INTERMEDIATE FINAL Derry 3-12 Galway 3-12:GALWAY ENDED up being mightily relieved to have a second bit of the cherry, having seemed certain to claim the honours after scoring two injury time points.

This intermediate final ended in a welter of excitement, when with her side trailing by two points, Derry’s Karen Kielt hand-passed to the net in the second minute of injury time. But the referee had blown for a penalty, which Kate McAnenly buried to put her side a point ahead.

There was still time for Galway to hit back though and Rachel Monaghan was awarded a free, from which she herself pointed to ensure a replay on September 29th.

Derry looked like they were cruising in the first half, as Eilís Ní Chasaide’s fortuitous goal helped them open up a seven-point advantage, but a Maria Brehony goal gave Galway renewed hope. McAnenly and Catriona Cormican exchanged goals, but Derry’s lead was down to two at half-time.

Gráinne McGoldrick stretched that to three early in the second half before Galway gradually took over, with Clodagh McGrath thundering into the game around the middle. Deirdre Burke’s goal proved a vital inspiration before those points by Rachel Monaghan and McGrath and the late drama.

GALWAY: R Callanan; T Kenny, P Kenny, C Gill; L Farrell, S Noone, S Keane; C McGrath (0-1), A Lynsky; A O'Reilly (0-1), E Kilkelly (0-5, 1f, 1 45), M Brehony (1-0); D Burke (1-0), O Curtin (0-2), E O'Sullivan. Subs: C Cormican (1-0) for Lynskey (20); R Monaghan (0-3, 2f) for Keane (30); A Kenny for O'Sullivan (41); R Hennelly for Brehony (52).

DERRY: C O'Kane; M Quinn, A Ní Chasaide, A Mullan; A McCusker, E Ní Chasaide (1-0), M McGoldrick; S Cassidy (0-1), G McNicholl (0-2); T McElroy (0-2), K McAnenly (2-0, 1 pen), G McGoldrick (0-1, f); S Quinn (0-1), O Bradley, K Kielt (0-5, 2f). Subs: M Mooney for Quinn (34); K Bradley for O Bradley (46); A McPeake for Quinn (49).

Referee: G O'Dowd(Limerick).