Niamh Mallon's goal makes the difference as Galway book spot in All-Ireland camogie final with win over Tipperary
The Westerners were deserving winners but did not have it all their own way at Nowlan Park.
Tipperary fought to the end and it took a sensational block by Tribe corner-back Dervla Higgins to deny Jean Kelly a goal that might have made for a nervy finish.
When Mallon pointed off the stick via keeper Laura Leenane's hurley in the 25th minute, Galway seemed Croke Park-bound, 0-8 to 0-2 in front and full value for their lead.
Tipp had lost full-back Karin Blair to injury at the end of the first quarter but a speculative shot by her defensive colleague Karen Kennedy in the 26th minute was miscontrolled into the net by Galway keeper Sarah Healy. Suddenly, all the momentum was with Denis Kelly's Premier.
Casey Heffernan and Eimear Heffernan shot scores and Grace O'Brien brought her tally to four points from placed balls.
Read More on Camogie
Incredibly, the sides went in level — 0-9 to 1-6 — at the break.
But Cathal Murray's Tribeswomen kept their composure.
Ailish O'Reilly — who notched 0-4 — set up Mallon for her 39th-minute goal, with Carrie Dolan hitting 0-6 in total to steer the Connacht side to victory and a shot at All-Ireland final revenge.
GALWAY
: Sarah Healy; Shauna Healy, R Black, D Higgins; R Hanniffy, A Starr, E Helebert; C Dolan 0-6, 4f, A Donohue; O Rabbitte, A O'Reilly 0-4, C Hickey; N Mallon 1-2, M Dillon 0-3, C Kelly 0-2.
Subs
: S Gardiner for Helebert 42mins; S Rabbitte 0-1 for Dillon, A Hesnan for Starr 52; N Niland for Kelly; J Hughes for O Rabbitte 60+1.
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TIPPERARY
: L Leenane; J Bourke, K Blair, C McCarthy; E Loughman, M Eviston, S Corcoran; K Kennedy 1-1, C Maher; E Heffernan 0-1f, C Hennessy 0-1, G O'Brien 0-7f; M Burke, R Howard, C McIntyre.
Subs
: E Carey for Blair inj 20mins; J Kelly 0-1 for Burke 44; A McGrath for Maher 55.
REFEREE
: J Heffernan (Wexford).
1
Ailish O'Reilly, right, and Niamh Mallon of Galway celebrate after the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Senior Championship semi-final against Tipperary
Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
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