Indomitable Galway end Model’s reign

Galway 1-12 Wexford 0-06

With seven of last year’s championship-winning team unavailable, it was an onerous task for JJ Doyle’s outfit, and though they battled throughout, they never looked like winning once Niamh Kilkenny hit a 23rd minute goal.

Aisling O’Reilly opened the scoring for Galway in the second minute but a couple of points in three minutes from Ursula Jacob put Wexford in front. It was significant though that those two scores came from placed balls as they failed to score from play throughout. Indeed the entire game was a staccato affair punctuated by frees but as Galway gained dominance around the middle, they gradually pulled clear.