Galway have made two changes for their Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final against Tipperary on Saturday (25th July 2025).
Former captain Róisín Black returns at full back, while Ailish O'Reilly is named at full forward. Ally Hesnan and Sabina Rabbitte make way while Rachael Hanniffy moves to midfield.
The team in full:
Before the team was announced, Galway senior manager Cathal Murray chatted to Galway Bay FM's Tommy Devane.
A repeat of last year’s tumultuous semi-final, in which Galway snatched the pass to an All-Ireland final from Tipperary’s grasp in dramatic fashion, scoring the last three points including Carrie Dolan’s injury time winner, having fallen two behind in the 56th minute.
Both sides have lost players for a variety of reasons since, but the cruciate injuries suffered by Eimear McGrath and Clodagh Quirke appear particularly cataclysmic blows to the blue and gold, following the retirements of Cáit Devane, Mary Ryan and Nicole Walsh.
Galway are sans Niamh Kilkenny and Áine Keane among others, but have Shauna Healy and Emma Helebert back, they appear to be in better form than they were this time 12 months ago, albeit they seemed to time things almost perfectly in that regard when pushing Cork all the way in the resultant final.
The Rebels steamrolled them in the League final but since then, Cathal Murray’s charges won their group, scoring the last six points against Waterford when the sides had been level with a little more than four minutes of normal time remaining in the last tie. Niamh Mallon and Dolan have been their primary scorers, while a defence of Healy, Helebert, Dervla Higgins and Róisín Black look solid.
Tipp were beaten by 18 points by Cork in their opener but bounced back with facile victories over Wexford, Limerick and Clare, racking up 11-62 in the process, at an average of more than 3-22 a game. Clare pushed Waterford very hard in their quarter-final, a week after losing by 20 points to the Premier.
Tipp have the benefit of coming through a thrilling quarter-final against Kilkenny. They capitalised on a huge slice of luck when the Cats had a goal chalked off with referee Ray Kelly having blown for a penalty before Caoimhe Keher Murtagh found the net. Walsh’s successor in the Tipp No 1 jersey, Laura Leenane saved Aoife Prendergast’s shot
The game went to extra time and Clodagh McIntyre, reintroduced after being substituted, scored a sensational goal to edge Tipp home. Karen Kennedy, Grace O’Brien, Mairéad Eviston, Karin Blair and Róisín Howard are among the leaders Denis Kelly can call upon.
We can expect another fiercely contested affair.
Throw-in at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny on Saturday is 3pm and we'll have LIVE coverage here on Galway Bay FM.
