Camán everybody! Cork and Galway fans head to Croke Park for camogie final

Fans from all over the country will be there as Kerry and Offaly do battle in the intermediate final, and Laois face Armagh for the junior honours

Camogie players at the Cúl Camp at Na Piarsaigh in Cork will be cheering on Cork's senior team who do battle with Galway on Sunday for the O'Duffy Cup. Keep up with all the news ahead of the finals at IrishExaminer.com/sport. Picture: Jim Coughlan

After all the talk about shorts and skorts, on Sunday it’s going to be all about the silverware.

Following weeks of early headlines about camogie’s on-pitch dress code, the focus turns firmly tomorrow to the All-Ireland camogie final as heavyweights and defending champions Cork, who are out to do the treble, face last year’s beaten finalists, Galway.

While Cork are going in as favourites, the Tribeswomen, who have a poor record in the final, are going all out to spoil the three-in-a-row party on Leeside, in the hope of claiming their first All-Ireland title since 2021.

Cork's Ashling Thompson evading Ailish O'Reilly of Galway at last year's All-Ireland Senior Camogie Final in Croke Park. It's effectively a rematch on Sunday as the counties face off at the culmination of a triple bill of sport and entertainment at Croke Park. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane

But, as all Cork GAA fans know, after the painful second-half collapse of the county’s senior hurling team against Tipperary in last month’s All-Ireland hurling final, it’s a game of two halves and anything can happen.

Almost 28,000 fans attended last year’s final, one of the highest recorded attendances in camogie history, and the Camogie Association said they expect a massive crowd in GAA headquarters tomorrow, with a triple header of fixtures and a range of new pre- and post-match entertainment planned.

Camogie player Kaci Mae Hourigan in her Na Piarsaigh club colours will be supporting the senior women of Cork in the Camogie All-Ireland Final on Sunday. Picture: Jim Coughlan 

Laois and Armagh face off in the premier junior final for the Kay Mills Cup at 1pm, followed by the intermediate final between Kerry and Offaly at 3pm for the McGrath Cup, with the senior final the centrepiece at 5.15pm.

Fans are in for more than just thrilling sporting action — they can expect a full day of family-friendly entertainment before and after the matches, both on and off the pitch.

Fiadh Murphy and Lauren Hetherington all set with their camáns at the Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camp in Na Piarsaigh, and looking forward to supporting Cork in Sunday's senior camogie final. Picture: Chani Anderson

There will be a tailgate party in the Croke Park Hotel from noon, featuring music and face-painting, with live DJ sets and a dance cam in Croke Park throughout the day, as well as T-shirt cannons and drumming performances.

Brian Molloy, Uachtarán of the Camogie Association, said it promises to be a great day out as they continue work to improve the popularity of the game.

Darcy Neville and Lucy Gardiner at Na Piarsaigh GAA Club on Fairhill in Cork with the Munster Minor Hurling Cup and the Munster Senior Hurling Cup and hopes that the senior camogie team bring home more silverware on Sunday. Picture: Jim Coughlan

“We’ve got something for everyone — from die-hard supporters to families looking for a memorable summer day out,” he said.

“With entertainment from start to finish, the atmosphere promises to be electric, both on and off the pitch. It’s a true celebration of camogie, community and culture — you won’t want to miss it.”

Cork captain Meabh Cahalane and Galway’s Áine Keane ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland camogie final. Sadly, Áine is sidelined due to injury but will be in Croke Park to cheer her county on. Keep up with squad news ahead of the finals at IrishExaminer.com/sport. Picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

But on the pitch, Cork’s impressive firepower and strong subs bench could be the difference.

Each team has a player among the top five scorers in this year’s championship — Cork’s Amy O’Connor is ranked third, with 5-30, including 20 points from frees and one ’45, while Galway’s Carrie Dolan is at number four, with 42 points, including 32 from frees and one ’45.

Ayesha Bintali, Keeva Bogue, and Áine Bruce enjoying the Cúl Camp at Na Piarsaigh GAA Club in Cork and looking forward to the camogie final in Croke Park on Sunday. Picture: Chani Anderson

She’s the only Galway player in the top 10, but Cork has a second player in the top 10 sharpshooters — Saoirse McCarthy. She has scored 1-18 on the road to the final — including eight points from frees — putting her at number nine in the top 10.

Faye MacCormack, Ava O’Connor, Zoya Mumtaz, Radhika Karni, and Lily-May O’Sullivan enjoying the Kellogg’s Cúl Camp in Na Piarsaigh GAA Club in Cork. Picture: Chani Anderson

The stats also show that Cork has scored an average of 3-22 per game and conceded 11, compared to Galway’s average score of 1-19 per game and conceding 10.

Birthday girl Sadie McCormack with the Munster Minor Hurling Cup and the Munster Senior Hurling Cup. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Cork are the most successful team in the history of the championship, with 30 titles, having won in 2023 and 2024, and aiming to be the first team to complete a three-in-a-row since Wexford in 2012.

Galway have a very poor record in All-Ireland camogie finals, having appeared in 21 and lost all but four — 1996, 2013, 2019, and 2021.

Kerry’s Patrice Diggin and Offaly’s Orlagh Phelan ahead of the intermediate camogie final between Kerry and Offaly which throws in at 3pm on Sunday ahead of the senior final between Cork and Galway. Picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho 

So while the stats and form book suggest the O’Duffy Cup will be back on Leeside on Monday, anything can happen once the sliotar is thrown in.

UCC will have a lot of interest in the game, with 17 members of the panel having played with UCC — eight are current students, and nine are graduates.

The Glen Dimplex Senior Camogie Championship Final takes place in Croke Park on Sunday, with a 5.15pm throw-in.