Danny Morrissey on Cork's U23 All-Ireland final loss: From the off, we were chasing the game

Huge disappointment for the Cork U23 camogie team on Saturday in Limerick.

At sun-scorched TUS Gaelic Grounds, the Rebels were beaten 1-11 to 1-8 by Galway when a late goal wasn’t enough to rescue an All-Ireland final that got away from the favourites in the second half.

Having been superb all through the group phase, Cork were outfought against a very well-organised Tribe.

Cork coach Danny Morrissey reflected on where it all went wrong.

“It is bitterly disappointing to lose. We came into the game well prepared and we were happy at where we were.

“We knew Galway would be stronger than they were in the group stages but we felt we were ready, but on the day we just didn’t click. They were very focused and from the off we were chasing the game.

The really disappointing aspect is that we simply didn’t perform and if you don’t perform on the big day you don’t succeed.”

The Cork coach had praise for Galway.

“Full credit to Galway, they performed well, they were well-structured but it is gutting me a little bit as I felt we were well set up as well.”

Galway had their homework done and the Cork tactics of handpassing to move the ball out from defence wasn’t working.

It was obvious that Galway had learned from the last outing between the sides and several times overturned Cork in possession.

“We tried to change it around but on the day it didn’t work out for us, we are so disappointed to have lost.

DEVELOP

“I suppose the ultimate thing here with this U23 competition was to develop players and we did that this year.

“Did we want to win the All-Ireland? Of course we did and these girls are so very disappointed not to have achieved what they worked so hard for all year, but I have no doubt that a few of the players here will go on and make the senior team.”

Cork prepared well and a few weeks ago played the senior team and Morrissey said they were delighted at how that game went. 

“We played the seniors a few weeks ago and it was a great game and we were in a really good place and the seniors said it was one of the toughest games they had but today nothing seemed to go right for us.”

This was a new competition after the Camogie Association changed the structure of their championships, which prevented second adult teams from counties like Cork and Kilkenny participating at intermediate level.

This U23 competition is superb and it has been a huge success and hopefully it will continue, but there is a place for second adult teams from counties to play at some level. 

"Imagine a lot of girls who are now 23, their inter-county careers are effectively over if they don’t make the senior team, and as we know it’s hard in successful counties to make the top team.

“They need to maybe bring in a second-tier adult championship for second teams and allow players continue to represent their counties.”