Galway book home All-Ireland quarter-final with emphatic 19-point victory over Tyrone

Galway's Olivia Divilly and Roisín Leonard were the stars of the show in Tuam. Picture: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Ladies All-Ireland SFC: Galway 4-20 Tyrone 2-7

Galway followed up their opening round victory over Meath with an emphatic 19-point victory over Tyrone in the TG4 All-Ireland SFC in Tuam.

The result sees the Tribeswomen book their place in a home quarter final, while Tyrone must defeat Meath in their final group game to progress and avoid the relegation play-offs.

Olivia Divilly and Sorcha Gormally exchanged early points, before Tyrone’s Slaine McCarroll had an effort on goal crash off the crossbar. Galway points from Olivia Divilly, Siobhán Divilly, and Kate Slevin made it 0-4 to 0-1, before Tyrone struck for a terrific goal through Gormally.

The home side responded well, scoring 1-4 without reply to take control. Points from Olivia Divilly (free), Róisín Leonard, Niamh Divilly, and Slevin were complimented by an excellent goal from Olivia Divilly.

Although trailing by 1-8 to 1-1, Tyrone finished the first half strongly, adding 1-1 before the interval. Niamh O’Neill fired home a goal, before Maeve Maxwell pointed a free to leave three between the sides at half time.

The Ulster side had the wind behind them in the second period, but it was Leonard who tallied the opening score of the second half for Galway, before O’Neill got the scoreboard ticking at the other end two minutes later.

Olivia Divilly and O’Neill (free) exchanged points, before Galway had their second goal. Nicola Ward was the creator, breaking through the Tyrone defence before offloading to Leanne Coen, who finished to the net.

Leonard and Olivia Divilly (two points, one free) soon added points, as the home side pulled away. Tyrone centre back Méabh Corrigan pointed from the left wing, before Galway added three at the other end, through Leonard (two) and Eva Noone.

Leonard then set up Olivia Divilly for her second goal, before the Corofin forward added her sixth point a minute later. Gormally took another neat score for Tyrone, before Galway struck for 1-3 late in the game.

Leonard capped off a superb display with a goal, while Coen, Slevin and Niamh Divilly added points. O’Neill concluded the scoring with a good point for a Tyrone side which was well beaten on the day.

Scorers for Galway: O Divilly 2-6 (0-3f), R Leonard 1-6, L Coen 1-1, K Slevin 0-3, N Divilly 0-2, E Noone, S Divilly 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tyrone: N O’Neill 1-3 (0-1f), S Gormally 1-2, M Maxwell (1f), M Corrigan 0-1 each.

GALWAY: L. O’Halloran; B Quinn, S Ní Loinsigh, K Geraghty; H Noone, N Ward, E Power; N Divilly, S Divilly; E Noone, K Slevin, K Thompson; O Divilly, L Coen, R Leonard. 

Subs: L Noone for Thompson (44), A Molloy for H Noone (52), A O’Rourke for O Divilly (54), A Madden for Quinn (59), S Ní Scanláin for E Noone (59).

TYRONE: L Kane; E Quinn, G McKenna, J Hearty; C Canavan, M Corrigan, A Strain; M Mallon, A McHugh; S Gormally, C Campbell, E McCanny; M Maxwell, N O’Neill, S McCarroll. 

Subs: K Muldoon for Strain (40), C McNamee for McCanny (47), C Colton for Hearty (51), E Conroy for McHugh (56), A Quinn for Gormally (56).

Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).