KATE SLEVIN fired 1-6 to rocket Galway into a second successive TG4 All-Ireland SFC semi-final.
Slevin’s first-half penalty put Daniel Moynihan’s charges nine points clear but Lauren McGregor’s strike early in the second half gave the Déise new life.
Galway got off to the perfect start in Tuam with Eva Noone pointing early. Olivia Divilly, Ailbhe Davoren and a Slevin free added three more and on 12 minutes, Slevin struck a penalty.
McGregor responded for the Munster side before Divilly restored Galway’s seven-point cushion.
The teams shared the next four white flags before the break, leaving it 1-7 to 0-3 at half-time.
Galway maintained the momentum with Divilly adding two. McGregor and Bríd McMaugh reduced arrears to 1-9 to 0-5.
Galway pulled 1-12 to 0-6 clear as Slevin (two) and Davoren tallied against McGregor’s sole response. But the latter brought Waterford back to life when she goaled.
Points for McMaugh (two) and McGregor left the Munster finalists just 1-14 to 1-9 behind.
But scores from Eva Noone, Slevin (two), Divilly, Slevin and sub Roísín Leonard’s brace booked a semi-final with Dublin.
GALWAY: D Gower; B Quinn, S Ní Loingsigh, K Geraghty; H Noone, N Ward, C Trill; L Ward, S Divilly; L Coen 0-1, O Divilly 0-5, A Davoren 0-2; E Noone 0-2, N Divilly, K Slevin 1-6, 1-0pen, 4f. Subs: K Thompson for N Divilly 41 mins, L Noone for Coen 41, R Leonard 0-2 for Davoren 52, A Molloy for Trill 55, M Banek for Slevin 55.
WATERFORD: K Gardiner; C Murray, R Casey, L Mulcahy; A Murray, E Murray, K McGrath; H Power, E Power; B McMaugh 0-4, K Murray, Á O’Neill; L McGregor 1-7, 2f, C Walsh 0-1, C Fennell. Subs: A Wall for O’Neill 19 mins, Á Power for A Murray 50, L Ní hArta for Fennell 50, O’Neill for Walsh 54, M Dunford for K Murray 55.
REFEREE: J Murphy (Carlow).
