Róisín Leonard and Ailbhe Davoren struck crucial first-half goals as Galway advanced to the ladies All-Ireland final writes Daire Walsh.
Galway scoring a 2-7 to 10 points win over Cork at Glenisk O’Connor Park. As Galway return to the TG4 All-Ireland final for the first time since 2019.
Despite the impressive Katie Quirke amassing a personal tally of 0-7 for Cork, clinical finishes from Leonard and Davoren in the 14th and 27th minutes helped Daniel Moynihan’s charges to match their male counterparts in reaching an All-Ireland SFC final.
Playing with the aid of a first-half breeze, Galway raced two points clear inside the opening five minutes through points from Olivia Divilly (free) and Leonard.
Yet Cork found themselves back on level terms with a brace of place-ball strikes from Quirke. They subsequently edged in front when corner-forward Ava McAuliffe pointed at a tight angle on 10 minutes.
However, having gone agonisingly close to raising a green flag moments earlier; Corofin ace Leonard bagged converted a penalty after Charlotte Cooney was fouled by Aoife Healy.
Shane Ronayne’s Leesiders responded with another two-point salvo by dead-ball specialist Quirke. However, following a majestic point from Leonard, Leanne Coen picked out Galway skipper Davoren for a smooth finish to the opposition net.
Leonard converted a tricky free on the stroke of half-time as Galway led 2-4 to five points at the interval.
Indeed, Cork brought the gap down to three on 38 minutes thanks to two exceptional points from play from Quirke.
Divilly and Cork wing-forward Emma Cleary traded points, before Leonard knocked over another free off the ground to give Galway, a four-point advantage inside the final quarter.
The reliable Leonard brought her tally up to 1-5 with yet another place-ball nine minutes from time. While Quirke and Laura O’Mahony kicked points for Cork, Galway held out for a hard-earned triumph.
Galway will meet Kerry in the All-Ireland final, after Kerry eased past Armagh.
Galway: D Gower; M Jordan, S Lynch, K Geraghty; A Ní Cheallaigh (S Hynes 47), N Ward, C Cooney; M Glynn (M Walsh 53), A Davoren; O Divilly, L Ward, N Divilly; A Morrissey (E Reaney 44), L Coen, R Leonard (A Trill 53).
Scorers: R Leonard 1-5 (1 pen, 3f), A Davoren 1-0, O Divilly 0-2 (2f).
Cork: S Murphy; M Duggan, S Kelly, S Leahy; A Healy (S McGoldrick 50), S Cronin, D Kiely; M O’Callaghan, A O’Mahony (A Ryan 44); E Cleary, L O’Mahony, A McDonagh (L McDonagh 47); A McAuliffe (E Kiely 37), K Quirke, R Leahy (H Looney 24).
Scorers: K Quirke 0-7 (4f), E Cleary, L O’Mahony, A McAuliffe 0-1 each.
Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).
