Galway players were rejoicing the call and willing the final hooter. As it sounded and N17 rang out, maroon bodies dropped to the hallowed turf and tears flowed. It was a scene of every emotion possible; confusion, uncertainty and acrimony remaining after a highly-dramatic endgame.
After a stunning two-goal salvo from Leanne Coen, Eva Noone swung over what proved to be the Galway winner with two minutes to go. One of seven Kilkerrin-Clonberne All-Ireland club winners to feature, she cut inside and angled over with her left into Hill 16.
Kerry – seeking their second title in three years – looked to work an equaliser, and they felt they had it when O’Shea split the posts after powering through an advantage.
But Farrelly had brought it back for the free-kick, and queue the last-gasp chaos.
Galway's Kate Geraghty lifting the Brendan Martin Cup. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
With both sides in high-scoring form through the championship, this repeat of the 2024 final had potential for a shootout. It was far from it; tight and tense for the most part, cagey and cautious, and the lowest scoring final in seven years. Perhaps it underlined the evenly-matched nature of the teams, and was a break from the last four one-sided finals.
The attendance of 26,471 was disappointing – the lowest figure since 2013 – but a game eventually broke out in the final 10 minutes.
Kerry looked to be turning the screw, with leading scorer O’Shea grabbing her first two points from play to move them 0-11 to 1-6 clear by the 53rd minute. But Coen hit back immediately with her second brilliant green flag. Nicola Ward surged through before popping off to the Corofin ace on the loop, who rifled home.
CÚL ag Leanne Coen 😱😱
Leanne Coen with her second goal in an All Ireland Final !!!
While Caoimhe Evans levelled matters for the fifth time before Noone’s matchwinner, Coen’s first-half goal was similarly crucial.
Kerry had settled quickest, Daniel Moynihan’s Galway wasteful before the posts in a nervy opening. But their confidence grew after the vital 16th-minute major.
The Kingdom had been trying to find O’Shea – tracked by Bronagh Quinn – with long balls, while Galway preferred to transition quickly through the hands. They went more direct here, Eva Noone’s delivery finding Coen, who danced from oceans of space through the Kerry defence and finished excellently with the outside of her boot to make it 1-2 to 0-3.
Cúl ag Leanne Coen an liathróid báíte san eangach aici🤯🤯
Coen uses her pace to breeze past the Kerry defenders and bury the ball to the back of the net !!
Both sides finished with six scorers – the rangy Olivia Divilly and punchy Niamh Ní Chonchúir hitting three points apiece – but a Coen-inspired Galway reigned supreme for the first time since 2004 and just second time ever.
Scorers for Galway: Leanne Coen 2-0, Olivia Divilly 0-3 (2f), Kate Slevin 0-1, Kate Thompson 0-1, Róisín Leonard 0-1, Eva Noone 0-1.
Scorers for Kerry: Síofra O’Shea 0-5 (3f), Niamh Ní Chonchúir 0-3, Niamh Carmody 0-1, Jadyn Lucey 0-1, Emma Costello 0-1, Caoimhe Evans 0-1.
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Galway
1. Leah O’Halloran (Claregalway)
2. Brónagh Quinn (Annaghdown), 3. Sarah Ní Loingsigh (Naomh Anna Leitir Móir), 4. Kate Geraghty (Tuam Cortoon – captain)
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Late drama as Galway edge Kerry to end 22-year wait for All-Ireland glory
Galway 2-7
Kerry 0-12
CHAOS REIGNED AS Galway broke Kerry hearts to end a 22-year wait for All-Ireland senior ladies football glory.
Kerry captain Síofra O’Shea thought they had won it at the very death when her two-point free effort ended up in the back of the net.
She was among the Kingdom players celebrating, having not seen referee Maggie Farrelly’s decision to award a free out for a square ball.
Galway players were rejoicing the call and willing the final hooter. As it sounded and N17 rang out, maroon bodies dropped to the hallowed turf and tears flowed. It was a scene of every emotion possible; confusion, uncertainty and acrimony remaining after a highly-dramatic endgame.
After a stunning two-goal salvo from Leanne Coen, Eva Noone swung over what proved to be the Galway winner with two minutes to go. One of seven Kilkerrin-Clonberne All-Ireland club winners to feature, she cut inside and angled over with her left into Hill 16.
Kerry – seeking their second title in three years – looked to work an equaliser, and they felt they had it when O’Shea split the posts after powering through an advantage.
But Farrelly had brought it back for the free-kick, and queue the last-gasp chaos.
With both sides in high-scoring form through the championship, this repeat of the 2024 final had potential for a shootout. It was far from it; tight and tense for the most part, cagey and cautious, and the lowest scoring final in seven years. Perhaps it underlined the evenly-matched nature of the teams, and was a break from the last four one-sided finals.
The attendance of 26,471 was disappointing – the lowest figure since 2013 – but a game eventually broke out in the final 10 minutes.
Kerry looked to be turning the screw, with leading scorer O’Shea grabbing her first two points from play to move them 0-11 to 1-6 clear by the 53rd minute. But Coen hit back immediately with her second brilliant green flag. Nicola Ward surged through before popping off to the Corofin ace on the loop, who rifled home.
While Caoimhe Evans levelled matters for the fifth time before Noone’s matchwinner, Coen’s first-half goal was similarly crucial.
Kerry had settled quickest, Daniel Moynihan’s Galway wasteful before the posts in a nervy opening. But their confidence grew after the vital 16th-minute major.
The Kingdom had been trying to find O’Shea – tracked by Bronagh Quinn – with long balls, while Galway preferred to transition quickly through the hands. They went more direct here, Eva Noone’s delivery finding Coen, who danced from oceans of space through the Kerry defence and finished excellently with the outside of her boot to make it 1-2 to 0-3.
Both sides finished with six scorers – the rangy Olivia Divilly and punchy Niamh Ní Chonchúir hitting three points apiece – but a Coen-inspired Galway reigned supreme for the first time since 2004 and just second time ever.
Scorers for Galway: Leanne Coen 2-0, Olivia Divilly 0-3 (2f), Kate Slevin 0-1, Kate Thompson 0-1, Róisín Leonard 0-1, Eva Noone 0-1.
Scorers for Kerry: Síofra O’Shea 0-5 (3f), Niamh Ní Chonchúir 0-3, Niamh Carmody 0-1, Jadyn Lucey 0-1, Emma Costello 0-1, Caoimhe Evans 0-1.
Galway
1. Leah O’Halloran (Claregalway)
2. Brónagh Quinn (Annaghdown), 3. Sarah Ní Loingsigh (Naomh Anna Leitir Móir), 4. Kate Geraghty (Tuam Cortoon – captain)
5. Hannah Noone (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 6. Nicola Ward (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 7. Niamh Divilly (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)
8. Louise Ward (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 9. Siobhan Divilly (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)
10. Olivia Divilly (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 11. Kate Slevin (Claregalway), 12. Kate Thompson (Salthill Knocknacarra)
13. Eva Noone (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 14. Leanne Coen (Corofin), 15. Róisín Leonard (Corofin)
Subs:
18. Shauna Hynes (Milltown) for Thompson (51)
27. Ellen Power (Maigh Cuilinn) for Siobhan Divlly (57)
29. Andrea Trill (Claregalway) for Leonard (58)
Kerry
1. Mary Ellen Bolger (Southern Gaels)
2. Róisín Rahilly (Ballymacelligott), 3. Deirdre Kearney (Na Gaeil), 4. Eilís Lynch (Castleisland Desmonds)
5. Aishling O’Connell (Scartaglen), 6. Emma Costello (Firies), 7. Aoife Dillane (Austin Stacks)
19. Mikala Mulvihill (Moyvane), 9. Mary O’Connell (Na Gaeil)
10. Niamh Carmody (Finuge/St Senans), 11. Niamh Ní Chonchúir (Corca Dhuibhne), 12. Caoimhe Evans (MKL Gaels)
13. Jadyn Lucey (Na Gaeil), 14. Danielle O’Leary (Rathmore), 15. Síofra O’Shea (Southern Gaels – captain).
Subs:
18. Leah McMahon (Dr Crokes) for Mulvihill (43)
17. Erica McGlynn (MKL Gaels) fior Lucey (51)
21. Rachel Dwyer (Southern Gaels) for O’Leary (58)
Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan).
*****
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Ladies Football LGFA Match Report