'Thank God that goal was a square ball': Kate Geraghty and Leanne Coen relieved as Galway survive scare

Kerry thought they had won it with the last kick of the game but their goal was disallowed for a square ball.

RELIEVED: Galway's Kate Geraghty celebrates with Róisín Leonard. Pic: ©INPHO/Grace Halton.

Galway are All-Ireland Ladies football champions for the first time since 2004, but only after surviving an almighty scare late on.

Leading by a point, the majority of the Galway team could only watch on as Kerry captain Síofra O'Shea lined up a two-point free with less than 20 seconds remaining.

O’Shea’s effort dropped short yet somehow ended up in the back of the net. But Kerry’s celebrations were cut short as the referee signalled for a square ball, ensuring it was Galway who ultimately emerged victorious when the hooter sounded moments later.

“I haven’t watched it back, but we’ll see,” laughed captain Kate Geraghty, who was also named the player of the match, when asked by TG4 about the incident.

“What an amazing feeling. I’m just so happy to be here, listening to N17, listening to everyone shouting and screaming, it’s such an amazing feeling.

“We worked so much on it (defending) this year. Our management team has been fantastic, and they have really put everything in place for us to win here today.

“We were kind of playing a bit of a sweeper system. We had Siobhan dropping back or Louise and the likes, so they were helping us out back there.

“All our individual battles were so important, I think we have such great man-markers in our defense, so I think that really helped.

“We worked on controlling the game so much. We’ve lost a couple of games in the last five or ten minutes and with that free there at the end I was afraid it was going to happen again but I’m so happy it didn’t go that way.”

Her teammate Leanne Coen, who scored a crucial goal in each half, was also happy with the way the final concluded.

“Oh my god they (the last two minutes) were so stressful. So stressful, we’re just happy we got the win. Just thank God that goal was a square ball,” she also laughed.

“Only for the girls, Nic’s run in there for the second goal, unbelievable, she set me up really.

“We’re over the moon. Look at them, over the moon. Delighted!”