Galway bowed out of the All-Ireland Senior Championship at semi-final stage against Cork on Saturday last at Nowlan Park Kilkenny. The team that started included 9 out of last years victorious junior side. With a blend of youth and experience, it was hoped that Galway might emerge victorious, after being the victim of heavy defeats by Cork for the last two years. However Cork got of to the better start scoring two points in the opening five minutes, from Jennifer O'Leary who tapped over after a goalmouth scramble and Emer Dillion after collecting a Martina Carr clearance. Galway responded with a point from Orla Kilkenny from tight angle and a goal from Anne Marie Hayes after a Brenda Hanney pass put her clean through on goal. That stung Cork into action and they scored 2-4 without reply. Jennifer O'Leary 1-3, Emer Watson 1-0 and Elaine Burke 0-1. Galway introduced Therese Maher for Aoife Lynskey and she steadied the ship, she would have been started the game only for a hand injury. Inexperience showed for Galway with bad wide's from Brenda Hanney and Caroline Kelly. To leave the half time score Cork 2-06 Galway 1-01.

Galway needed a good start to the second half and got this when Lourda Kavanagh tapped over a point from play with less than a minute gone, she tapped over another four minutes later after receiving a nice pass from Colette Glennon. However the killer was to arrive from Jennifer O'Leary who struck to the back of the net in the 38th minute. Lourda Kavanagh pointed form a free and this proved to be Galway's last score of the game. Cork added three points from Rachel Maloney, a fine point from sub Una O'Donoghue and Jennifer O'Leary a 45 after an Emer Dillion shot on goal was well saved by Susan Earner. Galway will be very disappointed that they only scored in the opening ten minutes of each half, with a lot of chances going a stray. Therese Maher miss-hit a penalty, Anne Marie Hayes was unlucky for a goal and the usually accurate Lourda Kavanagh missed a few frees. If Galway had taken these chances and a few more from play they would have being a lot closer, a score-line that their play would have deserved. They will be looking forward to next year with optimism that they might actually pull one over on Cork.

Galway: S. Earner, M. Carr, S. Cahalan, L. Flynn, L. Lally, A. Kelly, S. Keane, A. Lynskey, C. Glennon, O. Kilkenny, B. Hanney, A. Hillary, L. Kavanagh, A-M. Hayes, C. Kelly.
Subs: T. Maher for A. Lynskey, R. Glynn for S. Keane and E. Kilkelly for B. Hanney.

Cork: A. Murray, J. O'Callaghan, R. Holland, S. Dunlea, P. O'Connor, M. O'Connor, R. Buckley, G. O'Connor, V. Harris, R. Moloney, E. Dillon, J. O'Leary, E. Burke, E. Watson, C. Desmond.
Subs: U. O'Donoghue for E. Burke, B. Corkery for J. O'Connor, A. Geary for E. Watson, G. Casey for C. Desmond and R. Curtin for R. Holland.

Galway Senior Camogie team booked a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals,with a impressive win over a weak Antrim side at Tailteann Park, Navan last Saturday.Antrim's cause was not helped by the fact that they were missing All Star Jane Adams for this game and goalie Ciara McKinley.Galway also had to make a change before the game with Nicola Gavin starting for the injured Sinead Keane.This game was never a contest, and only served as shooting practice for Galway and they had compiled an impressive 6-9 by the half-time whistle.Brenda Kerins 1-2, Brenda Hanney 1-1, Anne-Marie Hayes 3-3, Orla Kilkenny 1-0, Aine Hillary and Therese Maher 0-1 each, all of which were scored from play.Lourda Kavanagh also contributed converting from a 45.

Galway introduced two subs at half-time Caroline Kelly for Collette Glennon and Caroline Murray for Orla Kilkenny.Galways rampage continued with 5 points in the first five minutes, Aine Hillary 0-2 (one from a 45, one from a free), Anne-Marie Hayes 0-2 and Caroline Murray 0-1. At this stage Cappatagle's Cathy Bowes came on for Brenda Kerins, immediately putting her name on the scoreboard with a well taken goal, followed a minute later by a point. Two more Galway players were introduced Ann Hardiman for Ailbhe Kelly and Regina Glynn for Therese Maher. Galway continued to shoot at their ease further scores from Brenda Hanney 0-2, Aine Hillary 0-4 (one from a 45) Lourda Kavanagh 2-0, Therese Maher, Caroline Kelly, Anne-Marie Hayes and Cathy Bowes a point a piece.

Antrim without doubt were a team completely out of their depth, and without any chance of qualification were merely in Navan to fulfill their final fixture of the year. While Galway will not have learned much from this game, it was an important victory for them and will help grow their confidence for their now semi final placing. Galway,Tipperary, Cork and Wexford are through to the semi-finals with Galway meeting the winners of the Cork V Wexford game,which will be played next Saturday at a Wexford venue.

With four weeks to prepare for the semi finals, the challenge of either Wexford or Cork will be an entirely different prospect from this Antrim side.The All-Ireland semi-finals are fixed for the Saturday 21st August, with a venue to be named at a later date.

Galway: Susan Earner, Martina Harkin {c}, Sinead Cahalan, Lizzie Flynn, Lorraine Lally, Albha Kelly, Nicola Gavin, Therese Maher, Collette Glennon, Orla Kilkenny, Aine Hillary, Lourda Kavanagh, Brenda Hanney, Anne Marie Hayes, and Brenda Kerins.

Antrim: Niamh Cunningham, Aisling Jackson, Maureen Stewart, Fiona Hasson, Sandra Wilson, Grainne Connolly, Ciara McGinley, Edel Mason {c}, Kerri O'Neill, Elish McCormick, Collen Doherty, Rhona Torney, Sarah Jane McGuigan, Sinead Lagan, Carla Doherty.

Tipperary showed their very intent on holding onto their Foras na Gaeilge All-Ireland title when they overcame Galway 4-8 to -0-8 in the opening round of the senior All-Ireland championship in Duggan park, Ballinasloe on Saturday.

A point from a Claire Grogan free after only forty seven seconds settled the All-Ireland champions very quickly.While Galway 'keeper Susan Earner brought off a great save two minutes later from Tipperary full forward Deirdre Hughes who was kept scoreless in this match, it was difficult for the Tribeswomen to make an impact in the forwards where Tipperary full back Úna O'Dwyer was in great form making several necessary clearances.

Scores were hard to come back in the first few minutes of the second half but once the Tipperary machine began to motor with ten minutes remaining it spelt curtains for Galway. Eimear Mc Donnell was once again on the spot to take a great pass from Noelle Kennedy to fire home the Premier county's second goal and three minutes later she repeated the same dose again. Despite the sending off of Tipperary's center-back Ciara Gaynor by Limerick referee Rose Kelliher for a second offence Tippeary's corner forward Geraldine Kinnane made it goal number four for the Premier county who now meet Antrim in the next round on July 3rd.

The final score of the game went to Galway's Áine Hilary but it made no difference to the final outcome.

Tipperary: J. Delaney ; S Kelly, U O' Dwyer, J Kirwan; S Nealon, C Gaynor, T Brophy; A Mc Dermott, L Young; N Kennedy, E Hayden, C Grogan; E Mc Donnell, D Hughes, G Kinnane.
Scorers: 4-8: E Mc Donnell 3-3, G Kinnane 1-0, C Grogan 0-3, (0-1F), N Kennedy 0-2.

Galway: S Earner, L Lally, S Cahalan, L Flynn; M Harkin, A Kelly, S Keane; C Glennon, C Kelly; A Hardiman, T Maher, AM Hayes; O Kilkenny, L Kavanagh, E Kilkelly. Subs: Á Hilary for AM Hayes, C Murray for A Hardiman (half time), S Noone for E Kilkelly 50 mins.
Scorers: 0-8: L. Kavangh 0-5, (0-4F, 1'45),O. Kilkenny, C. Murray, Á Hilary 0-1 each.

Limerick & Galway served up a most hard fought and entertaining Division 1 match in Ballinagarry which the Treaty side clinched by a narrow one point victory. It was a case of third time lucky for Limerick as last season Galway dealt them a harsh defeat in the League while two years ago they defeated them in the league Final. The treaty ladies hed to sustain fierce pressure from the Galway forwards in the closing minutes but hung on to record a hard won victory. Galway's Gemma Kilkelly had the final say with a last minute point but it was'nt enough. Limerick's Maeve Nash impressed while Dympna O'Brien came on to great effect. For Galway Gemma Kilkelly and Orla Kilkenny both had fine perfomances.

The only other match in Division 1 saw the Cats overcome Galway 3-9 to 4-2 in Nowlan Park ahead of the Kilkenny v Offaly National hurling league decider.

Level at the break Kilkenny 2-4 to Galway's 3-1, it was always a tough and close fought match with some fine performances from captain Marie O'Connor, niece of Bridie Martin who was on the team of the century. However it was the two first half goals from Jackqui Frisby and Emily Dermody that clinched this victory for the Cats.