Galway too strong for understrength Derry in All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship

Galway 4-24 .... Derry 0-05

It was another difficult afternoon for Derry as last year’s All-Ireland runners-up Galway made it back-to-back wins in Owenbeg on Saturday.

The girls from the West, coming off a win against Dublin, started with nine of the team that had lost to Cork in last year’s final and it was another tough learning curve for this young Derry side after the defeat to Kilkenny last weekend.

Down’s Niamh Mallon led the line superbly as she rattled over nine points, all from play seven of which came in the opening half as Galway led 3-17 to 0-3.

The Down native spoke after the game saying she understood how difficult it is for Derry but hopes they learn from these games.

“It is massive learning,” said the Portaferry club girl. “I don’t think people appreciate the players that are in Ulster and the quality that is here.

“It is a huge step up but this is where Derry want to be. This will improve them individually and collectively as a team and hopefully they can push on in the next few years and compete at the top level.”

Reflecting on her side’s start to the championship, Mallon was delighted with two successive wins.

“We set out at the start to get four points on the board from the opening two games and we have done that so it sets us up well,” she said.

For 50 minutes of the win over Dublin, only Carrie Dolan had her name on the scoresheet. On Saturday, all six starting forwards had scored by the interval which was pleasing.

“First round of the championship, it was nervy and edgy, conditions did not help for open camogie either. Today we threw the shackles off a little bit and we could hit scores so it was very pleasing.”

Mairead Dillon struck for the opening goal on 14 minutes after good advantage from referee Ray Kelly allowed play to continue when Ailish O’Reilly had been fouled in the build-up.

The Oakleaf girls could only look on at their skilful opponents but when they could get the ball to Orlaith Hull she was causing problems for the Galway defence. She had fired over their opening score from a free when she was pulled down racing clear on goal, Alannah Kelly picking up a yellow card for the incident. It was Hull that had all her side’s scores, all from frees in the opening half.

Mallon was superb and was firing points of the highest quality, one of which saw her jink her way past a number of players and firing over on the run. Aoife Donohue hit their second goal on 18 minutes when a super ball out of defence from Emma Helebert into space for Sabina Rabbite created the chance which Donohue took. It was a reverse for the next goal as Donohue came provider five minutes later as she played in Sabina Rabitte.

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It was much of the same after the resumption with the visitors continuing to dominate. Derry added a further two points to their tally, Jackie Donnelly with their first of the day from play while substitute Cliodhna McElhinney rowed in with another from play.

Galway on the other hand showed their overall dominance and strength in depth with Niamh Niland coming off the bench to rattle over a brace. Dolan finished with eight points to her name while Mallon who stole the show added two in the second half before been replaced.

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Next up for Derry is a long trip south to face Waterford. The Deise girls got their campaign off to a winning start with a seven point victory in Kilkenny and will be another tough assignment for the Oakleaf girls.

Derry Scorers: O Hull 0-3 (f), J Donnelly and C McElhinney 0-1 each

Galway Scorers: N Mallon 0-9. C Dolan 0-8 (4f, 1 ’45’), A Donohue 1-2, M Dillon and S Rabbitte 1-1 each, A O’Reilly and N Niland 0-2 each, O Rabitte 0-1.

Derry: Niamh Gribben; Eimear Doherty, Roisin Cassidy, Leah Lennon; Anna McDaid, Aoife NíChaiside, Meabh Boylan; Aine McGill, Rachel McAlister; Sinead McGill, Aimee Lennon, Eabha McElhinney; Jackie Donnelly, Rachel Keenan, Orlaith Hull.

Subs: Cliodhna McElhinney for M Boylan (36), Natalie McKenna for E McElhinney (43), Shannon Scullion for McDaid (58).

Galway: Sarah Hickey; Shauna Healy, Dervla Higgins, Alannah Kelly; Rachel Hannify, Emma Helebert, Ciara Hickey; Ally Hasnan, Carrie Dolan; Niamh Mallon, Ailish O’Reilly, Olwen Rabbitte; Mairead Dillon, Sabina Rabitte, Aoife Donohue.

Subs: Ann Marie Starr for D Higgins (32), Caoimhe Kelly for O’Reilly (35), Niamh Niland for O Rabbitte and Ava Lynskey for Dillon (both 43), Tegan Canning for Mallon (54).

Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)