Cork camogie manager Ger Manley: 'Galway have some brilliant players and think they owe use one'

In his second season at the helm, Cork senior camogie manager Ger Manley is hoping to win another All-Ireland title.

This will make it three in a row for Cork and Manley has been involved in all of those wins.

In 2023, he was a selector with Matthew Twomey before taking over as manager last year. He led Cork back to Croker last year to see them get the better of Galway in the final.

That was a close battle, with just a goal between the sides at the end of the 60 plus minutes of play.

Sunday’s game (5.15pm) is a repeat of last year’s decider, and Manley knows it will be every bit as tough as last year.

“We are looking forward to it, that’s the aim for Cork camogie every year, to get back to the All-Ireland final once you get to the semi-final you have a chance and we are there now so looking forward to it,” Manley said.

Waterford were the Rebels’ opponents in the semi-final, a game that was close in the first half before Cork got the upper hand to advance.

"I think in the last 10 minutes of the first half we stepped it up. Once we got the goal, it sort of opened up then.

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“There was a very strong wind there, they had two sweepers and I suppose we got things right a small bit, the girls used the ball a bit better. In the 10 minutes before half-time we got some great scores. I think, in the second half, we were very good, we outscored them 1-16 to five points.

“We knew they were going to challenge us, like others did. We had some great games this year, Kilkenny in the league, Galway, and Tipp in the league was a good game as well. Clare gave us a good game in the championship.

“We respect everybody and we didn’t underestimate Waterford, they have some of the best players in the country in the likes of Beth Carton and Lorraine Bray. We all know what Niamh Rockett can do as well.

“But I think once we get on top there was always only going to be one winner.”

Galway and Cork games over the last few years have been close and tense, particularly last year’s final and Manley expects the same on Sunday.

“I think the important thing for us that we perform and that we embrace the challenge and it’s about winning again the next day. But whether we play good or bad, and we know we have to play well, it’s just about winning the match.

They are an exceptional team, they are physical and are going to be in our faces. They have some brilliant hurlers and they think they owe us one.

“This is our fifth final in a row, which shows how good these girls are. There has been no talk about the three-in-a-row, it’s about winning on Sunday and we can talk about that afterwards.”