Galway manager Cathal Murray has labelled new recruit, Niamh Mallon “a huge asset,” after the former Down star earned player of the match honours in Galway’s 3-19 to 0-7 victory over Clare at Kenny Park, Athenry on Saturday.
The result confirmed the westerners’ qualification to the knockout stages of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship.
Mallon transferred to All-Ireland club champions Sarsfields mid-way through the Very League, having found it untenable to continue the commute she had been making to play for Down and Portaferry over the years since work took her Corribside.
Alongside her ground-breaking efforts as a research scientist in the area of bio-analytics for elite female sports performance at Orreco, the 29-year-old’s added qualifications in the sport, exercise and nutrition sector earned her a role as part of the backroom team with Galway’s senior footballers.
Ann-Marie Starr of Galway
©INPHO/James Lawlor
Although yet to win an All-Star, Mallon has long been recognised as one of the best in the business over the past decade and her impact has come as no surprise.
The supreme finisher scored 1-4 from play in the first half against Clare and added another goal early in the second to be named player of the match. She was not on hand to accept the award, however, having left for Pearse Stadium after her substitution to link up with Pádraic Joyce’s men in maroon prior to their championship victory over Monaghan.
Team captain, Róisín Black collected the award on Mallon’s behalf and hailed the prodigious talent’s influence.
“Niamh has brought a great amount of experience to the team and has added greatly to the team as well,” said Black. “She brings us on, she drives us on. She’s raised the standard for us as well.”
Roisin Black (c) of Galway with her player of game award
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Lawlor
Murray concurred, while also praising the improving fluidity of the attack in general.
“She’s a huge asset,” said Murray of Mallon. “The two goals were really good to get. Niamh Kilkenny did brilliant to set up the one in the first half and Ailish (O’Reilly) did brilliant to set up one in the second.
“She’s a brilliant, brilliant player. We’re obviously really lucky to have her. She’s in Galway for six years at this stage, even longer. With the job with Galway footballers and her job with Orreco, it’s not possible for her to get back to Down. It’s a huge loss to them but a huge asset to us. She’s a really great player.
“I thought the forwards as a unit were good, they used the ball well in the first half. We got 15 shots off in the first half and scored with 13 of them so that’s really good. It’s building but we’ve a massive challenge coming up and we’ll know how good we are playing Cork next week in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.”
Progress to the semi-finals as Group 2 winners is the prize on offer in that tie. A similarly juicy clash with a similar reward available will take place in Group 1, as Kilkenny, who also cemented their knockout berth, will battle League champions, Tipperary.
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