LITTLE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SIDES
(right) (below)
GLEN DIMPLEX ALL-IRELAND INTERMEDIATE FINAL CORK V GALWAY 2pm (Gavin Donegan, Dublin) Live on RTÉ2 though that
Meath would provide a thorough examination of the credentials of Cathal Murray’s unit at the penultimate hurdle but they showed plenty of character as well as squad depth to recover from the concession of a second-minute goal to chisel out a four-point success.
Kelly and McInerney came off the bench to make their mark, the former scoring a vital goal, while Katie Gilchrist and Olwen Rabbitte also raised green flags.
Goals
Kelly finished with 1-3, having taken over freetaking duties as well when entering the fray.
The goals conceded were Galway’s first of the campaign but they will have learned far more from surviving such a challenge than in less testing affairs up to this juncture.
It is the first meeting of the counties with the Jack McGrath Cup up for grabs since 2009, when Galway got over the line in a replay.
The most recent of their three titles arrived in 2013, when they’d two points to spare over Limerick, while Cork’s latest of four triumphs came in 2018 against Down. This is their first final appearance since, with Galway last in the decider in 2019, when Westmeath edged them out by two points.
Both squads have undergone quite a transition in the meantime and will have to do without the considerable experience and ability of key operators Finola Neville (Cork captain) and Tara Ruttledge (Galway) due to cruciate injuries but retain a sprinkling of experience to go with youthful potential, and obvious strengths in each sector.