GALWAY 0-12
LIMERICK 0-10
GALWAY ATTONED FOR disappointment in last year’s Intermediate final with a two point victory over Limerick in Croke Park this afternoon.
Leading by a solitary point with time almost up Rebecca Hennelly held her nerve to slot a difficult free to leave Limerick needing an injury time goal.
Unfortunately for the 2007 champions that was not to be as the Galway defence held firm to edge a thrilling finale.
The first half was a free-flowing exhibition that was both sides swap points in the opening four minutes, Caoimhe Costello striking Limerick ahead before Maria Casey replied for Galway.
A Niamh Mulcahy free restored the Limerick lead but Galway came storming back and they reeled off three successive points to grab the lead.
Hennelly fired over a free before full forward Orlaith McGrath and Aoife Donoghue helped them into a two point advantage. Mulchay, Limerick’s top scorer on the day hit back with a long range free but two more Galway points from Caitriona Cormican and Hennelly pushed the Tribeswomen three ahead with ten minutes of the half remaining.
Limerick upped the ante however and they had drawn themselves level before the turnaround. Dymphna O’Brien set up Mulcahy for a point with a wonderful crossfield pass and then two frees from Ahane star Mulcahy left it 0-6 apiece at the interval.
The second half was dominated by both defences and after Mulcahy had nudged Limerick back in front from a free it took Galway until the ninth minute of the half before they registered.
When they did though they hit top gear and McGrath, Donoghue and the marauding McGrath again left them two points clear.
Mary O’Callaghan replied from close range for Limerick but Hennelly and McGrath seemed to put the seal on a Galway triumph when they hit two more points in the 47th and 50th minutes.
The Connacht women had the chance to finish the six minutes from time but great defending denied Finola Keely and Karen Kennedy a vital goal.
Limerick then ensured a grandstand finish when Mulcahy drove over two very difficult frees into the wind from under the shadow of the Cusack Stand.
However it was not to be for the Munster women as Hennelly’s late point and some last gasp Galway defending ensured that they regained the Intermediate crown for the first time in four years.
Scorers for Galway: Orlaith McGrath 0-4, Rebecca Hennelly 0-4 (1f), Aoife Donoghue 0-2, Caitriona Cormican 0-1, Maria Cooney 0-1.
Scorers for Limerick: Niamh Mulcahy 0-8 (7f), Caoimhe Costello 0-1, Mary O’Callaghan 0-1.
LIMERICK: Sile Moynihan, Fiona Hickey, Sarah Carey, Judith Mulcahy, Maireád Ryan, Michelle Casey, Rebecca Delee, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Katie Campbell, Caoimhe Costello, Niamh Mulcahy, Deoborah Murphy, Marie Keating, Mary O’Callaghan, Dymphna O’Brien.Subs: Aoife Wilson for Keating (30), Karen O’Leary for Campbell (44), Janet Garvey for O’Callaghan (53), Jane Wilson for Ryan (57).
GALWAY: Róisín Callanan, Tara Kenny, Shauna Healy, Colette Gill, Paula Kenny, Sarah Noone, Sineád Keane, Aoife Callanan, Cáitriona Cormican, Katie O’Dwyer, Rebecca Hennelly, Maria Cooney, Finola Keely, Orlaith McGrath, Aoife Donoghue.Subs: Deirdre Burke for Callanan (30), Karen Kennedy for Donoghue (51), Aoife Lynskey for Keely (56), Laura Mitchell for O’Dwyer (61).
Referee: Aiden O’Brien (Wexford).