Conroy the star as Killimor march on
Both sides showed tremendous battling qualities in heavy conditions as the Ballinasloe pitch cut up during its second game after torrential rain.
Scoring was always going to be difficult in such circumstances but neither side shirked the physical challenges.
Killimor led at half time by 0-5 to 0-4, Martina Conroy converting a 45 and a free along with a point from play for the Galway team.
Ursula Jacob slotted two frees for Oulart-The Ballagh and added two more points after the resumption, while Una Leacy had two from play.
But Conroy brought her tally to six points by converting another 45 and two frees, and with Brenda Hanney, Emer Herbert and Susan Keane providing scoring back-up, it was Killimor who had their noses in front at the final whistle, (0-9 to 0-8).
The other semi-final between Cork champions Inniscarra, and O’Donovan Rossa of Antrim, was postponed due to the waterlogged St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge.
The intermediate semi-final between Waterford side Lismore and Eoghan Rua of Derry, which was due to take place in Ashbourne, also fell foul of the conditions.
The other intermediate semi-final was a curtain-raiser in Ballinasloe, and it was The Harps who prevailed over a gritty Sarsfields 2-12 to 1-7.
The Laois unit was the more experienced one having claimed three All-Ireland junior titles in a row from 2006-2008 but they were made to fight all the way by Sarsfields, who led at half time 1-5 to 0-7 thanks to four points from Niamh McGrath — who finished with six — and a 27th minute goal by Orla McGrath.
But The Harps gradually overpowered their Galway opponents in the second half.
Goals from Aisling Phelan and Laura Saunders sealed their progression to the decider.
Indeed, the margin might have been greater in the end but for two tremendous second-half saves produced by Sarsfields goalkeeper, Laura Glynn.
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