Galway U-20 captain Klara Banek and her teammates celebrate after their All-Ireland final victory over Donegal. Photo: David Fitzgerald | Sportsfile

O’Malley fires Galway to All-Ireland U-20 glory

Dominant first half key against Ulster champions

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Galway 3-11

Donegal 1-9

By Daire Bonnar

At Fr. Kilcoyne Park

Three first half goals saw Galway lift the inaugural All-Ireland U-20 Championship title against Donegal in Tubbercurry.

Player of the match Alisha O’Malley hit 2-8 for the victors, including two early goals, while Ava Heneghan also found the net to open up a lead that Donegal could never claw back.

Alisha O'Malley of Galway celebrates after scoring her side's second goal against Donegal. Photo by David Fitzgerald | Sportsfile

While Donegal got the first score through Sara Thomas, O’Malley’s point attempt caught Ellie McGarvey out for a goal inside two minutes.

Saoirse Murray and Aisling O’Neill traded quick points before O’Malley posted another 1-1 for Galway, pointing first before winning a short kick-out and firing into the roof of the net on ten minutes.

O’Malley and Lucy Ward traded frees, but captain Klara Banek pointed soon after as Galway led by seven.

And they got a third goal on 21 minutes as Aoibhinn Madden found Heneghan who struck the bottom corner.

Donegal then lost Alanna Boyle to a yellow card, while Ward kicked another free.

Heneghan was taken down for a penalty and O’Malley stepped up to complete her hat-trick, only to be denied by a good save from McGarvey.

Banek then received a yellow just on the half-time whistle as Galway led by 3-4 to 0-4.

O’Malley added another free soon after the break, while Sara Thomas had a shot blocked over for a point. Caitlin Fletcher found the net for Donegal after Thomas hit the bar, but O’Malley responded with two from play.

Chloe Costello and Fletcher kicked further scores for Donegal, but three O’Malley frees kept them at bay. And Katie Slattery hit a late point, while Fletcher added a two-pointer just before full-time as Galway held out for the win.

GALWAY: Eadie Ryan; Keeva Reynolds, Leanne Seoighe, Saoirse Coleman; Ruby Quinn, Caoimhe McCabe, Aoibhinn Madden; Katie Slattery (0-1), Saoirse Murray (0-1); Aisling Murray, Sarah Banks, Klara Banek (captain, 0-1); Isabelle Murray, Alisha O'Malley (2-8, 0-5 frees), Ava Heneghan (1-0). Subs: Rebecca Noone for Heneghan, Saoirse Melia for Banks, Zainab Rather for Saoirse Murray, Aoife Nash for Isabelle Murray, Grainne Farragher for Reynolds.

DONEGAL: Ellie McGarvey; Nicole Devlin, Rionach Doherty, Sine Ryan; Maria Diver, Tara Rose Mahon, Rebecca McLaughlin; Lucy Ward (0-2, 0-2 frees), Kate McMullin; Maria Ni Ghallachoir, Maeve Brady, Alanna Boyle; Caitlin Fletcher (1-4), Aisling O'Neill (0-1), Sara Thomas (0-1). Subs: Chloe Costello (0-1) for Ó Gallachoir (HT), Lucy McKeever for Diver, Meabh McAteer for Brady, Niamh Walsh for Ryan, Sorcha Doherty for Boyle.

REFEREE: Paul McCaughey (Westmeath).

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