O'Hora off as Mayo let Galway back in

TG4 LADIES FOOTBALL ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINAL:

GALWAY 1-10 MAYO 1-10

2002 captain Diane O’Hora saw red in the second TG4 All-Ireland semi-final, as champions Mayo were forced to battle back in the final seconds against Connacht winners Galway for a 1-10 to 1-10 draw.

Niamh Fahey's 57th minute goal for the Tribeswomen sparked mayhem amongst 14-women Mayo, levelling the game at 1-9 apiece.

Seconds later, Corofin corner forward Patricia Gleeson put Galway in prime position for a surprise win, leading for just the second time, but four-time All-Ireland medal winner Cora Staunton held her nerve at the death to see the sides meet again at the same venue, next Saturday.

Kilannin half-forward Fahey earned a 57th minute close-in free, and showed a quick wit to edge her 20-metre shot inside Linda Connolly’s right post.

Mayo, gunning for a fifth Brendan Martin Cup in six years, opened the better and despite losing attackers Ciara McDermott and Fiona McHale to yellow cards, led 1-6 to 0-3 at half time.

22-year-old Staunton was once more the stand-out forward, using her strength to brush off Aine Gilmore’s challenge and fire a high shot to the Mayo net on 3 minutes.

Galway kept in touch with three frees from Niamh Duggan (0-2) and Fahey, but their challenge looked doomed when midfielder Lisa Cohill was sin-binned early in the second half.

On 40 minutes, Galway substitute Anne-Marie McDonagh notched her side's first score from play for 0-5 to 1-8. Despite seeing O'Hora sent off by Dublin official Tony Clarke five minutes later, for a high elbow barge on Marie O'Connell, Staunton rallied Mayo back to 1-9 to 0-6 in front.

Back came Galway, deservedly earning another shot at their first All-Ireland final appearance since 1975, as Duggan, Fahey and Gleeson saw them to a barnstorming finish.

Staunton's late free, with a minute-and-ten seconds remaining, sees Dublin still awaiting their final opponents.

Galway: U Carroll; M O’Connell, R Stevens, M Burke; F Wynne, A Gilmore, E Flaherty; L Cohill, A Clarke; G Joyce, N Fahey, G Conneally; P Gleeson, N Duggan, L Joyce.

Subs used: AM McDonagh for Conneally (28 mins), E O’Malley for Wynne (40), E Concannon for O’Connell (48), M Delaney for G Joyce (55)

Mayo: L Connolly; N O’Shea, H Lohan, MT Garvey; C O’Hara, Y Byrne, E Biggins; C Egan, C Heffernan; K Colleran, D O Hora, F McHale; C McDermott, M Heffernan, C Staunton.

Subs used: J Moran for C Heffernan (46 mins), T McNicholas for Colleran (49)

Half time: Galway 0-3 Mayo 1-6

Referee: T Clarke (Dublin)

Scorers: Galway: N Duggan 0-5 (5f), N Fahey 1-2 (1-1f), AM McDonagh, G Joyce, P Gleeson 0-1 each

Mayo: C Staunton 1-8 (5f), D O Hora (1f), C Heffernan 0-1 each