Before this afternoon’s All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship quarter-final between Galway and Waterford, it was six years since the teams last met with the Tribeswomen coming out on top on that occasion before progressing all the way to the final.
The westerners also made it to the showpiece event last year, where Kerry lifted the Brendan Martin Cup on the day.
Waterford drew with Dublin before earning a comprehensive victory over Leitrim to reach this year’s last eight stage while Galway beat Tipperary and Donegal to set up their first meeting since 2019.
And it was the hosts who got off to the better start with Eva Noone, Olivia Divilly, Ailbhe Davoren and Kate Slevin giving the Tribeswomen an early lead which was further strengthened when Kate Slevin dispatched of a penalty.
Some brilliant last ditch defending from Galway denied Waterford a green flag of their own but Lauren McGregor was able to put the ball over the bar after the goal mouth scramble to get the Déise on the scoreboard.
McGregor added her second point of the half with just over ten minutes remaining in the first half which was added to by Chloe Fennell to keep the Déise ticking before the break.
Waterford trailed the 2024 runners-up by seven points at the halfway mark, where a massive second half would be required to advance to the final four.
Further Galway scores kick started the second half in the west before Bríd McMaugh reduced the arrears with a point from range.
And the Déise kept the fight as McGregor notched her fourth point of the day to make it 1-10 to 0-06 with just over twenty minutes remaining.
Despite Galway adding further points, a goal from McGregor gave Waterford hope with twenty minutes remaining as she rounded goalkeeper Dearbhla Gower before firing into the net.
As the tie entered the final quarter, Waterford trailed by seven points before Bríd McMaugh handpassed over to bring the Déise back within six points.
McGregor reduced the gap to five when a goal may have been on offer to make for a nervy finish in Connacht.
However, the home side continued to show their kicking prowess until the final whistle as they progressed to the semi-finals on a 1-18 to 1-12 scoreline.
Galway: Dearbhla Gower, Bronagh Quinn, Sarah Ní Loingsigh, Kate Geraghty, Hannah Noone, Nicola Ward, Chellene Trill, Louise Ward, Siobhan Divilly, Niamh Divilly (0-01), Olivia Divilly (0-4), Ailbhe Davoren (0-02), Eva Noone (0-02), Leanne Coen (0-01), Kate Slevin (1-6)
Substitutes: Leah O’Halloran, Marta Banek, Charlotte Cooney, Aoibhinn Eilian, Mairead Glynn, Sophie Healy, Róisín Leonard (0-02), Aisling Madden, Emma Mitchell, Aoife Molloy, Shíofra Ní Scanláin, Lynsey Noone, Aoife O’Rourke, Kate Thompson, Andrea Trill
Waterford: Katelyn Gardiner, Cora Murray, Rebecca Casey, Aoife Murray, Hannah Power, Karen McGrath, Lia Ní Harta, Emma Murray, Eve Power, Katie Murray, Bríd McMaugh (0-4), Aine O’Neill, Chloe Fennell (0-1), Clare Walsh, Lauren McGregor (1-7)
Substitutes: Gemma Corcoran, Áine Power, Megan Dunford, Niamh Power, Caragh McCarthy, Lucie O’Shea, Laura Mulcahy, Ellen Bolger, Orlaith Kennedy, Caoimhe Reynolds, Aileen Wall, Dearbhla Beresford, Aoibhe O’Brien, Orlaith Power, Alice Hahesy
