Galway 1-13, Wexford 1-10

Galway powered their way to the Gala All Ireland senior camogie championship final when they defeated current title holders Wexford in a thrilling All Ireland semi-final at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny on Sunday.

AWAY . . . Galway's Sandra Tannion gets her shot away despite the attentions of Ursula Jacob of Wexford during Sunday's Gala All-Ireland Camogie semi-final at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny Photo: Matt Browne/ SPORTSFILE

The vicotry sets up a final meeting against Cork at Croke Park on September 14th with the All Ireland Under 21 hurling final.

It is the first time in ten years that Galway have made it to the final and hey did it in style. Trailing by 0-5 to 0-3 five minutes from the break and playing with the breeze it didn't look good for the Tribesgirls but two late points from a Jessica Gill free and Veronica Curtin left Galway level at the break.

Years of heartbreak saw Galway drive forward after the break and the introduction of Lourda Kavanagh and Brenda Kerins saw Therese Maher move to midfield with a tremendous effect. Maher stormed into the game and along with the outstanding Niamh Kilkenny and Aine Hillary in the middle of the field, they broke the hearts of the Wexford side.

Jessica Gill (2), Veronica Curtin and Orla Kilkenny hit four points to Wexford's one and after Kate Kelly and Brenda Kerins swapped scores, Galway led by three at the three quarter stage and playing into the breeze. Kate Kelly struck over her eighth point for Wexford to leave just two between the sides, but Galway powered on and Gill from play and a free put the Maroon side four ahead six from the end.

Wexford became worthy All Ireland champions last year and they were not going to give up without a fight and Catherine Murphy pointed, but it was looking good for Galway when Brenda Kerins and Veronica Curtin combined to set up Lourda Kavanagh for a Galway point that left Galway four clear and two minutes left of normal time.

Then Galway hearts stopped when Una Leacy broke through for a Wexford goal and there was just a minute left when Kate Kelly levelled the game with her ninth point. With three minutes of injury time played, Galway won a free out as Wexford piled on the pressure, and Therese Maher delivered a long ball into the danger area and Mollie Dunne held the ball in the danger area and as the ball broke loose Jessica Gill was on hand to crash to the Wexford net.

There is one more big performance needed, but on this evidence, the Galway girls are capable of taking their first All Ireland senior title since 1996.

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