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Cork hold firm to retain All-Ireland title against Galway

Updated / Sunday, 11 Aug 2024 21:20
Cork joint-captains Molly Lynch, left, and Meabh Cahalane lift the O'Duffy Cup
Cork joint-captains Molly Lynch, left, and Meabh Cahalane lift the O'Duffy Cup

A thrilling third quarter performance was significant but ultimately it was the impact of Cork's bench in the closing minutes that secured back-to-back All-Ireland senior camogie titles for them.

Level with six minutes to go - having winced as an earlier six-point advantage was wiped out by a resurgent Galway - the holders finished superbly with three points in a row to ensure the O'Duffy Cup remains on Leeside.

Substitutes accounted for all three of those scores with former Down star Sorcha McCartan, daughter of 1994 All-Ireland winning Down footballer Greg McCartan, nailing two of them and Clodagh Finn striking the other.

It was also Finn that helped create McCartan's second score in the 65th minute, leaving three between the teams and allowing Cork supporters to finally breathe out.

A crowd of 27,811 turned out, just shy of last year's record attendance, and they can't complain of being short changed in a blood and thunder epic that was level on nine occasions.

The first-half was tit-for-tat throughout. Then Cork surged six ahead after the third quarter before Galway fought back to level terms, providing the platform for Cork's terrific subs to have the final say.

It's a 30th title in all for Cork and the first time they've successfully defended the All-Ireland since 2018.

Amy O'Connor famously lit up last year's final with her hat-trick heroics though it was Katrina Mackey who top scored for Ger Manley's side this time, blasting 1-02 in all.

The win also capped a great week for captain Molly Lynch, Cork's deputy goalkeeper, who won the camogie All-Ireland Poc Fada on Bank Holiday Monday for the fourth year in a row.

As for Galway, their wait for a first title since 2021, when they beat Cork, and just a fifth ever will go on though they lost no face with a fulsome performance.

Cork came into the contest as overwhelming favourites, partly because of their status as champions and partly because they blitzed Galway by a dozen points only six weeks ago.

That was a final round Group 2 game and the win secured top spot for Cork and automatic qualification for the Championship's last four.

Galway took the longer journey to Croke Park but battling wins over 2023 finalists Waterford and National League winners Tipperary stood to them, initially at least.

Going with the same team that lined out against Tipp, the westerners edged a tight and tense first-half by 0-10 to 0-09.

It was a display of quality, resilience and most of all efficiency from Galway as the side managed by Cathal Murray finished the first-half with a 100% scoring rate - 10 shots, 10 points, no wides.

Galway got plenty of bodies in around the middle third and made it difficult for Cork stars like Ashling Thompson to get quality ball into their lethal attack.

Ashling Thompson, right, and Amy O'Connor Cork after the full-time whistle

The pay off, however, was that Cork were left with centre-back Laura Treacy playing as a spare defender.

Top scorer Carrie Dolan struck five of Galway's 10 first-half points from frees as they ran hard at the Hill 16 End, drawing yellow cards for Cork defenders Izzy O'Regan and Treacy.

At the other end, all six of Cork's starting forwards got on the scoresheet in a first-half that was level on eight occasions.

O'Connor, who memorably struck 3-07 in last year's final, had a terrific duel with Rachael Hanniffy and escaped her for two points in the first period.

Mackey struck two early points also despite the close attention of Galway captain Roisin Black while Orlaith Cahalane was picked up by Dervla Higgins.

Cork supporters suspected that their team had done enough to swing victory their way with that thrilling third quarter blitz.

The Rebels killed off Waterford in last year's final with three goals shortly after the restart and this time reeled off 1-04 without response between half-time and the 41st minute.

Thompson came strongly into the game, scoring a cracker of a point from the left wing before setting O'Connor free to create the Mackey goal in the 36th minute.

O'Connor, after spinning away from Hanniffy, played the ball across to Mackey who bundled it home from close range.

By the time Cork let up the siege, they led 1-13 to 0-10 and, apparently, had taken a giant step towards victory.

But their six-point lead was dramatically wiped out as Galway, regaining their foothold in the middle third, set up chance after chance and picked off six points in a row.

Dolan struck three of them, the increasingly influential Aoife Donohue sniped two and Ciara Hickey, having a fine game, nailed a beauty from beneath the Hogan Stand.

Galway couldn't kick on though as Cork finished superbly, their bench deciding the contest and providing those three late scores which won it.

Cork: Amy Lee; Meabh Murphy, Izzy O'Regan, Pamela Mackey; Hannah Looney, Laura Treacy, Laura Hayes; Ashling Thompson (0-01), Aoife Healy; Cliona Healy (0-01), Fiona Keating (0-01), Saoirse McCarthy (0-03, 0-01f); Amy O'Connor (0-03, 0-03f), Katrina Mackey (1-02), Orlaith Cahalane (0-02).

Subs: Sorcha McCartan (0-02) for Mackey 39, Ciara O'Sullivan for C Healy 47, Meabh Cahalane for Looney 51, Clodagh Finn (0-01) for Keating 53, Murphy for O Cahalane 63.

Galway: Sarah Healy; Dervla Higgins, Roisin Black, Rachael Hanniffy; Olwen Rabbitte, Aine Keane, Ciara Hickey (0-01); Annmarie Starr, Niamh Kilkenny; Niamh Mallon (0-01), Niamh McPeake, Aoife Donohue (0-04); Carrie Dolan (0-08, 0-07f), Ailish O'Reilly (0-02), Niamh Hanniffy.

Subs: Orlaith McGrath for O'Reilly 49, Niamh Niland for N Hanniffy 62, Ally Hesnan for Rabbitte 65.

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny).

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