Karen Duddy at Glenisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore
Galway are set play Kerry in this year’s TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship final on August 4th. On a windy evening in Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, four teams battled it out to earn a place in this year’s final and that all-desired chance at lifting the Brendan Martin Cup. Galway took on Cork first, followed by Kerry and Armagh.
The Tribeswomen had the wind advantage in the first half, with Olivia Divilly opening the score from a free and Róisín Leonard following with a long-range point. This duo proved dangerous for Cork throughout the game.
Despite a strong start, Galway showed some nerves as the wides began to accumulate, including two early misses from Leonard.
“It was a big day for both teams, and considering that we both got relegated in the league, we both had a point to prove today and that was the cause for the nerves,” Leonard said post-match.
Katie Quirke, the driving force for Cork, got her team on the scoreboard with a free. Emma Cleary came out with the ball after a nervy short kick-out, allowing Ava McAuliffe to angle one in and put Cork in the lead.
Galway’s captain Ailbhe Davoren set up Leonard for a goal attempt, who broke the Cork line of defence skilfully but put it just left of the posts. Leonard subsequently capitalised on a penalty after Charlotte Cooney was fouled, waving the green flag with 15 minutes gone.
“It was a nervy one after I missed a goal that wouldn’t miss when I was U-10, so I was trying to make up for that miss!” Leonard admitted.
#ProperFan 13 nóim @CorkLGFA 0:03 @GalwayLgfa 1:02
Neadaithe go hálainn ar fad ag Róisín Leonard!💥
The corner forward makes no mistake from the penalty spot.
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺 @LadiesFootball #LGFA50 pic.twitter.com/ySYtGgMVHj— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 20, 2024
Cork’s captain Máire O’Callaghan was fouled on the 15m line, giving Quirke a handy point opportunity. She followed through with another free to add to her tally. All was tied with 9 minutes of normal time to play and Cork began to break Galway’s attacks with more confidence.
But the Tribeswomen responded with strength, and a turnover deep in their own half resulted in a lovely score from Leonard. Leanne Coen then set up Davoren, who shook the net with a thrilling goal on her left foot just before half-time.
#ProperFan 27 nóim @CorkLGFA 0:05 @GalwayLgfa 2:03
Cúl don Ghaillimh ! Críochnaithe go slachtmhar ag Ailbhe Davoren!🫡
Galway hit their 2nd goal just before Half Time!
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺 @LadiesFootball #LGFA50 pic.twitter.com/cukh3lY3G0— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 20, 2024
With one second to half time, Leonard pointed again from ground to put the Galway women in the lead by five points.
“We said it all week, if we could stop Galway scoring goals, we had a big chance and we didn't. Especially those two, the one before half-time was just a killer,” reflected Cork manager Shane Ronayne.
The third quarter saw gritty defending from both sides. Substitute Hannah Looney found Quirke, who split the uprights. A strike from Looney dropped short into the arms of Galway’s goalie Dearbhla Gower. Aoife Healy linked with Quirke for another point. The Rebellettes certainly had the wind on their backs.
Divilly, everywhere on the pitch, broke Cork’s lines but was brought down close to goal, converting the free herself. Daire Kiely sent a long pass into Cork’s forward line, leading to a point from Emma Cleary. Cork had brought their deficit down to three points, with 17 minutes remaining on the clock.
Leonard pointed again impressively from ground. Galway’s lighting quick hand passes were tricky for Cork’s defence, but an interception within Cork’s half brought roars from the players. They were not giving up just yet.
Substitutes Anna Ryan and Lydia McDonagh for Cork worked in unison to set up McDonagh with a scoring opportunity. This was sent right of the posts and the disappointment was audible. They needed every score they could get.
Louise Ward led an attack that resulted in Leonard finishing a score again from the ground, concluding her tally at 1-5.
Ryan found the run of Quirke who sent over a nice score with 6 minutes to play. A Galway free-out inside the box prompted screams from the players who knew how important this was in the closing minutes.
The ref had a word with the passionate Shane Ronayne on the side of the pitch. The sun emerged from behind the clouds. Cork’s dreams of an All-Ireland Final faded with the clock.
“The last ten minutes of that felt like they went on forever! Trying to close out the game, we were trying to stay as calm as we could but it was tough, the pressure kept building and it felt like the final whistle would never come,” Galway’s Niamh Divilly commented after the game.
Cork worked the ball up to Laura O’Mahony who passed the ball across the Galway goal. Wing back Sarah Leahy launched to punch it in but it was Galway substitute Shauna Hynes who came out with the ball to the cheers of the crowd.
O’Mahony, in the thick of it, split the uprights. With a free inside the 45 line, 14 seconds left, Quirke dropped the ball into the box. Caught by a maroon and white player, it was all over. With the sound of the horn, Galway had found themselves in an All-Ireland Final for the first time in five years.
#ProperFan
Tá go leor daoine ann.. Go raibh maith agat le haghaidh an lucht féachana go léir'!
Labhair Louise Ward agus Ailbhe Davoren linn tar éis an chluiche.
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺 @LadiesFootball #LGFA50 pic.twitter.com/T51ZBqMwCc— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 20, 2024
“There’s a great spirit in the group. That’s a key thing for us. Everybody is in it together and we had a situation where we used a lot of subs against Dublin and the same again today. That’s what’s it about – the group not the fifteen,” Galway manager Daniel Moynihan expressed.
“I just thought we played with a bit of fear. There's a lot of young players out there playing the first All-Ireland semi-final and I think maybe Galway's experience kind of shone through there,” reflected Ronayne on the loss.
A quick turnaround saw players from Kerry and Armagh take to the pitch for a 7:15pm start.
Niamh Ní Chonchúir's 16th-minute goal propelled Kerry to their third consecutive TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final with a win against Armagh. Leading by five points at halftime, the Kingdom held on in a low-scoring second half to secure their place in the final, aiming to overcome previous losses to Dublin and Meath.
Armagh began strongly with points from Eve Lavery, Bláithín Mackin, and Dearbhla Coleman. Despite a temporary setback with Clodagh McCambridge's injury, Ní Chonchúir's goal sparked Kerry’s momentum. By halftime, Kerry led 1-7 to 0-5, thanks to contributions from Danielle O’Leary, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, and captain Niamh Carmody.
Although Kerry faced pressure from quick scores by Armagh early in the second half and the sin-binning of Carmody, they maintained possession and a four-point lead. With Mackin receiving a yellow card late in the game, Kerry confidently closed out the match in victory.
It will be Galway’s second ever All-Ireland title, their first being in 2004, should they emerge victorious in this year’s final. Kerry, however, are hungry to end their 31-year drought and reclaim the title they last held in 1993. It is set to be a cracking contest.
