RÓISÍN LEONARD and Ailbhe Davoren struck the crucial first half goals as Galway returned to a TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship decider for the first time since 2019.
Their 2-7 to 0-10 semi-final victory over Cork played out at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly.
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This was despite the impressive Katie Quirke amassing a personal tally of 0-7 for their Munster counterparts.
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 breeze in the first half, Galway raced two points clear inside the opening five minutes courtesy of points from Olivia Divilly (free) and Leonard.
Yet Cork found themselves back on level terms with a brace of place-ball strikes from Quirke and 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 a goal off a penalty.
It was awarded after the raiding Charlotte Cooney had been fouled by Cork defender Aoife Healy.
Shane Ronayne’s Leesiders responded to this set-back with another two-point salvo by dead-ball specialist Quirke.
But following a majestic point from Leonard, Leanne Coen picked out Galway skipper Davoren for a smooth finish to the opposition net.
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Leonard converted a tricky free on the stroke of half-time to offer the Tribeswomen a 2-4 to 0-5 interval lead.
But Cork brought the gap down to three on 38 minutes thanks to two exceptional points from play by Bride Rovers attacker Quirke.
Divilly and Cork wing-forward Emma Cleary then proceeded to trade points.
This was followed by Leonard knocking over another free off the ground to give Galway, who were measured and composed in possession throughout the second period, a four-point advantage inside the final quarter.
The reliable Leonard then brought her tally up to 1-5 with yet another place-ball effort nine minutes from time.
And while Quirke and Laura O’Mahony kicked points for Cork in a tense finale, Galway held out for a hard-earned triumph in the end.
Scorers – Galway: R Leonard 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), A Davoren 1-0, O Divilly 0-2 (2f).
Cork: K Quirke 0-7 (4f), E Cleary, L O’Mahony, A McAuliffe 0-1 each.
GALWAY: D Gower; M Jordan, S Lynch, K Geraghty; A Ní Cheallaigh, N Ward, C Cooney; M Glynn, A Davoren; O Divilly, L Ward, N Divilly; A Morrissey, L Coen, R Leonard. Subs: E Reaney for Morrissey (44), S Hynes for Ní Cheallaigh (47), M Walsh for Glynn, A Trill for Leonard (both 53).
CORK: S Murphy; M Duggan, S Kelly, S Leahy; A Healy, S Cronin, D Kiely; M O’Callaghan, A O’Mahony; E Cleary, L O’Mahony, A McDonagh; A McAuliffe, K Quirke, R Leahy. Subs: H Looney for R Leahy (24), E Kiely for McAuliffe (37), A Ryan for A O’Mahony (44), L McDonagh for A McDonagh (47), S McGoldrick for Healy (50).
Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).
