Unforgettable day as the camogie Rebels run riot at Croke Park 

It was a fantastic day to be a Rebel in Dublin yesterday, as fans watched their heroines do the double, winning both the intermediate and senior All-Ireland camogie finals, with the latter retaining their title in a back-to-back win.

Fans flocked to Croker in their droves to cheer on the intermediate and senior camogie teams as they battled it out to bring silverware home to Cork.

Speaking before the game, Eimear Hanlon from Fermoy told The Echo: “We are so excited for the two games today. It is just as important to support the women just as much as we did the men when they were on the hurling final.

“My daughters are so excited to be here in Croke Park and to see other girls playing is so powerful for them.”

Dozens of Cork clubs made the journey to Dublin, with busloads of young camogie and hurling enthusiasts thrilled to be cheering on their role models.

Sadbh, Amber, Rebecca and Ariana told The Echo that they were buzzing to be able to watch the Cork women in Croke Park.

The Cork intermediate side held their own against the Kilkenny Cats and, after a gruelling battle, came away with a one-point win.

Yesterday’s games marked 120 years of camogie and 120 U14 teams from across the country took part in a parade across the pitch as part of the celebrations.

Following the intermediate win, the senior team lined up to do the double and bring the O’Duffy Cup to Leeside for a second year in a row. The crowd grew in size ahead of the senior match, with a sea of red washing over the Hogan and Cusack stands.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions for Cork fans as the Rebels and rivals Galway went point for point in the early stages of the game.

A goal at the start of the second half proved to be crucial score, as the Rebel army rang out with chants for their beloved team.

The Tribeswomen supporters were just as eager to show their support, with deafening shouts and hollers for the teams echoing across the stadium.

When the final whistle marked the end of the thrilling match, a collective sigh of relief and elation was felt across the stand as the Cork camogie players embraced each other on the pitch, celebrating their victory.

Ballinhassig native Brendan Keane told The Echo of his delight at the double: “God, that was just a beautiful game. The women did us proud. The pride in Cork right now is through the roof I would say.”

The devastation felt following the last-gasp defeat of the Cork hurlers at the hands of Clare was a reoccurring topic of conversation for many of the supporters who travelled to Dublin for the match.

“The loss against Clare was gutting, utter heartbreak,” Richard Kelleher of Bandon said after the triumph. “I don’t think we could have taken another heartbreak like but thankfully we didn’t have to today.

“They did the double and that is such a big lift to everyone in Cork. Whether you watch camogie usually or not, there was definitely a big push this year to support the girls and I think the whole county will go to bed happy tonight after it.”

Follow their win in 2023, the Cork women celebrated in style, with team member Hannah Looney living out a lifelong dream to be rowed down the River Lee with the O’Duffy Cup in hand.

Yesterday she suggested going one better, and seeing if Cork’s Olympic gold medalists Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy want to get involved: “I must get on to [Paul and Fintan] and see if they’ll row me down the Lee, or I’ll go down to Skibb for a row!”

Meanwhile, the Cork teams can expect a rapturous welcome when they return to Leeside this evening with both the O’Duffy and McGrath Cups.

The homecoming celebrations will take place in Cork Camogie Grounds on Castle Road.

Celebrations get underway with entertainment from 5.30pm and the All-Ireland champions due on stage at 6.30pm.