Galway 4-18
Limerick 1-6

Galway scored three goals in as many minutes midway through the opening half of this Gala All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship tie at Kenny Park, Athenry on Sunday and the game was effectively over as a contest after that scoring blitz.

SHARPSHOOTER... Galway's Jessica Gill shot 2-6 in an easy win over Limerick in the Gala All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship. Photo: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE

Limerick did all the good work in the opening stages but a single point was a poor return for their efforts before Jessica Gill and Veronica Curtin got Galway off the mark.

The Tribeswomen led by a point 14 minutes into the game when Curtin pointed a '45' and immediately Galway took off. Cathriona Cormican and Curtin added points before we had the goal-scoring spree. First Jessica Gill blasted a free to the net after Orla Kilkenny was fouled, and then the full-forward line of Kilkenny, Cormican and Lourda Kavanagh were all involved in setting up Therese Maher to add the second.

Limerick were shell-shocked and there was soon further misery for the Shannonsiders when a long Maher delivery was finished to the net by Kilkenny.

Galway added quick points from Cormican and Maher to cement an unassailable 3-7 to 0-1 lead and there was no way back for the Limerick side.

The Galway victory was powered by a half-back line where Ann Marie Hayes, Sinead Cahalan and Niamh Kilkenny excelled and repeatedly delivered long ball into the attack. Up front Jessica Gill, Therese Maher and Veronica Curtin combined well with the full-forward line.

Galway led by 3-8 to 0-3 at half-time as Naomi Carroll and Joanne Clifford had Limerick points. But Galway continued to outscore Limerick by 0-5 to 0-3 in the third quarter before Michelle Casey gave the Shannonsiders a lifeline with a goal.

But hope was short-lived when Jessica Gill crashed a penalty to the Limerick net moments later. Gill finished the game with a personal tally of 2-6, but Galway also had stars in Therese Manton, Ann-Marie Hayes, Sinead Cahalan, Niamh Kilkenny and Aine Hillary.

The victory will give Liam Donoghue's side confidence ahead of their next outing against reigning All-Ireland champions Wexford on July 6th.

Galway: S Earner; S Tannion, A Kelly, T Manton; A M Hayes, S Cahalan, N Kilkenny; A Hillary (0-2), L Ryan; J Gill (2-6), T Maher (1-1), V Curtin (0-3); L Kavanagh (0-1), C Cormican (0-2), O Kilkenny (1-2).
Subs: S Noone for Maher, C Kelly (0-1) for Ryan, D Burke for Kavanagh, A Lynskey for O Kilkenny, L Flynn for Cahalan.

Limerick: C Davis; A McNamara, S Collins, J Garvey; G McNamara, A Sheehan, V Sheehan; D Fitzpatrick, J Clifford (0-1); E O'Brien (0-4), M Casey (1-0), M Dooley; N Carroll (0-1), R Collins, O Curtin.
Subs: F Hickey for Dooley, F Morrissey for Carroll, M Dooley for A Sheehan.

Referee: E Browne (Tipperary).

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