by Darren Kelly
“It just feels so surreal. To have an All-Ireland medal in our pocket, we can’t believe it. To be the first team to win at this grade, it’s just unbelievable. I cannot believe it. I’m so proud and happy.”
They were the words of Galway captain Katie Manning after becoming the first ever player to lift the All-Ireland U23 trophy following her side’s 1-11 to 1-8 victory over Cork on Saturday at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.
The Leesiders came in as strong favourites, having beaten the Tribeswomen by ten points during the group stages, but while the teams exchanged shots early, Kayla Madden’s goal on 24 minutes put the winners in the driving seat and with Niamh McInerney providing a player-of-the-match performance, they prevailed by three points in the end.
“Early on in the Championship, we needed time to build our panel,” added Manning. “I think game-on-game; we grew as a panel and grew as a team. And we just got so confident in our abilities. And we knew well that we could reach any limit we want to.
“It was absolutely sweltering out. I can’t lie. We knew we had ourselves hydrated and prepped as much as we could. When we were starting to die a bit out there, our bench came on. Every turnover they made, it just drove us further. And drove us on to get over the line at the finish.”
“We got a huge impact off our bench,” said a delighted manager Cathal Murray. “That’s what it’s about. It’s about your squad. Everyone can’t play unfortunately but the players that did today just put the shoulder to the wheel. It was brilliant to see.
“It’s a group that have really embraced the competition. They put in an incredible effort over the last couple of weeks.
“Coming down today was all about our performance. We performed really well and got the scores when it mattered. Brilliant win.
“They’ve been exceptional players. My wish is that some of them will go on and play senior this year or certainly next year. They’re good enough to do it. I hope this gives them a huge amount of confidence. But our workrate all over the field was exceptional.”
“It’s a great competition in that regard,” added Murray who also oversees the Galway seniors. “And the girls that came in really embraced it. I know things didn’t really go well for us down in Cork five weeks ago.
“We knew we were better than that. And we knew that if we put in the work, we’d improve and probably get back here.”
Murray hailed the vital goal and McInerney’s contribution.
“The three half backs… Joanne (Daly) doesn’t normally be up that far but she did excellent. It was really nice to see Kayla getting a goal. She’s an incredible worker; she ran herself into the ground; and it was great seeing her getting the goal.
“Niamh has been one of the standout performers for us in this competition all year. She’s been excellent. She played senior early on in the league. She’s played there for a reason. She’s been really good and really showed up at training.
“She’s good enough to go on and play senior. Hopefully, she kicks on now and we see her playing the Galway jersey at senior level plenty of times.”
“It’s such as surreal feeling,” stated McInerney, who finished with 0-2 and three direct assists and echoed her skipper’s sentiments. “I can’t believe it.
“We have worked so hard at training the last few weeks. That was the one thing we said, if we worked hard, that would pay off. And that’s what we did today.”
McInerney was part of a two-player inside line with Cora Kenny and they created space to allow Galway get the crucial scores as they raced 1-11 to 0-6 clear during the second half.
“That’s what we had planned, to play the two inside and open up the space in the corners. And that’s what we did but yeah, it was very hot out there.
“But it was the same for both teams. So, that’s what we said in the dressing room going out. The conditions were the same for both teams so we just had to go out and work like dogs and that’s what we did.”
“At the end of the day, Galway just wanted it more,” remarked Cork head coach Daniel Morrissey. “We just didn’t perform. Simple as. That’s probably going to be the one that’s going to hurt most. We know we probably only played at 30-40% or our capacity.
“That’s just sport. That’s the reality. That will be us another day and it’ll be Galway another day. It’s just disappointing. Again, it’s the performance. Probably wasn’t there what we were capable of, anywhere near what we’re capable of. All credit to Galway, they done the job.”
But while not getting the result, Morrissey was full of praise for this group that struck 1-2 in the final six minutes to reduce arrears to two, with Isobel Sheehan getting the goal.
“The girls are winners. We came to win today, right? But development was the key. And that was the key from the start of the year.
“I know it’s hard now today. But when we step back, we’ve given (senior manager) Ger Manley a couple of headaches there. There are a couple of girls that are going to be drafted in Monday to the senior set-up. That has to be the winner for us.”
