"We came determined to compete and win" was how Galway selector Damian Coleman put if after Galway's first National League, Division 1 victory against Cork, 1-6 to 0-6 in Semple Stadium on Sunday 29th May. He further went on to say just how  delighted he was "those girls did everything that was asked of them, I am so proud of them".  Galway's victory was almost a rags to riches tale as last year they failed to win one League match, but under the new management team of former player Sharon Glynn, Damian Coleman the former U21 hurler together with PJ Molloy the former All-Ireland winner they have turned defeat into victory for Galway.  Galway may have started off rather slow and nervous. And  it showed as they had to wait twenty three minutes before their opening score, a point from full-forward Veronica Curtin who is engaged to be married to selector Damian Coleman. However, once Curtin found the posts she continued as just before the break the all important goal came for Galway in a great move that saw Brenda Kerins find the waiting Curtin who smashed the ball to the Cork net two minutes into injury time. It was the turning point of the game as it left the 2002 League champions ahead 1-4 to Cork's 0-3 at the break, the Cork points having come from Úna O'Donoghue, Jennifer O'Leary and Emer Dillon. Galway, who had to line out without top players Lourda Kavanagh and Áine Hilary due to injury showed real fight and determination in the second half, but just like the opening half it was the Rebels who were first on the score-board with an Emer Dillon point in the opening minute. However, if Galway showed fire so too did the Rebels and left nothing to chance as they brought on Vivienne Harris at the break and later on introduced Paula O'Connor, but on the day the Galway half backline of captain Therese Maher were in top form, along side Ailbhe Kelly and Lorraine Lally. Immediately after Emer Dillion's point Veronica Curtin sent over a vital Galway free to leave it, Galway 1-5 to Cork's 0-4 with just four minutes gone. Amazingly, Galway failed to score again until the twentieth minute when Curtin made it her fifth point of the day. In between Cork sent over two Jennifer O'Leary frees, the second coming twelve minutes into the half and that remained the Rebel's last score of the day. It appeared to the crowd that Galway might have wrapped it up with seven minutes to go when the Maroon and White girls were awarded a penalty following a square infringement. However, it was the Galway goalkeeper, Stephanie Gannon the 2004 Young player of the year who ran the whole pitch to take the penalty, but it was saved on the line by the Cork defense. The final few minutes were tense and close as Galway tried hard to hold on to their lead, while the Rebels desperately looked for the equalising goal, but on the day it was the real Galway spirit that shone in the end. Galway, looked for a long time in the Division 2 Final as if they might make it a double on the day, but despite getting off to a great start with two goals inside the opening twelve minutes >from Molly Dunne and Rachelle (Rachelle) O'Brien it was Cork who stepped up the pace once full-forward Ellen O'Herlihy got their first half goal midway to level the game at the break, Cork 1-4, Galway 2-1. Two further points from Molly Dunne in the fourth and fifth minute put them ahead 2-2 to Cork's 1-4. However, the Rebels put in a fine finishing with a second goal  from top scorer Caitriona Kelly with ten minutes to go. While both sides exchanged further scores before the full time whistle it was Cork who finished the stronger on the day with some fine closing points from substitute Emer O'Friel(2) and Caitriona Kelly 0-1 each.    Details: Teams: Div 1    Galway: (1) S Gannon; R Glynn,S Cahalan,N Gavin; L Lally,T Maher (cpt),A Kelly; S Murphy,C Glennon;A Lynskey,B Hanney, O Kilkenny;B Kerins,V Curtin, E Kilkelly. Subs: K Glynn for C Glennon 43mins, A Connolly for B Hanney 52mins,J Gill for  A Lynskey 58mins, F Healy for S Murphy 62mins. Scorers: V Curtin 1-5, (0-2F), B Kerins 0-1.   Cork: A Murray; J Browne,S Dunlea, J O'Callaghan;A O'Regan, M O'Connor,N Ahern;R Moloney, B Corkery;A Walsh, E Dillon, J O'Leary;C Desmond, Ú O'Donoghue, C Healy. Subs:V Harris for B Corkery half time,E Burke for C Desmond 43mins, R Holland for J O'Callaghan 54mins, P O'Connor for C Healy 58mins. Scorers: J O'Leary 0-3 (0-1'45. 0-2 F), E Dillon 0-2, Ú O'Donoghue 0-1.   Referee: A Lawlor.      Div.2: Galway: S Dervan;C Gill,E Burke,A Kilkenny;P Hayes, L Gohery, M Geoghegan; T Manton,E Tannion; R O'Brien,C Glynn,C Kelly;Y Donnelly, M Dunne,M Kelly. Scorers: 2-7: M Dunne 1-5, R O'Brien 1-1, E Tannion 0-1. Subs:T Byrne for L Gohery, 21mins, C Cormican for Y Donnelly half time, A Hardy for M Kelly 44mins, M Ward for M Geoghegan 55mins.   Cork:  F Killeen; D Hayes,R Holland, Á Kelliher; E O'Sullivan, L O'Connell, N Bowles;D Cooney,O Cotter; H O'Regan,D O'Reilly, O Coughlan; M Coleman, E O'Herlihy, C Deasy. Scorers:C Kelly 1-6, E O'Herlihy 1-0, E O'Friel 0-2,  O Coughlan, N Bowles 0-1 each. Referee: J Pender, Kildare.   Meanwhile Ulster champions Down had to fight hard to hold on their provincial crown when only a goal seperated them and Derry, 3-9 to 2-9 at the end yesterday in the Ulster junior championship semi-final played in Casement Park.   The Oakleaf county got off to a dream start with two goals from Katie Mc Auley in a half dominated by Derry who never had  a wide throughout the game until five minutes before the full time whistle. However, just before the halftime whistle Down rallied with points from Catherine Mc Gourty, but the Ulster champions trailed never the less by 0-4 to Derry's 2-7.   A  goal from a forty five immediatley after the restart from Caitriona Mc Crickard got the Mourne girls off to a fine start, but Derry responded straight away with an Aishling Diamond point. A second Down goal seven minutes later from Karen Gribben and from then it was all Down who completed the day with their third and final goal two minutes from the end when Karen Gribben made it a brace of goals. They now meet Armagh in the Ulster Final who defeated Antrim 5-16 to 1-6 in the other semi-final in Madden, Armagh.   Scorers: Down: 3-9, K Gribben 2--0, C Mc Crickard 1-2, C Mc Gourty 0-2 (0-1F), C Mullholland 0-2,  F Carr, K O'Higgins, L Mc Crickard 0-1 each. Derry 2-9: K Mc Auley 2-1, G Mc Goldrick 0-6, (0-3F),C O'Kane,S Cassidy 0-1 each. Tweet

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