Méabh Cahalane available for Cork’s All-Ireland camogie final against Galway

Unfortunately for her sister, Grainne, the news is not so good as an ankle injury sustained at training on Tuesday night looks to have taken her out of the fray for Sunday week.

Wed, 31 Jul, 2024 - 08:14

Eoghan Cormican

All-Star defender Méabh Cahalane will be available for Cork’s All-Ireland camogie final clash with Galway on Sunday week.

A hamstring injury saw Cahalane sidelined for the county’s final group outing against Galway at the end of last month, as well as last Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final annihilation of Dublin.

The 2023 All-Star half-back has returned to light contact training, with manager Ger Manley hopeful she will be back in full contact by this weekend. Unfortunately for her sister, Grainne, the news is not so good as an ankle injury sustained at training on Tuesday night looks to have taken her out of the fray for Sunday week.

“Méabh is slowly getting back into it the last few weeks and has done contact training the last two nights. Hopefully, she will be in full contact by Sunday and ready to go then,” said Manley at the county’s All-Ireland final press evening.

“Meabh is a leader. She has been around the block. She is an exceptionally good player. Very unfortunate to get the injury.

“Cahalane's are a different breed. They do everything right to get ready for a game. Méabh is a professional personified for me. She is one of our leaders. She just wants to be there and that is half the battle.”

Cork hit for Croke Park as the strongest of favourites to defend their crown. Only one team - Wexford - has finished within a single digit margin of them in championship, while their average winning margin across their six outings on the road to the decider is a remarkable 19 points. Included in that was a 2-16 to 1-7 group win over their final opponents.

When asked if the lack of examination is a concern heading into the concluding day, Manley argued that final opponents Galway haven’t been put to the pin of their collar either.

“Okay, they had a good game the last day against Tipp, but the previous day against Waterford, I think they should have won that a lot more comfortable. They were well on top. They should have won by eight or nine points.

"Even the last day, when they got going, they just took over. For us, we can only beat what is in front of us.”