Latest news with #Mallon
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Into the west: Niamh Mallon at home with Galway after year of 'overthinking'
Mallon in maroon. A more comfortable fit than last year. On-field contributions are better for that improved fit. It's amazing what stirs unseen beneath the surface. Niamh Mallon made her Galway debut 45 minutes into last year's Camogie League final. She rose three white flags in the quarter of an hour she was on the field. Her debut campaign in adopted colours concluded with All-Star selection at right corner-forward. It was a selection heavily influenced by an All-Ireland semi-final display where she top-scored with 1-3 from play and won the 59th minute free that triggered their decisive late scoring burst. A seamless switch into new colours and new environs. Well, to those on the outside looking in anyway. After her latest semi-final heroics on Saturday, the Portaferry native opened up on a difficult maiden voyage in maroon. A sports scientist at Galway-based firm Orreco, where she conducts the company's Redox testing, essentially a point-of-care blood test for oxidated stress levels, Mallon commuted from Galway to continue lining out for Down following her move west in 2018. The commuting ceased last year. She took on the challenge of trying to make the cut in one of the most competitive camogie dressing-rooms around. That challenge was quickly conquered. The challenge that stumped her was she herself feeling comfortable in maroon. 'Last year was a huge challenge,' she began. 'It probably was quite stressful from my own perspective, a new environment, something I wasn't used to in 12, 13 years in terms of a camogie dressing-room. I have definitely got more comfortable around the group, I have definitely got more comfortable around the environment, and that is leading to a lot more enjoyment. I couldn't be happier, to be honest with you.' The western welcome was there from the first moment she joined Cathal Murray's group. The issue was Mallon convincing herself she belonged. That took time. 'It was completely my own doing. It was nobody else. Cathal and the girls were super, and they did everything in their power to integrate me into the group. But it was something new to me and something I grappled with, and probably overthought a lot, whereas this year, I am completely comfortable in the group and it has led to a more enjoyable experience.' It has also led to a series of outstanding showings. For the second semi-final running, Mallon was Galway's top-scorer from play, albeit she shared the title on this occasion with Ailish O'Reilly. Along with her 1-2 tally, she won the Tipperary puckout for Galway's sixth point, was fouled for their first score after half-time, and had the assist for Aoife Donohue's final quarter white flag. With 1-17 across five games, she heads into the decider as their leading contributor from play. 'Last year was about finding my feet and probably me feeling the need to deliver, whereas this year I feel completely at ease and yeah, it has led to better performances and a more enjoyable experience overall,' continued Mallon, who serves as the nutritionist to Pádraic Joyce's Galway footballers. The Down sharpshooter was one of seven starters from Saturday's team that didn't feature in the 2023 semi-final defeat to Cork. Last year, so, was about returning to the final. This year is about traveling the whole distance. 'Today was definitely a stepping stone on what we want to do. Last year, there was huge euphoria and joy after the semi-final, such was the nature of how we won the game, whereas today, it felt like we had a job to do, and we did it. We are just delighted to be heading back to Croke Park in two weeks' time. That was ultimately the goal. 'I think the team as a whole has matured massively over the past 12 months. Last year, Ciara Hickey and Olwen Rabbitte probably hadn't been involved in games like this, whereas now, a year under the belt, 12 months of training, 12 months of being used to the players around them, the environment, they have huge aspirations and ambitions of getting back to the biggest day. That probably all contributed to the performance today. 'Cathal has done a brilliant job of bleeding players into the group over the last 12-18 months, myself included. It has been hugely important. We are in the final, but we have a lot of work to do if we are going to pull it off.' Mallon was held to a point in the '24 decider defeat to Cork. Now more at ease in maroon, the Galway import is striving for improved final involvement.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Niamh Mallon's goal makes the difference as Galway book spot in All-Ireland camogie final with win over Tipperary
NIAMH MALLON'S goal gave Galway the daylight they needed as the Tribeswomen set up an All-Ireland camogie final rematch with old foes Cork. The Westerners were deserving winners but did not have it all their own way at Nowlan Park. Tipperary fought to the end and it took a sensational block by Tribe corner-back Dervla Higgins to deny Jean Kelly a goal that might have made for a nervy finish. When Mallon pointed off the stick via keeper Laura Leenane's hurley in the 25th minute, Galway seemed Croke Park-bound, 0-8 to 0-2 in front and full value for their lead. Tipp had lost full-back Karin Blair to injury at the end of the first quarter but a speculative shot by her defensive colleague Karen Kennedy in the 26th minute was miscontrolled into the net by Galway keeper Sarah Healy. Suddenly, all the momentum was with Denis Kelly's Premier. Casey Heffernan and Eimear Heffernan shot scores and Grace O'Brien brought her tally to four points from placed balls. Read More on Camogie Incredibly, the sides went in level — 0-9 to 1-6 — at the break. But Cathal Murray's Tribeswomen kept their composure. Ailish O'Reilly — who notched 0-4 — set up Mallon for her 39th-minute goal, with Carrie Dolan hitting 0-6 in total to steer the Connacht side to victory and a shot at All-Ireland final revenge. GALWAY : Sarah Healy; Shauna Healy, R Black, D Higgins; R Hanniffy, A Starr, E Helebert; C Dolan 0-6, 4f, A Donohue; O Rabbitte, A O'Reilly 0-4, C Hickey; N Mallon 1-2, M Dillon 0-3, C Kelly 0-2. Subs : S Gardiner for Helebert 42mins; S Rabbitte 0-1 for Dillon, A Hesnan for Starr 52; N Niland for Kelly; J Hughes for O Rabbitte 60+1. Most read in GAA Hurling TIPPERARY : L Leenane; J Bourke, K Blair, C McCarthy; E Loughman, M Eviston, S Corcoran; K Kennedy 1-1, C Maher; E Heffernan 0-1f, C Hennessy 0-1, G O'Brien 0-7f; M Burke, R Howard, C McIntyre. Subs : E Carey for Blair inj 20mins; J Kelly 0-1 for Burke 44; A McGrath for Maher 55. REFEREE : J Heffernan (Wexford). 1 Ailish O'Reilly, right, and Niamh Mallon of Galway celebrate after the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Senior Championship semi-final against Tipperary Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
The Journal
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Journal
Mallon goal helps Galway shake off Tipperary and return to All-Ireland camogie final
The 42 Updated at 19.49 Galway 1-18 Tipperary 1-11 A BRILLIANT goal in the 39th minute by Niamh Mallon was the key score as Galway returned to the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie final with a deserved victory over Tipperary. The westerners were the better side, but they certainly did not have things their own way. Tipp fought right to the end, and it took a sensational block by the outstanding Dervla Higgins to deny Jean Kelly a goal that might have made it nervy. But there was no questioning the merit of Galway's win, Higgins, Shauna Healy and Róisín Black forming a most obdurate full-back line that provided the platform for the triumph. Up front, Mallon's goal might have earned the plaudits, but Ailish O'Reilly, who is in pursuit of a fourth All-Ireland medal, contributed four points as well as drilling a wonderful pass to Mallon for the definitive major. It was a strange sort of a game, and when Mallon pointed off the stick via Laura Leenane's hurley in the 25th minute, Galway seemed to be moving inexorably towards a Croke Park return. They were 0-8 to 0-2 in front, full value for that, and there seemed a real danger of the game drifting to an inevitable conclusion. Neither side had excelled, and even with their eight points, Galway shot some poor wides, but Tipp were particularly disjointed and wasteful from the few good positions they had created. When they lost Karin Blair with what looked like symptoms of concussion at the end of the first quarter, it only added to the sense of doom. But a shot by Karen Kennedy in the 26th minute was mis-controlled uncharacteristically into the net by Sarah Healy. The leaders were suddenly shaken, and the Premier were shaken from their torpor. The result was that somehow, they went in level at the break, 0-9 to 1-6 and all the momentum with Denis Kelly's side. Casey Heffernan and Eimear Heffernan pointed, and Grace O'Brien brought her tally to four from placed balls. Advertisement The interval probably came at the wrong time for them, while Cathal Murray welcomed the opportunity to recalibrate. All the evidence after the resumption was that the Galway players had recovered their composure, but Tipp would thankfully not return to their early ineptitude. But once O'Reilly placed Mallon, who carried to the edge of the square before firing a rocket to the far corner of the Tipp net, the Tribeswomen were able to keep their valiant opponents at arm's length. Kelly followed a pointed free by O'Brien with a smart score to keep Tipp interested. Mairéad Dillon added to her first-half brace, however, and was promptly hauled ashore, Sabina Rabbitte having been stripped and ready to go, and the Athenry attacker justified the decision by splitting the posts within seconds. There would be no way back for Tipp from there. SCORERS FOR GALWAY: C Dolan 0-6(4fs); A O'Reilly 0-4; N Mallon 1-2; M Dillon 0-3; C Kelly 0-2; S Rabbitte 0-1 SCORERS FOR TIPPERARY: G O'Brien 0-7(fs); K Kennedy 1-1; E Heffernan (f), C Hennessy, J Kelly 0-1 each GALWAY: Sarah Healy, Shauna Healy, R Black, D Higgins, R Hanniffy, A Starr, E Helebert, C Dolan, A Donohue, O Rabbitte, A O'Reilly, C Hickey, N Mallon, M Dillon, C Kelly. Subs: S Gardiner for Helebert (42); S Rabbitte for Dillon, A Hesnan for Starr (52); N Niland for Kelly, J Hughes for O Rabbitte (60+1) TIPPERARY: L Leenane; J Bourke, K Blair, C McCarthy, E Loughman, M Eviston, S Corcoran, K Kennedy, C Maher, E Heffernan, C Hennessy, G O'Brien, M Burke, R Howard, C McIntyre. Subs: E Carey for Blair inj (20), J Kelly for Burke (44), A McGrath for Maher (55) REFEREE: Justin Heffernan (Wexford) Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here Written by Daragh Ó'Conchúir and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Second-half surge sees Galway back into All-Ireland final
A brilliant goal in the 39th minute by Niamh Mallon was the key score as Galway returned to the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie final with a deserved victory over Tipperary, coming out on top by 1-18 to 1-11. The Tribe County were the better side but they certainly did not have things their own way. Tipp fought right to the end and it took a sensational block by the outstanding Dervla Higgins to deny Jean Kelly a goal that might have made it nervy. But there was no questioning the merit of Galway's win, Higgins, Shauna Healy and Róisín Black forming a most obdurate full-back line that provided the platform for the triumph. Up front, Mallon's goal might have earned the plaudits but Ailish O'Reilly, who is in pursuit of a fourth All-Ireland medal, contributed four points as well as drilling a wonderful pass to Mallon for the definitive major. Galway 1-11 Tipperary 1-07 Niamh Mallon finds the back of the net after a superb pass from Ailish O'Reilly 📱 📻 — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 26, 2025 It was a strange sort of a game and when Mallon pointed off the stick via Laura Leenane's hurley in the 25th minute, Galway seemed to be moving inexorably towards a Croke Park return. They were 0-08 to 0-02 in front, full value for that, and there seemed a real danger of the game drifting to an inevitable conclusion. Neither side had excelled and even with their eight points, Galway shot some poor wides but Tipp were particularly disjointed and wasteful from the few good positions they had created. When the lost Karin Blair with what looked like symptoms of concussion at the end of the first quarter, it only added to the sense of doom. But a shot by Karen Kennedy in the 26th minute was mis-controlled uncharacteristically to the net by Sarah Healy. The leaders were suddenly shaken and the Premier were shaken from their torpor. The result was that somehow, they went in level at the break, 0-09 to 1-06 and all the momentum with Denis Kelly's side as Casey Heffernan and Eimear Heffernan pointed and Grace O'Brien brought her tally to four from placed balls. The interval probably came at the wrong time for them, while Cathal Murray welcomed the opportunity to recalibrate. All the evidence after the resumption was that the Galway players had recovered their composure but Tipp would not return to their early ineptitude. Galway 0-08 Tipperary 1-02 A Karen Kennedy goal brings Tipperary right back into the contest 📺 📱 📻 — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 26, 2025 But once O'Reilly placed in Mallon, who carried to the edge of the square before firing a rocket to the far corner of the Tipp net, the Tribe were able to keep their valiant opponents at arm's length. Kelly followed a pointed free by O'Brien with a smart score to keep Tipp interested. Mairéad Dillon added to her first-half brace, however, and was promptly hauled ashore, Sabina Rabbitte having been stripped and ready to go, and the Athenry attacker justified the decision by splitting the posts within seconds. There would be no way back for Tipp from there. Galway: Sarah Healy, Shauna Healy, R Black, D Higgins, R Hanniffy, A Starr, E Helebert, C Dolan (0-06, 0-04fs), A Donohue, O Rabbitte, A O'Reilly (0-04), C Hickey, N Mallon (1-02), M Dillon (0-03), C Kelly (0-02). Subs: S Gardiner for Helebert (42); S Rabbitte (0-01) for Dillon, A Hesnan for Starr (52); N Niland for Kelly, J Hughes for O Rabbitte (60+1). Tipperary: L Leenane; J Bourke, K Blair, C McCarthy, E Loughman, M Eviston, S Corcoran, K Kennedy (1-01), C Maher, E Heffernan (0-01, 0-01f), C Hennessy (0-01), G O'Brien (0-07, 0-07fs), M Burke, R Howard, C McIntyre.
The 42
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'Ciara's a great person, a complete and utter role model for everybody'
GALWAY STAR NIAMH Mallon has sent her support towards her former camogie team-mate Ciara Mageean, in the wake of the Irish athlete's cancer diagnosis. The two-time Olympian and European 1500m champion announced on Friday that she has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment. Writing on Instagram last week, the 33-year-old said the diagnosis has 'been a lot to take in,' but is 'ready to face this with the same fight I've always brought to the track'. Advertisement And Galway forward Mallon, originally from Mageean's hometown of Portaferry in county Down, is thinking of the 'super athlete' and 'even better person'. 'I know Ciara quite well,' said Mallon. 'We played underage camogie for Portaferry for a number of years before Ciara's athletics career took off. 'Ciara's a super athlete, but I think the thing that everybody in the country can relate to, she's an even better person. 'It's a tough time for Ciara, it's a tough time for her family and I know that everybody, particularly in Portaferry, is behind and wanting to wish her well. If there was ever a woman to fight what Ciara has to face, she's the woman to do so. 'I've absolutely no doubt that just like every setback that Ciara's had in her career, she'll overcome this one just as well. Ciara's a great person and a complete and utter role model for everybody, not only in Portaferry but across the country.' Mageean has strong camogie roots. After winning 1500m gold at the European Championships last June, she famously told RTÉ's David Gillick: 'I didn't grow up playing camogie to get boxed in.' Niamh Mallon was speaking yesterday after winning the PwC GPA Women's Player of the Month in camogie for June. Mallon, who moved to Galway for work in 2018 and transferred to the Tribe after a lengthy inter-county career with Down, has starred on their run to the All-Ireland semi-final, where they face Tipperary on Saturday 26 July in a UPMC Nowlan Park double-header. Defending champions Cork face Waterford in the other last four clash.
