Linda Collins the hero as Cork earn dramatic win to reach All-Ireland camogie final
Ashling Thompson of Cork, centre, celebrates with her team-mates after their side's victory in the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship semi-final. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
A cracking All-Ireland senior camogie championship semi-final eventually went the way of Cork, with captain Linda Collins shooting the winning point three minutes into stoppage time.
It was a non-stop affair, and with Cork down to 14 players after the late dismissal of Orla Cronin to a straight red-card, the Rebels survived this titanic battle against the 2020 All-Ireland champions, Kilkenny, and will be heading back to Croke Park for the decider against Galway on Sunday week.
It will be Cork’s first final in three years.
Cork were the better team over the hour. They bossed the opening half, but were made to fight to the bitter end by the champions.
Chloe Sigerson was immense as Cork headed to the half-time dressing room 0-10 to 0-5 in front — the Killeagh attacker posted five great points (four from play) with the breeze to her back. As well, Ashling Thompson and Hannah Looney were unrelenting, up against Denise Gaule and Grace Walsh.
Denying Kilkenny’s Aoife Doyle a goal in the early minutes also laid down a marker for the red and white.
Kilkenny came out a different team in the second half, and between the 39th and 45th minute struck 1-2 — the goal well worked from Claire Phelan to Miriam Walsh, who set up Mary O’Connell.
With seven minutes remaining, Kilkenny built on that momentum and moved 1-11 to 0-12 to the good. Gaule was accurate from placed balls (4) and there was one from play courtesy of Katie Power.
Orla Cronin and Fiona Keating levelled on 57 minutes. The crowd hardly had time to draw a breath when Katrina Mackey’s shot at goal was brilliantly blocked by Meighan Farrell, and it appeared extra time might be required.
Cork and Collins, however, had other ideas.
The straight red card shown to Cronin in those dying minutes means at the moment she misses the All-Ireland final.
Kilkenny manager Brian Dowling said, while disappointed not to push on when they went ahead in the second half, he has nothing but admiration for his team.
“We came back this year and we backed up the All-Ireland and won the league. But it’s not easy to win All-Irelands, it’s not easy to get to them and Kilkenny, Galway, and Cork have been the top three teams over the last number of years.
“Any time we’ve played in league or championship, there’s been nothing between us, and you don’t have a deserved right to be in an All-Ireland final, and unfortunately we’re not going to be there.
“It wasn’t easy for these girls to lose three All-Irelands; it would have been easy to pack it in and retire, but players like Collette Dormer, Denise Gaule, and Katie Power — what she’s gone through to get on the pitch is unbelievable — they’ll do anything to play.
“Kellyann Doyle was only passed fit last night. How she was able to play that match I’ll never know. She couldn’t raise her arm on Friday evening. I can’t speak highly enough of these girls — they’d die for the Kilkenny jersey. There’s a great bond in that group, but it’s so disappointing when you lose. You learn a lot more when you lose, so you have to move on from here.”
: O Cronin (0-6, 0-4 frees, 0-1 45), C Sigerson (0-5, 0-1 free), S McCarthy, K Mackey, L Collins and F Keating (0-1 each).
D Gaule (0-7 frees), M O’Connell (1-0), K Power (0-2), K Doyle and K Nolan (0-1 each).
A Lee; P Mackey, L Coppinger, M Cahalane; L Hayes, L Treacy, S McCarthy; H Looney, A Thompson; C Sigerson, F Keating, C O’Sullivan; A O’Connor, O Cronin, K Mackey.
L Collins for C O’Sullivan (50).
A Norris; M Teehan, C Dormer, D Tobin; K Doyle, M Farrell (Capt), C Phelan; G Walsh, D Gaule; M Walsh, K Nolan, M O’Connell; S Fitzgerald, K Power, A Doyle.
L Murphy for S Fitzgerald (38), N Deely for M Teehan (48), M Kenneally for A Doyle (55).
John Dermody (Westmeath).
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