Cork hold off Galway to retain All-Ireland senior camogie title 

Katrina Mackey’s controversial 36th-minute goal proved the difference at Croke Park. 

Cork players Fiona Keating and Saoirse McCarthy after defeating Galway in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie final at Croke Park Picture; Eddie O'Hare

CORK 1-16 GALWAY 0-16 

Cork’s 30th All-Ireland senior camogie title was not without controversy but their powerful second-half display was enough to claim the spoils in Croke Park this evening.

Katrina Mackey’s 36th minute goal proved the difference although it didn’t appear she made contact with the ball as it passed over the goal-line. Availing of an Amy O’Connor pass, Mackey had thrown up the ball to tap it to the net but was tackled in the process and was forced off injured shortly afterwards.

The great Cork following in the 27,811 crowd rejoiced as it appeared their team were turning the screw on a valiant Galway team. The goal was part of Cork’s 1-4 blitz inside the first 11 minutes of the second half. Orlaith Cahalane and Ashling Thompson had sent over points before the green flag and Saoirse McCarthy and Amy O’Connor (free) followed it with two more.

Six points ahead, Cork had reason to be pleased with themselves but as they retreated they contributed to Galway’s subsequent purple patch. The next six points were theirs, three of them from Carrie Dolan’s stick (two from frees), a brace from the excellent Aoife Donohue and Ciara Hickey sending over another.

Crucially, Galway didn’t go ahead and the Cork sideline replenished their side with reserves. Sorcha McCartan had been on from early in the half when Mackey had to be replaced but she stopped the bleeding with a score in the 54th minute. Another point came soon afterwards from substitute Clodagh Finn and Cork were breathing a little easier.

Galway sent two shots wide, had another attempt hooked and Annmarie Starr was denied what appeared a legitimate free before McCartan posted her second point and Cork hung on.

Cork's Ashling Thompson is tackled by Galway's Aoife Donoghue during the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie final at Croke Park.    Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The teams were level eight times in the first half before Donohoe clipped over a fine score before the break to give Galway the advantage, 0-10 to 0-9. And Galway were full value for their lead, their intent obvious from the outset as they were keen to stop Thompson in their tracks.

Donohoe was one of those getting in Cork faces as Galway looked to crowd out Cork in the middle with an extra player and put the physical presence of midfielder Niamh Hanniffy at the edge of the Cork square.

Cork had two points on the board inside the first two minutes but they were cancelled out by a couple of quick Dolan frees. Cork’s speed was always on Galway minds and Mackey was sharp for a 13th minute score but back Galway came with the next two points to go ahead, Donohue sending over her first from play followed by Dolan sending over one of her five converted frees in the opening half.

The scores followed a tit-for-tat pattern up to Donohue’s leading score before the interval, Cork never going ahead even if scores appeared to be come easier for Ger Manley’s side.

At the same time, it wasn’t until the start of the second half that Galway struck their first wide. And they were scoring under pressure. Winning a contested aerial ball, Niamh Mallon posted a fine point in the 21st minute.

Izzy O’Regan and Laura Treacy were forced into picking up bookings in upending corner-forwards Dolan and Ailish O’Reilly, which Dolan penalised with a point on each occasion.

Still, Cork were moving well and their half-forwards’ pace was delivering. Saoirse McCarthy, who Galway had tagged with Olwen Rabbitte, and Fiona Keating bisected the posts and O’Connor had converted a free she won prior to Galway restoring their lead before the turnaround.

Scorers for Cork: K. Mackey (1-2); S. McCarthy (0-3, 1 free); A. O’Connor (0-3, frees); O. Cahalane, S. McCartan (0-2 each); C. Healy, F. Keating, A. Thompson, C. Finn (0-1 each).

Scorers for Galway: C. Dolan (0-8, 7 frees); A. Donohue (0-4); A. O’Reilly (0-2); N. Mallon, C. Hickey (0-1 each).

CORK: A. Lee; M. Murphy, P. Mackey; L. Treacy; H. Looney, I. O’Regan, L. Hayes (v-c); A. Thompson, A. Healy; C. Healy, F. Keating, S. McCarthy; A. O’Connor, O. Cahalane, K. Mackey.

Subs for Cork: S. McCartan for K. Mackey (inj 39); C. O’Sullivan for C. Healy (48); M. Cahalane for H. Looney (51); C. Finn for F. Keating (53); E. Murphy for O. Cahalane (60+3).

GALWAY: S. Healy; R. Black (c), D. Higgins, R. Hanniffy; O. Rabbitte, A. Keane, C. Hickey; A. Starr, N. Kilkenny; N. Mallon, N. McPeake, A. Donohue; C. Dolan, N. Hanniffy, A. O’Reilly.

Subs for Galway: O. McGrath for A. O’Reilly (49); N. Niland for N. Hanniffy (60+2); A. Hesnan for O. Rabbitte (60+5).

Referee: L. Dempsey (Kilkenny).

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