Cork hold off Galway to retain All-Ireland camogie title after classic final at Croke Park
Cork players celebrate after defeating Galway in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie final at Croke Park. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
It was a battle from start to finish and joy for Cork as they were crowned Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie champions at Croke Park.
Having never been really tested until the final Cork had to all on all their experience to get over the line against a Galway side that made life difficult for them from start to finish.
A goal from Katrina Mackey at the start of the second half proved to be crucial score as the Rebels retained their All-Ireland title. And late on when it was needed the Cork defence stood strong and boy did they need to as Galway threw everything a them.
But that they did as the O'Duffy Cup is now heading for Leeside for the second year in a row.
Cork took the lead after just 20 seconds when Katrina Mackey scored after a long ball in from Laura Hayes. They doubled their lead in the second minute when Saoirse McCarthy pointed from a free, before Carrie Dolan replied for Galway.
Another Dolan free had the sides level after six minutes as both sides settled into the game. Cork had the aid of the strong wind in the first half and were trying to make that tell as they played the ball long into the full forward line.
But early on credit to the Galway defence they were making it difficult for Cork to create any decent scoring chances. Amy O’Connor, from a free, put Cork back in front before Ailish O’Reilly had the sides level again after 10 minutes.
A brilliant point, from a tight angle out near the sideline by Mackey put the Rebels back in front, but again Galway hit back through Aoife Donohue.
The Tribeswomen took the lead for the first time 15 minutes in when Dolan pointed another free.
Orlaith Cahalane had the sides level for the fourth time when she pointed, but before that Cork felt hard done by when it looked like O’Connor had been fouled. Niamh Mallon put Galway back in front before Cliona Healy split the posts to level it once again.
O’Reilly restored Galway’s lead, before McCarthy had the sides level for the sixth time, 0-7 each. Dolan, from a free, and Fiona Keating exchanged scores as there was nothing between the sides with three minutes to half-time.
Another Dolan free put Galway back in front, before O’Connor pointed from a placed ball at the other end to make it 0-9 apiece. Just before half-time the Tribeswomen took the lead when Donohue pointed from play, to make it 0-10 to 0-9 at the break.
Cork were back on level terms a minute into the second half when Cahalane pointed and from the restart, they took the lead when Ashling Thompson scored.
With 35 minutes gonem Cork got the boost they needed when O’Connor took on the Galway defence, soared past a few defenders to set up Mackey for a green flag.
McCarthy added a point as the Rebels let Galway know they weren’t giving up their title easily, as he made it 1-12 to 0-10.
O’Connor pointed from a free and in the space of 10 minutes since the restart they went from a point down to six in front.
Dolan replied for Galway and she got another from a free, to reduce the deficit to four, 1-13 to 0-12.
Ciara Hickey hit another for Galway before Dolan pointed another controversial free. The referee had played advantage which they didn’t use and then had give Cork a free out.
But the linesman called her and she went back to the original free, to make it 1-13 to 0-14. Two in a row from Donohue had the sides level with nine minutes to go.
Sorcha McCartan put Cork back in front before Clodagh Finn extended their lead to two points, 1-15 to 0-16.
McCartan got the last score of the game to see the Rebels run out winners after a battle supreme and a game worthy of the final.
It made it a great day for the Rebel county as the intermediate were also crowned champions and should see huge crowds at the homecoming on Monday night.
K Mackey 1-2, A O’Connor (f), S McCarthy 0-3 each, O Cahalane, S McCartan 0-2 each, F Keating, C Healy, A Thompson, C Finn 0-1 each.
C Dolan 0-8 f, A Donohgue 0-4, A O’Reilly 0-2, N Mallon, C Hickey 0-1 each.
A Lee; M Murphy, I O’Regan, P Mackey; H Looney, L Treacy, L Hayes; A Thompson, A Healy; S McCarthy, F Keating, C Healy; A O’Connor, K Mackey, O Cahalane.
S McCartan for K Mackey (39 inj), C O’Sullivan for C Healy (47), M Cahalane for H Looney (50), C Finn for F Keating (53), E Murphy for O Cahalane (60).
S Healy; R Hanniffy, R Black, D Higgins; A Starr, A Keane, C Hickey; N Hanniffy, N Kilkenny; A Donohue, N McPeake, O Rabbitte; C Dolan, N Mallon, A O’Reilly.
O McGrath for A O’Reilly (48), N Niland for N Hanniffy (60), A Hesnan for O Rabbitte (60).
Liz Dempsey, Kilkenny.
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