Galway are the All-Ireland senior Camogie champions.
For the first time since 2013, for the third time ever, the Tribeswomen reached the pinnacle of Camogie and they did it by skinning the Cats.
3-14 to 0-17 was the final score as an Ailish O’Reilly-inspired Galway marched to glory with a dominant display.
Three first half goals did the damage as Kilkenny were left stunned in front of 24,730 people at Croke Park – a record for a Camogie game.
O’Reilly netted twice and Niamh Hannify got in on the fun with a screamer of her own to give the Galway outfit a six-point cushion at the break, one they’d hold on to for the rest of the second half.
Niamh Hanniffy of Galway celebrates scoring her side’s second goal in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Final. (Photo by Piaras Ó MÃdheach/Sportsfile)
In a tighter second period, the teams tied the last half hour just seven points a piece as Galway’s street-smarts, their discipline and their strength of character and body shone through to keep the 2016 champions at bay.
It was a nervy start to the second half for the eventual winners but Niamh Kilkenny soon struck with an absolute beauty on the 45th minute, her pick from an outstanding individual display.
The Cats did at one stage reduce the arrears to three but Galway held their nerve and chipped off the last three scores of the game to run out deserved victors and All-Ireland champions.
Ailish O'Reilly is loving life in Croke Park 🔥
Second goal for her in the first half pic.twitter.com/NUazROlMqn
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) September 8, 2019
