Kilkenny dethrone champs Galway to win 14th All-Ireland camogie crown

Denise Gaule's late goal from a penalty was the crucial score

Kilkenny’s Ciara Phelan and Miriam Bambrick celebrate

All-Ireland camogie final: Kilkenny 1-14 Galway 1-11

Kilkenny knew ever before they set foot in Croke Park on Saturday night if they couldn’t match Galway’s intensity, they wouldn’t survive. They were taught a harsh lesson in last year’s Liberty Insurance senior camogie final and a fourth successive defeat would be hard to stomach.

A ferociously physical and thrilling battle ensued. The sides were level four times before Orlaith McGrath goaled in the 25th minute to give Galway a 1-5 to 0-6 interval lead.

But Kilkenny re-emerged with all the answers. They tore into it and within five minutes were level. They wouldn’t fall behind again.

Denise Gaule (1-6) arrowed over a pair of frees and the outstanding Katie Nolan - one of four players taking part in their first senior final (along with Aoife Norris, Mary O’Connell and Michelle Teehan) landed a huge point from distance.

If ever someone epitomised what was great about this Kilkenny come-back, it was Nolan who shared the inside forward line with another heroine, Aoife Doyle. Nolan’s work-rate absolutely immense with hooks, blocks and turn overs. Doyle, whose sister Kellyann recovered from injury to form a strong half-back line alongside Meighan Farrell and Claire Phelan, ended with four points.

Kilkenny's Grace Walsh

“You need that if you want to win against the likes of Galway,” said Phelan. “That has to be there. The forwards ran themselves into the ground in the second-half. It’s brilliant as a back to see those turnovers. It drives you on even more.

“At half-time, the lads said 'back yourselves. You’ve done it before'. The same happened in Cork (semi-final had to come from behind). So no-one was going mad. It was a case of sticking with the game plan.” Exceptional Gaule, Aoife Doyle and Grace Walsh points put them in the ascendancy, 0-13 to 1-8 on 50 minutes. Prior to this, three decent goal opportunities had gone amiss. Yet, they remained focussed despite Niamh Kilkenny and Carrie Dolan gaining parity again.

Gaule’s penalty in the 58th minute was the game-changer. Brought down in the danger area after a resplendent move involving Phelan and Anna Farrell, there was no time to feel sorry for herself. Under the new rules, the penalty is one-on-one, and she fired to the bottom corner. A superb placed ball followed to push the advantage to four at the end of normal time. Dolan’s sixth point arrived in the second minute of stoppage to ensure a tight finish, but the Cats survived.

“Sometimes it is your time and today was ours,” reflected Brian Dowling, in his maiden year as manager. He was trainer under Ann Downey. “We were so focussed on winning this game. We knew Galway were a brilliant team, they have been great All-Ireland champions. I said it all week this had to be our best performance of the year or we wouldn’t be winning. And I think we did. At half-time, we said if we can get ahead we can win it.

Kilkenny's Denise Gaule celebrates scoring a goal. Picture: INPHO/Tommy Dickson

“The devastation these girls have gone through. Going back into the dressing-room last year after losing to Galway was absolutely cruel, going back to the Red Cow (hotel), all the parents were there and everyone was crying.

“There has been a dark cloud hanging over this team for the last few years. It has finally been lifted.” While clearly disappointed, Galway manager Cathal Murray acknowledged the better team won. “We are not really performing as well as we can all year. We were grinding out results without being very good in games. Kilkenny were very good today, we knew they would be.

“You are always waiting for the big performance to come. We were hoping it would be today but it wasn’t to be."

60-SECOND REPORT

IT MATTERED: Obviously Denise Gaule's penalty. But Kilkenny’s all-shoulders to the wheel mentality was vital.

CAN’T IGNORE: Kilkenny putting an end to their losing streak at GAA headquarters. The two one-point defeats to Cork in 2017 and 2018 were particularly harrowing, followed by a six-points loss to Galway last year.

GOOD DAY: Nobody could begrudge Kilkenny their hour of glory. Saturday night was their 14th All-Ireland title.

BAD DAY: Kilkenny turned the tables on Galway who were seeking back-to-back titles and Sarah Dervan looking to become the first captain to lift successive trophies since 1966.

SIDELINE SMARTS: So many different match-ups. All fascinating, especially the battle between Davina Tobin and Orlaith McGrath. Kilkenny’s placing of Grace Walsh at midfield with Anna Farrell worked very well.

BEST ON SHOW: There were so many headline makers. Aoife Doyle received the official POTM and you could have no qualms. For me though, Katie Nolan was the star of the evening.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE: Owen Elliot had a very good game. He left it flow while the trial playing rules look to be a welcome addition.

HAVEN’T SEEN BEFORE: Two Kilkenny greats – Nicky Brennan and Ann Downey – in the media box trying to stay calm doing commentary duty!

Scorers for Kilkenny: D Gaule (1-6, 1-0 pen, 0-4 frees, 0-1 45), A Doyle (0-4), A Dalton, M O’Connell, K Nolan and G Walsh (0-1 each).

Scorers for Galway: C Dolan (0-6, 0-5 frees), O McGrath (1-0), S McGrath (0-2), A Donohue, N Kilkenny and A O’Reilly (0-1 each).

KILKENNY: A Norris; M Teehan, C Dormer, D Tobin; C Phelan, M Farrell, K Doyle; G Walsh, A Farrell; D Gaule, M Walsh, A Dalton; K Nolan, A Doyle, M O’Connell.

Subs: L Murphy for M O’Connell (54), N Deely for K Doyle (60).

(Sub Lucinda Gahan is the Kilkenny captain)

GALWAY: Sarah Healy; T Kenny, S Dervan (Capt), H Cooney; E Helebert, Shauna Healy, C Cormican; A Donohue, N Kilkenny; S Gardiner, A O’Reilly, N Hanniffy; O McGrath, C Dolan, S McGrath.

Subs: S Spellman for E Helebert (51), R Hennelly for A Donohue (62).

Referee: Owen Elliot (Antrim).