Galway Seniors advanced to the National Camogie League Final in two weeks time by virtue of a workmanlike and much deserved victory over Kilkenny in Nenagh on Sunday. Galway played with the wind in the opening half, but found themselves 1-2 to 0-1 behind after 13 minutes, as Kilkennys Catriona Doherty availed of a Galway defensive slip to goal for the Cats. Ironically, that Kilkenny goal seemed to ignite Galway and eight unanswered points by half time had Galway 0-9 to 1-2 ahead.

Lourda Kavanagh proved to be Galways chief scorer, as she shot seven points in that opening half ( 0-5 f) while Brenda Kerins and Orla Kilkenny got one each from play. Galway lost Fiona Healy through injury after only two minutes, and fifteen year old minor Jessica Gill stepped up to the challenge at wing back to keep the defence water tight. It was the Kilkenny keeper Catriona Ryan who denied Galway extending their lead further with a fine double save from both Brenda Hanney and Veronica Curtin as Galway exerted intense pressure on the Kilkenny defence.

Kilkenny had wind advantage at the start of the second period and full forward Aoife Neary should have goaled for Kilkenny within 45 seconds of the restart. Two well taken Brenda Kerins points were answered by two Sinead Milea frees which left Galway 0-11 to 1-04 ahead by the final stages, as a torrential downpour made good camogie difficult. Veronica Curtin failed to convert a great goal opportunity on 45 minutes after a fine Galway move, but Curtin pointed two from play by the 50 th minute to leave Galway 0-13 to 1-04 ahead and in reality Galway were well in command. Lourda Kavanagh shot her eighth point five minutes from time and Galway finally secured the goal they threatened all day. 33 minutes from time Brenda Kerins availed of a slip by the Kilkenny keeper Catriona Ryan to goal, rough justice on Ryan who had kept Kilkenny in the contest on numerous occasions.

All in all, Galway will be pleased with reaching the League final, yet they will also realise that Cork will present a far stiffer challenge. Kilkennys scoring return on the day was poor and when you consider that three of the four points came from frees and that their goal was very much the product of a galway error, a step up in competitiveness is very much on the cards for the final. Still it will provide Galway with an excellent opportunity to lay a marker for the year and with players like Regina Glynn, Ailbhe Kelly, Lourda Kavanagh ( 0-8), and Brenda Kerins ( 1-3) leading the way, they will look forward to the League final with Cork in two weeks time.

Galway: S Gannon , R Glynn, S Cahalan , L Lally, F Healy, T Maher, A Kelly, A Hillary, C Glennon, E Kilkelly , B Hanney. L Kavanagh (0-8 (0-6 f)) B Kerins(1-03) V Curtin(0-2), O Kilkenny (0-1).
Subs: J Gill for F Healy (2mins -injured) AM Hayes for E Kilkelly ( 53 mins) A Connolly for B Hanney, (58mins)

Kilkenny: C Ryan, K Kinahan, JDillon- Maher, D Minogue, B Grennan, M Costello, E Aylward, S Milea(0-3f), L Lyng, I Kennedy, E Maher, B Mullally, C Doherty(1-0), A Neary(0-1), M OConnor.
Subs: P Comerford for C Doherty(43 mins) J Frisby for M O'Connor, (49mins)