Senior Ladies edge out Galway in their LIDL NFL tie

Sun, 18th February 2024

Pic Courtesy Dublin LGFA Twitter

Dublin 0-16

Galway 1-12

By DARREN KELLY

All-Ireland champions Dublin staged a stunning comeback in the closing minutes to come from three points down to beat Galway in the Lidl Ladies National Football League in Parnell Park.

Trailing by 1-11 to 0-11, Mick Bohan’s team got five of the last six scores to edge past the Tribeswomen by just one.

Entering the final minutes of normal time, Jennifer Dunne and Hannah Tyrrell left one between them before Olivia Divilly replied for Galway.

But as much as the visitors held out opposing attacks, Kate Sullivan and Orlagh Nolan levelled while Galway captain Ailbhe Davoren got a yellow card. Tyrrell landed the winning free following a foul on Leah Caffrey.

Galway got off to the ideal start with Roisin Leonard converting two frees in as many minutes before a Tyrrell placed ball opened for Dublin. However, the visitors maintained their momentum with Leonard from play and Aoife O’Rourke making it 0-4 to 0-2 on 10 minutes.

Another Tyrrell free was Dublin’s reply and then they enjoyed their best spell. Nolan, Tyrrell and Annabelle Timothy scored by the 13^th minute putting Dublin one ahead.

The Tribeswomen responded two minutes later. Starting with Aoife Ni Cheallaigh, Shauna Hynes and Leanne Coen were involved resulting in the latter offloading to Linda Booth who kicked to the roof of the net.

Galway maintained their advantage even though Kate Sullivan replied with a Dublin point. Coen and Aoife O’Rourke had Daniel Moynihan’s charges three in front on 20 minutes. Chloe Darby and Sullivan reduced arrears but Ailbhe Davoren’s point had Galway 1-7 to 0-8 up at half-time.

The hosts came out quickest after the break with Murray pointing on 32 minutes. Galway midfielder Mairead Glynn pushed forward to convert two minutes later before Sullivan’s third of the afternoon left Dublin 1-8 to 0-10 down on 37 minutes.

O’Rourke registered for Galway on the three quarter mark. Danielle Lawless hit back but a Leonard free four minutes later kept the maroon and white 1-10 to 0-11 up.

But it was Dublin who kicked on for their second win of the campaign as Galway slipped to their fourth loss and are bottom of the table.

Scorers – Dublin: H Tyrrell 0-5 (4f), K Sullivan 0-4 (1f), O Nolan 0-2, C Darby 0-1, A Timothy 0-1, K Murray 0-1, J Dunne 0-1, D Lawless 0-1.

Galway: R Leonard 0-4 (3f), L Booth 1-0, A O’Rourke 0-3, L Coen 0-2, A Davoren 0-1, M Glynn 0-1, O Divilly 0-1.

DUBLIN: R Fleming; N Crowley, L Caffrey, M Byrne; H Hegarty, O Carey, K Murray; N Hetherton, J Dunne; C Darby, O Nolan, K Sullivan; H Tyrrell, J Egan, A Timothy.Subs: D Lawless for Egan (28), E Deeley for Hegarty (ht), N Donlon for Darby (ht), A Nyhan for Timothy (44), A Kane for Crowley (48), H McGinnis for Murray (56).

GALWAY: K Connolly; E O’Riordan, S Ní Loingsigh, E Gavin; K Geraghty, M Jordan, A Ní Cheallaigh; M Glynn, A Davoren; L Booth, S Hynes, M Walsh; A O’Rourke, R Leonard, L Coen.Subs: O Divilly for Booth (38), N Ward for O’Riordan (38), M Banek for Hynes (55), C Miskell for Glynn (60).

Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan)