Donohue strike crucial as Galway book Premier semi date

A spectacular finish for a goal in the 40th minute by Aoife Donohue was the fitting decider as Galway edged out last year's finalists Waterford to reach the last four of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship, where they will play Tipperary.

Beth Carton drove to the net from a penalty eight minutes from the end of normal time to reignite the Déise’s aspirations and goalkeeper Brianna O’Regan pointed from a free inside her own half to reduce the margin to the minimum but it was Galway that struck the last two scores, via Donohue and the pacy Olwen Rabbitte to set up a semi-final that is a repeat of the League final won by Tipp.

That means champions Cork will play yesterday’s quarter-final winners Dublin in the other semi-final, with both games taking place at UPMC Nowlan Park on July 27.

The first half was cagey in the extreme, with Waterford deploying Alannah McNulty as an effective sweeper, leaving Galway with a plus one of their one, most often, though not always, in the form of the robust and clever Áine Keane.

That wasn’t the core reason for the lack of pace however, which could be attributed more to a lack of sharpness and accuracy in control and delivery.

Galway led at the end of that opening period by 0-7 to 0-5, which was probably a fair reflection of proceedings, with Cathal Murray’s side having possessed the greater threat earlier on and always keeping their noses in front, a thunderous point from the tremendous Dervla Higgins a highlight of their efforts.

The injury that ruled Waterford full-forward, Mairéad O’Brien out of from the start – she also missed yesterday’s All-Ireland ladies football quarter-final in which Clodagh Carroll, McNulty and Annie Fitzgerald also played – was a huge blow,