LIDL NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Galway 2-13 Donegal 0-10
By Tommy Devane in Corofin
Captain Tracey Leonard helped Galway to top spot in the Lidl National
Football League Division 1 with victory over Donegal in Corofin – their
sixth win from seven games in the competition.
The home win and results elsewhere mean that the sides will meet again in the semi-finals at a neutral venue in two week’s time.
Playing against a strong breeze, it was the Donegal girls that made
the faster start. Two quick scores from their captain Karen Guthrie got
them up and running, but Galway responded well with two good points from
Tracey Leonard to leave the sides level after ten minutes.
Guthrie was a thorn in Galway’s side throughout and she added another
brace of points, but Mairead Seoighe’s score left the minimum between
the sides after the first quarter.
Galway then hit their purple patch. First a Megan Glynn score was
followed up by two quick points from corner-forward Leanne Coen, before
Glynn’s quick free then found Tracey Leonard who calmly slotted the ball
to the back of the net.
There was better to come for Galway though. Almost straight from the
restart a defence splitting run by Olivia Divilly resulted in a penalty,
and the kick was rifled home by Roisin Leonard to put Tim Rabbitte’s
side in total control.
Guthrie replied with her sixth point of the day for Donegal, but Galway were still ahead at the interval, 2-8 to 0-6.
Both sides swapped scores in the opening 15 minutes of the second
period, with Guthrie and Ryan kicking points for Donegal, while Galway’s
scores came from Barbara Hannan and a Tracey Leonard free.
Galway furthered their advantage with scores two more Roisin Leonard
points and one from substitute Rhiona Ni Flahartha, while a free from
Niamh Hegarty just about kept Donegal in touch.
A final score from Hegarty was little more than a consolation for
Donegal, with Galway finishing with a comfortable nine-point win the
end. Another dominant performance from the Connacht champions.
Scorers – Galway: T Leonard 1-3 (1f), R Leonard 1-3
(1-0pen, 1f), L Coen 0-2, M Seoighe 0-1, M Glynn 0-1, O Divilly 0-1, B
Hannon 0-1, R Ni Flahartha 0-1.
Donegal: K Guthrie 0-7 (2f), N Hegarty 0-2 (1f), M Ryan 0-1,
Galway: L Murphy, F Cooney, S Lynch, B Hannon; S Molloy, S Burke, C Cooney; L Ward, L Gannon, O Divilly, T Leonard (c), M Glynn, R Leonard, M Seoighe, L Coen.
Subs: S Conneally for M Seoighe (38), O Murphy for C Cooney (44), R Ni F for L Coen(44), B Murphy for B Hannon (52), C McCarthy for M Glynn (59), A Thompson for R Leonard (59), A Coen for L Gannon (59).
Donegal: A McColgan, A McGlynn, E Gallagher, E
McGinley, N Carr, N McLaughlin, N Boyle, T Hegarty, M Ryan, K Guthrie
(c), N Hegarty, A Boyle Carr, S McGroddy, R Friel, J Trearty.
Subs: S McLaughlin for T Hegarty (HT). K McClenaghan for J Trearty (48), N McDonald for R Friel (54).
Referee: G McMahon (Mayo)
After the game, Tommy Devane spoke to Galway manager Timmy Rabbit...
