Galway booked their place in the Division 1 final of the Lidl Ladies Football League and a date with Cork aftert a six-point victory over the All-Ireland champions Dublin.
Daniel Moynihan's side built their win in the first period. Goals from the attacking trio of Kate Slevin, Kate Thompson and Leanne Coen helped Galway into a 3-5 to 0-6 half-time advantage in Tuam Stadium.
It was a fourth loss of the campaign for Dublin, who face the threat of relegation going into the final round of matches next weekend.
Galway moved the ball through the hands with pace for much of the tie. Nicola Ward played in Slevin for the easiest of finishes for the game’s opening goal in the third minute.
Kate Sullivan was excellent in the Dublin full-forward line. The St Sylvester’s corner-forward got her side off the mark and other Dublin scores soon followed from Niamh Hetherton and a free from Orlagh Nolan.
Thompson’s neat goal ensured Galway were 2-3 to 0-4 ahead at the end of the opening quarter. Galway’s third goal of the half arrived in the 26th minute through Coen after a Kate Slevin free had dropped short. Olivia Divilly, one of three sisters on the Galway team, pointed before the break.
Niamh Divilly, playing midfield alongside sister Siobhan, carried the ball well all evening for Galway and she extended her side’s lead to nine points just seconds into the second period. Olivia Divilly put Galway 3-7 to 0-6 in front shortly after.
Five of the next six points went the way of Dublin through Carla Rowe (free), Sullivan (three) and sub Orla Keighran. Back Galway came to push their lead out to nine again, as Oliva Divilly was on target twice and Slevin fired over a point from play.
Rowe reacted quickest to an Orlagh Nolan free that hit the post to bag Dublin’s goal in the 53rd minute, leaving Galway 3-12 to 1-13 to the good. Galway sub Aoife O’Rourke rounded out the evening’s scoring as Dublin finished with 14 players after Rebecca McDonnell was yellow carded.
Galway are away to Waterford in the final round, while Dublin have a must-win match against table-toppers Cork.
Galway: L O'Halloran; R Quinn, S Ní Loingsigh, B Quinn; H Noone, N Ward (0-01), E Power; N Divilly (0-02), S Divilly; O Divilly (0-05), K Slevin, (1-02) L Noone; K Thompson (1-01), L Coen (1-01), A Trill.
Subs: A O'Rourke (0-01) for K Thompson (35), K Geraghty for S Ní Loingsigh (36), A Molloy for E Power (43), A Madden for L Noone (48) K Mee for R Quinn (55), H Mangan for A Trill (58)
Dublin: A Shiels; H Leahy, C Almeida, A Timothy; S McIntyre, N Crowley, N Donlon; H McGinnis, N Hetherton (0-02); C O’Connor, E Gribbin (0-02), O Nolan (0-02); L Grendon, C Rowe (1-01), K Sullivan (0-05).
Subs: O Keighran (0-01) for L Grendon (ht), A Nyhan for C Almeida (38), C Coffey for N Hetherton (40), N Hetherton for A Timothy (42), K Donaghy for C O’Connor (44), R McDonnell for H McGinnis (48), M Davoren for K Sullivan (48), J Egan for S McIntyre (54).
Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).
