Cork are All Ireland Senior Camogie champions for the third time in four years. Their 2-14 to 0-19 victory avenged Galway’s spoiling their three-in-a-row party plans last year. The Tribeswomen had the edge going in at halftime, but the Rebels fought back with two crucial goals in the second half and held off a late effort by the champs to retain their title.
Galway, via Niamh Niland, got the opening point in final in front of 33,419 fans at Croke Park and in the first quarter of an hour built up a 04-02 lead, with an on-form Caoimhe Kelly playing a starring role in the attack. Other Western stars included Aoife Donoghueand Carrie Dolan, who was also yellow-carded for after a couple of robust challenges felled opponents.
But the teams would be level four more times before Kelly got her third to make it 09-06. Cork came back to get the last point of the half.
In the second half, Cork took up where they left off and were back on level terms by the 36th minute, and were building real momentum. Sorcha McCartan’s third point put the Rebels ahead, but the Westerners back to level the game for the 7th time by way of a Niamh McPeake point.
Then seconds later at the other end, Saoirse McCarthy caught a long ball out from defense, shook off a Galway defender, sidestepped some more and fired a thunderbolt shot into the back of the net. It was the first goal conceded by the champions in the campaign and McCarthy’s first for Cork. It was 40 minutes gone.
Galway replied with a Niland point and then in the 46th, Cork got their second goal with Orlaith Cahalane shooting in from the left side into the right-hand corner of the net. The former champions were now in the driving seat with a five-point lead.
The sides continued to exchange points, but Cork had a 2-14 to 0-14 advantage as the clock ticked down. Galway then got the last five points of the game, but frustratingly also fired some wides. Goalkeeper Sarah Healy, who’d been told her free would be the last puck of the game, needed to shoot directly on goal but her effort went over for the final point.
Cork: Amy Lee; Izzy O'Regan, Libby Coppinger, Méabh Cahalane, Ava Fitzgerald, Méabh Murphy, Isobel Sheehan, Ashling Thompson, Laura Hayes (0-01), Emma Murphy (0-01) (Orlaith Mullins 56), Saoirse McCarthy (1-02 (1f)), Millie Condon, Amy O'Connor (0-05 (5f)), Órlaith Cahalane (1-01), Sorcha McCartan (0-04) (Hayley Ryan 60).
Galway: Sarah Healy; Rachael Hanniffy, Róisín Black, Dervla Higgins (0-01), Katie Manning (Shauna Healy 42), Ciara Hickey (Áine Keane 45), Katie Anna Porter, Ally Hesnan, Carrie Dolan (0-05 (4f)) (Áine Hughes 18 - temp), Niamh Mallon (Jennifer Hughes 18 (Shannon Corcoran 57)), Niamh McPeake (0-01), Aoife Donohue (0-03), Niamh Niland (0-04), Ailish O'Reilly (Mairéad Dillon 53 - (0-01)), Caoimhe Kelly (0-03).
Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)
Results
Camogie All-Ireland Senior Championship final
Cork 2-14 Galway 0-19, Croke Park
Camogie All-Ireland Intermediate Championship final
Antrim 1-22 Laois 0-11, Croke Park
Camogie All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship final
Armagh 0-17 Cavan 0-15, Croke Park
