Anna Geary and Ursla Jacob on where it went wrong for Cork against Galway

Cork camogie legend Anna Geary said the basics were to blame for the Rebels' defeat to Galway in the All-Ireland camogie final when speaking to RTÉ at Croke Park.

The Milford native felt the one-point loss hinged on fine margins, including first-half turnovers and their struggles in scoring from play. The game looked to be over at the break, with Cork trailing 1-9 to 0-7 and without the red-carded Hannah Looney.

The Rebels rallied and were level in stoppage time after Orlaith Cahalane goaled from the tightest of angles in front of Hill 16.

Galway, however, secured an injury-time free that Carrie Dolan nailed to wrap the O’Duffy Cup in maroon ribbons.

There were many moments in the game that could be considered decisive, from a missed first half penalty, and Geary chose to focus on the basics.

“Galway got twice the amount of turnovers that Cork did,” she told RTÉ Sport.

“24 to 12. So that just shows their work rate. It typifies everything Anne Marie (Hayes) said, like really for me what typified this for Cork was going into the final quarter Cork had only managed to score five points from play. 

"So that just shows you how willing Galway were to keep up the intensity.

“As Ursla (Jacobs) said at half-time, will they be able to keep it up? Even though it dipped a little in the final quarter, they weren’t going to let Cork get that vital score.” 

BATTLING

The Rebels almost pulled off a stunning comeback, something that seemed unthinkable in the eyes of the panellists at half-time.

Cork visibly struggled to get through the Galway back-line, their only sight of goal resulted in a missed Katrina Mackey penalty in the 10th minute after Amy O'Connor was fouled. Mairead Dillon raised a Galway green flag, a huge first-half moment.

Cork looked frustrated as they struggled to put together a cohesive response, a point repeated by the RTÉ panellists. It didn't help of course that in the first minute of added time, Looney was shown a red card for hitting out at Dolan in response to an incident between the pair.

Ursula Jacob was asked about this in studio, and felt it highlighted Cork’s frustrations.

“Unfortunately for Hannah and for me it is a red card,” she said. “The Galway player comes in from behind and Hannah’s fist is head high. 

It is a red card. It probably sums up Cork in the first half. 

"They are frustrated and a little bit rattled. Galway are bringing that intensity and that fight but it was a really, really silly action from Hannah just before half-time. 

"For me, it is a justified red card.”