Superb Galway beat out Lilywhite trailblazers in All-Ireland Minor final

Galway put in a dominant second half display against Kildare to claim the All-Ireland Minor 'A' Championship. 12 months on from heartache in the 2022 final against Cork, The Tribeswomen toppled The Lillies who they themselves had knocked out the year prior.

There was little between the teams in the opening exchanges and it would be one Kildare’s star performers in the semi-final that would shine again as Niamh Farrelly got the opening score of this game with a superb point.

The reply from Galway was of similar quality as full-forward Niamh Divilly found space and slotted over a fine score of her own.

There was a strong breeze blowing across the field throughout this game that didn’t necessarily help the side who had it much, but was sure to cause issues for those trying to kick against it.

Kildare had the breeze at the back in the first half and you could feel that sense of urgency in their play as they looked to take a lead into half-time.

The Lilies were pushed high and that attacking intent would be further demonstrated via points from both of their midfielders, Mayah Doyle and Sarah McGovern who had travelled forward.

The pair of scores from the pair in the middle would be separated by another well-taken point at the other end from Éabha Smith.

McGovern’s score meant Kildare led 0-3 to 0-2 in nine minutes and were continuing to push for more.

Their reward for keeping bodies up the pitch came from the restart of their last score as Aoife Murnane nipped in front of her marker to intercept goalkeeper Leah O’Halloran’s kick-out. Murnane was surely about to earn a free before she let her effort fly as her opposite number tried desperately to atone for her mistake, but the Maynooth wing-forward fired the ball low and hard into the back of the net.

Just a minute later and Kildare had another point on the board through Leah McGovern, who kicked The Lilies into a five-point lead on the 10-minute mark with a super score.

Kildare were in the ascendency at 1-4 to 0-2, but despite their lead were wasteful in attack on multiple occasions. 

Galway would register more wides but Kildare’s urgency for scores often played out as far too rushed as their attack chose the wrong passing option far too often in the opening half.

Nonetheless, the opening minutes were a purple patch for Kildare and they had built a lead with it.

Galway would break a five-minute spell without a score with an Éabha Baird point to reduce the gap to four.

Just a minute later, Kildare would be turned over and, after a smart hand-pass into her, Aisling Madden was bearing down on goal. Madden still had plenty to do before she got her shot away and barrelled her way through and past Kildare challenges in the meantime. The wing-forward’s finish was undeniable as she rifled her effort into the corner of the net, leaving Sophie Knightly in the Kildare goal with no chance.

A huge moment for a side that was under pressure for a great deal of the opening exchanges.

Kildare’s fluidity in attack was still far from where it needed to be but they would respond to the goal and double their lead once more through Niamh Farrelly who used her pace to beat her marker and fire over the bar.

The gap would extend to three through Abi Whelan as she found space in full-forward to turn and put one between the posts.

Galway would close out the first half scoring with the score of the day to that point from Siún McGovern who curled over an exceptional point just before the break.

The sides went in, after a competitive first half, at 1-6 to 1-4 in Kildare’s favour. A good half from The Lilies but I think there is little doubt that the Galway contingent in attendance were happy with just a two-point deficit playing into the wind.

The sides would exchange points just after the restart as both Niamh Farrelly and Siún McGovern added to their respective tallies.

It would be a McGovern free-kick that would change this game on 34 minutes as her effort dropped short and onto the crossbar. The ball found its way to Galway substitute Lauren O’Donnell who was brought down in the box as she looked set to take aim at goal.The referee, rightly, flagged for a penalty and Galway’s Kate Thompson stepped up to take it. The Salthill-Kno

cknacarra forward calmly slotted her penalty past Knightly in the Kildare goal to send Galway into the lead for the first time in this game.

The next few minutes were crucial for both sides and unfortunately for The Lilies it wasn’t going their way as they gave up the ball too easily following the goal concession.

Galway would punish Kildare and rattle off the next three-points of this game in relatively quick succession.

Kildare’s last stand would be two consecutive goal chances that were both created by Edwina Birchall. Birchall weaved her run through the Galway defence before passing to Mayah Doyle who had a clear sight at goal. Doyle’s effort looked destined for the net but was instead expertly turned onto the post by Galway ‘keeper Leah O’Halloran.

Birchall would get a goal chance of her own in the chaos that followed, but that play was the last real threat that Kildare posed in this game.

Kate Thompson would add another goal to her tally late on as Galway put some further shine on the scoreboard. 

The Tribeswomen were deserved winners on the day and it’s far from all doom and gloom for Kildare who came up short. It’ll be sore for a while for Darren Kendrick’s team but this experience can only stand to them as they progress further through the Kildare ranks after an excellent 2023.

Galway, Kate Thompson 2-1 (1-0 penalty), Siún McGovern 0-6 (0-3 frees), Aisling Madden 1-0, Niamh Divilly 0-1, Éabha Smith 0-1, Éabha Baird 0-1, Katie Slattery 0-1.

Kildare, Niamh Farrelly 0-4 (0-1 frees), Aoife Murnane 1-0,  Leah McGovern 0-1, Sarah McGovern 0-1, Mayah Doyle 0-1, Abi Whelan 0-1.

GALWAY: Leah O'Halloran; Shiofra Ni Scanláin, Maryanne Jordan, Emily Brogan; Brenda Naughton, Aoibhinn Eilian, Roisín Reddington; Katie Slattery, Klara Banek; Éabha Smith, Éabha Baird, Aisling Madden; Siún McGovern, Niamh Divilly, Kate Thompson. Subs: Lauren O'Donnell for Èabha Smith (22 minutes), Alisha O'Malley for Éabha Baird (39 minutes), Zoe Duggan for Róisín Reddington (57 minutes), Neasa Daly for Emily Brogan (57 minutes), Grainne Molloy for Siún McGovern (60 minutes).

KILDARE: Sophie Knightly; Joy Duggan, Eimear Glancy, Zara Hurley; Julie Brannigan, Laura Dunlea, Hannah Murphy;  Sarah McGovern, Mayah Doyle; Edwina Birchall, Ellie Kendrick, Aoife Murnane; Niamh Farrelly, Abi Whelan, Leah McGovern. Subs: Heidi Lyons for Hannah Murphy (26 minutes), Alannah Prizeman for Leah McGovern (Half-time), Abaigh Cahill for Abi Whelan (39 minutes), Caoimhe Bagnall for Julie Brannigan (63 minutes), Caoimhe Egan for Mayah Doyle (63 minutes).

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill, Kerry