Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate camogie championship
Galway 4-13 Antrim 1-8
The wind had a big part to play in this opening game of the All-Ireland Intermediate championship in Athenry on Saturday.
The home side took advantage of the breeze during the first half and led by a comfortable 3-9 to 0-3 at the break, Katie McAleese on the mark twice for Antrim with Sinéad Cosgrove picking off the other score.
It wasn’t that Antrim were playing poorly during that half hour, simply that the breeze meant that they were constantly under pressure and despite the brilliance of Caoimhe Conlon at full-back, two goals from Máiréad Dillon and a third from Tara Rutledge gave Galway an unassailable lead at the halfway mark.
With the breeze behind them during the second half, Antrim did a lot better with Niamh Donnelly, Maedhbh Laverty, Katie McAleese and Maeve Kelly all prominent. However the home side closed out the way to goal and contained the game for long periods to take the points.
Dillon completed her hat-trick while Maeve Kelly pulled a goal back for the Saffrons, but Galway will move forward with a victory behind them and Antrim’s progress becomes more difficult.
Westmeath is the opposition for both next day out with Galway travelling on Saturday 22nd, while Antrim make the trip to the midflands on Saturday 29th June.
Galway : Laura Glynn, Niamh Murphy, Laura Ward, Louise Brennan, Ciara Donohue, Lorraine Coen, Dervla Higgins, Lisa Casserly, Molly Mannion, Elisha Broderick 0-2, Sarah Spellman 0-1, Niamh Horan 0-4, 0-2 frees, Rachael Hanniffy 0-3, Mairead Dillon 3-0, Tara Ruttledgem 1-2.
Sub : Racheal Monaghan 0-1 for E Broderick.
Antrim: Megan Coyles, Maria Lynn, Caoimhe Conlon, Colleen Patterson, Finvola McVeigh, Niamh Donnelly 0-1, Laoise McKenna 0-1, Maedhbh Laverty, Aine Donnelly, Chloe Higgins, Katie McAleese 0-4, 0-2 frees, Sinead Cosgrove 0-1, Lucia McNaughton, Maeve Kelly 1-1, Anna Connolly.
Subs: Caoimhe Duffin for A Donnelly, Cliodhna Donnelly for C Higgins