No Munster breakthrough for Déise as Cork claim 60th crown
Rachel Walsh of Waterford in action against Pamela Mackey of Cork during the Munster Senior Camogie Championship final match between Cork and Waterford at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Cork held out for an incredible 60th Munster senior camogie championship title at sunny FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday. They had the better-balanced team and their scoring rate was spread among nine different players, including a positive impact from their bench.
By comparison, Waterford who were seeking their first title since 1959 (and their third in all) were too reliant on star forward Beth Carton for their flags. The 2023 Player of the Year landed 12 of her side’s total.
Amy O’Connor’s 21st minute green flag was a big score too for the winners.
It was a day when Midleton club mates Jerry Wallace and Ger Manley went head to head, new Waterford manager Wallace having guided Cork to multiple All-Ireland minor victories.
Credit to Waterford, who lost heavily to their opponents in last year’s All-Ireland decider, they took the game to Cork with the better start. And no surprise the opening score went to Carton from a placed ball. Carton offloaded to Niamh Rockett for a two-point lead.
In the seventh minute, Amy O’Connor opened Cork’s scoring, but a brace from Carton (one free) had Waterford 0-4 to 0-1 to the good.
There were some interesting match-ups too, most noteworthy was Waterford full-forward Kate Lynch sent to try and curtail Cork’s danger lady Amy O’Connor, and Waterford centre-back Clodagh Carroll as sweeper.
It didn’t take Cork long to find their groove.
When Fiona Keating parted to Saoirse McCarthy, they got the scoreboard moving again in the 12th minute.
Points followed from Laura Hayes, Sorcha McCartan, Keating and Amy O’Connor (free) to open up a two-point advantage.
A surging run from deep by Hayes found O’Connor, and after sprinting along the end line and opening up the Waterford defence, last season’s victorious captain batted to the net in the 21st minute, 1-6 to 0-4.
Waterford regrouped, and with all four points from Carton they outscored Cork four points to three from there to the half-way stage, and retired to the changing-room 0-8 to 1-9 in arrears.
Upon the restart, two points-in-a-row extended Cork’s lead.
Waterford weren’t going away and two frees and one from play from Carton made it a one score game after 40 minutes, 1-11 to 0-11.
The Déise went looking for goals, but there was no way past a strong Cork defence, who despite being without injured duo Libby Coppinger and Laura Treacy, held firm.
Waterford did, however, find a point from Rockett courtesy of Hawk Eye.
Sub Cliona Healy pulled one back for Cork to keep the margin at three points midway through the second half.
Twice Waterford came within two, but Cork’s bench provided scores through subs Clodagh Finn (2) and Orlaith Mullins to see it out.
Both teams will take momentum into the All-Ireland series which starts on Saturday when Cork are at home to Wexford, while Waterford will travel to The Ragg and renew acquaintances with the Premier County.
A O’Connor (1-6, 0-4 frees), K Mackey and C Finn (0-2 each), L Hayes, S McCarthy, F Keating, S McCartan, O Mullins and C Healy (0-1 each).
B Carton (0-12, 0-9 frees), N Rockett (0-2).
A Lee; M Murphy, M Cahalane (V-Capt), P Mackey; I O’Regan, A Healy, L Hayes; A Thompson, S McCarthy; H Looney, F Keating, S McCartan; A O’Connor, K Mackey, O Cahalane.
C Healy for H Looney (half-time), C O’Sullivan for S McCartan (52), C Finn for O Cahalane (54), O Mullins for K Mackey (58).
B O’Regan; K Corbett Barry, L Forrest, I Heffernan; T Power, C Carroll, B Bowdren; L Bray (Capt), O Hickey; M O’Brien, B Carton, N Rockett; A McNulty, K Lynch, R Walsh.
A Fitzgerald for A McNulty (33), S Lacey for M O’Brien (54), R Kirwan for B Bowdren (58), A Landers for R Walsh (63).
Aaron Hogg (Clare).
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