Galway snatched a dramatic injury time victory from Wexford to put them in a strong position for a semi-final spot after round 3 of the Gala All-Ireland senior camogie championship.
With her side trailing by a point, substitute Jessica Gill launched an 80m free in an attempt to grab an equaliser four minutes into added time. It dropped just short, however, and spilled into the Wexford net.
Ursula Jacob slotted her seventh free soon after to bring the score to 1-8 to 0-10 but time was against the Model County women and the hosts took the honours.
It was a sensational return to action for Gill, who was making a comeback from a lengthy absence caused by a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Remarkably, she had also scored a last gasp goal to beat Wexford in the 2008 All-Ireland semi-final, but with Galway having been on the wrong end of late goals in the knockout stages of the last two leagues and last year’s championship, the manner of this win was crucial.
The sides were level five times in the first half, which ended with Wexford leading by the odd point in 11. With Jacob clinical from placed balls they stretched that lead to two. Aislinn Connolly reduced that with her fifth point five minutes from time to set up a late smash-and-grab success.
Cork had too much firepower for a spirited Dublin, who improved considerably from a heavy defeat to Wexford last week but still fell to the the Leesiders by the tune of 1-23 to 1-6 yesterday.
Despite the scoreline, two of the home side’s best players were in the full-back line but not even the efforts of Elaine O’Mara and Tara Corrigan could prevent the likes of Julia White and Jennifer O’Leary running riot.
The duo shared eight points between them from play as Cork pulled away after the resumption, benefiting from the midfield dominance of Orla Cotter and Gemma O’Connor.
-ine Power gave Dublin a dream start with a sixth minute goal but from the time SÝle Burns responded in kind 12 minutes later, the result was never in doubt.
Clare almost pulled off a shock but came up just short against Tipperary, who prevailed 1-12 to 1-9. The Premier women led by 1-6 to 0-2 at the interval, Claire Grogan scoring 1-2 but the Banner stormed back into proceedings after the resumption.
Points from Chloe Morey, Claire McMahon and R¾isÝn McMahon galvanised them and Naomi Carroll bagged a goal on the stroke of normal time to reduce the deficit to three points.
Clare thought they had carved open an equalising opportunity deep in injury time but were penalised for throwing the sliotar and the chance was lost.
For all the latest results see www.sportsmanager.ie/cake/camogie/Ireland/latestResults.
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