on Galway, forcing some tenacious defending. With this came their danger on the turnover, and Eimear McGrath raised the green flag within the opening 11 minutes after a skilful passage of play.
27 July 2024; Eimear McGrath of Tipperary shoots to score her side's first goal despite the attention of Dervla Higgins of Galway during the Glen Dimplex Camogie All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final match between Galway and Tipperary at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
With a renewed sense of confidence, Tipp sent three scores over – two from play from McIntyre and Eimear Heffernan and a 45’ from McGrath. The physicality increased with the pressure on both teams as half time doomed. Galway’s Ailish O’Reilly pointed from left of goal, and Dolan calmly scored from another free.
Once again on the turnover, Tipperary’s corner-back Eimear Loughman struck a massive point in response and the Premier County maintained their lead. Tensions rose across the park as player after player went down exhausted and bruised after each play. Mallon left the pitch to come on again minutes later with her wrist strapped. This served as determination for the former Down woman who split the uprights twice going into the half. Two points in it at the break.
The Tribeswomen came storming out after the half, heads down and hearts tuned in. The three Niamhs linked up as Mallon made no mistake in shaking the net just minutes into play.
“We knew we hadn’t started, and that was probably a positive. We were only two down and we knew that there was more to come from us and if we settle ourselves and get into a rhythm then we knew that we could turn scores and get over the line,” Mallon said after the game.
McIntyre responded for Tipp to put the sides level for the second time. Niamh McPeake added her name to the tally to be joined by Kilkenny as momentum swung towards Galway in this third quarter. But Tipperary were still there, still fighting. McGrath sent over a free from inside the 65 line and substitute Cait Devane followed suit from play.
All was level in Nowlan Park with so much to play for. The speedy McIntyre was first to a loose ball from Caoimhe Maher deep in Galway territory. Shouts from those in blue and gold emerged as they were awarded a free inside the 45. Galway, punished for not moving away, allowed McGarth to cooly send over her fifth score of the game.
Dolan sent a free into the box where chaos ensued. Substitute Niamh Niland caught the ball in front of goal but the immense Tipperary defence denied her a chance to shake the net. Galway’s Ciara Hickey was blown up for overcarrying and the Tipp bench went wild. They seemed to have it in the bag with five minutes to play.
Galway were frantic yet calm. A Carrie Dolan free brought the Tribeswomen within reaching distance of the lead. The sideline became heated between the opposing teams. Passion took over from reason.
"It was very fine margins. Clodagh McIntyre definitely seemed to be pushed down from her head and didn’t get a free, I think they were getting the frees that little bit easier," said Tipp manager Denis Kelly after the game.
Tipp missed a vital free, answered by a score from Galway’s Aoife Donohue to level the game. Dolan calmly pointed from a free to the shouts of the supporters.
The final play saw McGrath send a sideline ball into the box in a last scramble for a score. It was caught by a Galway woman and the final whistle blew.
“Games, when there’s so much on the line, turn to chaos ultimately, and we’re just delighted that we got big scores at big times. We had a lot more leaders in the second half which was massively important,” added Mallon at full time.
Cathal Murray was full of praise of his side post-match.
The performance was extraordinary in the second half. We probably weren’t happy with our first half performance – an awful lot of mistakes, got turned over an awful lot of times, and a lot of those led to Tipp scores. But there’s huge character on this team, huge resilience, they’ve always shown that. One thing they’ll do is always dive with their boots on and I thought the second half this way was absolutely brilliant. Niamh got a tonic of a goal at the very start of it, but Galway went two points down there at critical time in the game. Other teams would throw in the towel, but this team don’t. They’re absolutely unbelievable, the work rate in the second half, and the quality in the scores, the last few we got.
Galway will chase a rare double in ladies football and camogie over the coming weeks.
"That’s really going to drive us on for the next few weeks, and we wish them all the best as well. There’s a real support in Galway GAA at the minute and long may it last," spoke skipper Róisín Black.
As for Tipperary, it wasn't to be for the Premier County. Kelly is patient about when their day will finally come.
There’s huge character in that dressing room, they’ve given us everything this year. It took Kieran McGeeney ten years to get to the final so, we’re there at the ten yet, so we’re not giving up. There’s huge talent coming through as well, we might lose one or two, but generally, our team is young enough. We have great talent coming through with the minors winning the All-Ireland so we’re not going anywhere. We will get there, it’s just about when.
