Galway 3-10 Mayo 1-9: Niamh Fahey scored 2-6 as Galway retained the TG4 Connacht title with an impressive victory over Mayo at Tuam Stadium on Saturday night.
Fahey was inspirational for the reigning All-Ireland champions, tormenting the Mayo defence.
The sides had met earlier in the championship, in the round-robin section of the Connacht campaign, Mayo winning on that occasion. But Galway got unequivocal revenge here.
Galway were forced to start without last year's All-Ireland-winning captain, Annette Clarke, after she failed a late fitness test. But they controlled the flow of the game, Mayo finding it difficult to get quality ball to their inside forwards.
Fahey's first goal helped Galway to a 1-7 to 0-4 half-time lead.
Mayo fought back on the resumption and soon closed the gap to a goal, 1-7 to 0-7.
Galway's response was emphatic, though, Fahey rattling the Mayo net for the second time.
Galway substitute Ann-Marie McDonagh effectively sealed the victory when she scored her side's third goal moments later.
Cora Staunton grabbed a late goal for Mayo but it was little more than a consolation.
GALWAY: U Carroll; M Glynn, R Stephens, C Molloy; M O'Connell, A Daly, E Flaherty; P Gleeson (0-1), E Concannon; G Conneally (0-1), R McPhilbin, P Flaherty; N Fahey (2-6), N Duggan (0-1), L Joyce (0-1). Subs: C Cormican for Conneally; AM McDonagh (1-0) for McPhilbin; L Cahill for Flaherty; H Carroll for Joyce.
MAYO: L Connelly; N O'Shea, H Lohan, S McGing; H Jordan, C O'Hara, Y Byrne; C Egan, J Moran; M Heffernan, C Staunton (1-7), M Carter (0-2); K Colleran, C Heffernan, M Kelly. Subs: S Tyrell for Moran; E Mullin for Byrne; D O'Hora for Kelly.
