Galway make winning start against Cork in TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship

Galway 3-11 Cork 1-11

Two goals from Ailbhe Davoren and one from Kate Slevin in the final minute secured a six-point opening-day victory for Galway in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship at Pearse Stadium in Salthill.

The Tribeswomen trailed 1-09 to 1-08 entering the final quarter but 1-02 unanswered, including Davoren's second goal set up by Nicola Ward and Eva Noone, finally gave the team managed by Fiona Wynne and Maghnus Breathnach a buffer.

Cork refused to yield as Katie Quirke and Doireann O’Sullivan left them just 2-11 to 1-11 behind but when Nicola Ward went on another trademark run in the final minute, she found Slevin inside who finished the job.

Both teams took their time to settle before Cork opened with an O’Sullivan free on four minutes. But the pace picked up not long after with Hannah Noone equalising for Galway three minutes.

Both attacks asked probing questions but it was Galway who first reaped dividends when Leanne Coen, Louise and Nicola Ward combined to put Davoren through for their first goal on nine minutes.

That left it 1-01 to 0-01 but Cork were back in charge within four minutes. Two O’Sullivan frees reduced arrears to the minimum but when Eimear Kiely’s '45 dropped into the square on 13 minutes, O’Sullivan couldn’t find a way past keeper Karen Connolly but her sister Ciara was on hand to stroke into the net.

Cork were two ahead but the Tribeswomen equalised by the quarter-hour mark with cousins Roisin and Tracey Leonard finding the target. The sides were level twice more as after the O’Sullivan sisters raised Cork white flags, Coen and Tracey Leonard did likewise for Galway.

It was 1-05 apiece on 20 minutes before the Munster champions restored their lead. Captain Máire O’Callaghan was