Goals prove crucial for Galway as they claim opening day victory over Monaghan

Lidl National Football League Division 1

Galway 4-10
Monaghan 2-6

John Brennan from the Connacht Centre of Excellence, Bekan

A dominant first half from Stephen Glennon’s side ensured that the Galway ladies kicked off their Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 campaign with a ten-point win over Monaghan this afternoon on the 3G Astroturf pitch at the Connacht Centre of Excellence in Bekan, County Mayo.

The Farney county raced into an early lead thanks to a Louise Kerly penalty, after Ciara McAnespie had been fouled. However, wind-assisted Galway pushed through the gears and rattled off 3-3 in the space of fourteen minutes.

Sarah Conneally landed a point from distance, before a hat-trick of goals courtesy of Ailbhe Davoren, Tracey Leonard and Leanne Coen pushed them seven clear.

Leonard added a free, and after a barren eighteen-minute spell Monaghan got off the mark again thanks to Rosemary Courtney.

However, thirty seconds later Mairead Seoighe pounced for another goal and Galway were cruising at this juncture.

A fortuitous goal from Shauna Coyle, gave Monaghan a new lease of life, but Galway were well in control.

Nicola Ward and Tracey Leonard stretched Galway’s lead further, with a late Louise Kerly free reducing the gap to ten at the break.

With the aid of the elements in the second stanza, Monaghan kicked an early single courtesy of Louise Kerly. Aine McDonagh and Sarah Lynch kept Galway motoring, but they wasted several opportunities with a handful of poor wides.

Monaghan full-back Hazel Kingham received a 41st minute sin bin, and this severely hampered the rescue effort. Tracey Leonard and Louise Ward kept Galway in control, with a brace of excellent points in the testing conditions in Bekan.

Louise Kerly was the focal point of the Monaghan attack throughout and she drove them forward at every opportunity.

Her free reduced the gap to eleven points, with Galway wing-back Shauna Molloy also brandished a 52nd minute yellow card. Rosemary Courtney landed a late point for the Farney county, but it was a little too late, as Galway powered home to a ten-point win.

Monaghan:

L Martin; J Fitzpatrick, H Kingham, S Coyle (1-0); R McKenna, S Courtney, A McAnespie; M Atkinson, H McSkeane; E McAnespie, R Courtney (0-2), K Duffy; C Courtney, L Kerly (1-4, 5f, 1-0 pen), C McAnespie.

Subs Used:

F Courtney for K Duffy (43 mins).

Galway:

D Gower; F Cooney, C Cormican, S Lynch (0-1); S Molloy, N Ward (0-1), S Burke; A McDonagh (0-1), L Gannon; A Davoren (1-0), T Leonard (1-4, 4f), L Coen (1-0); M Seioghe (1-0), S Conneally (0-1), L Ward (0-1).

Subs Used:

O Divilly for L Coen (46 mins), L Walsh for S Conneally (46 mins), E Reaney (0-1) for M Seoighe (53 mins), S Divilly for L Gannon (58 mins), E Gavin for T Leonard (60 mins), D Brennan for F Cooney (60 mins).

Referee: M Kenny (Mayo)

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