Ger Manley: Half-time home truths key as Cork turned it around

The defending champions were trailing at the break in the championship decider.

Cork manager Ger Manley watching from the stands at the final whistle after defeating Galway in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie final at Croke Park. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Sun, 11 Aug, 2024 - 22:10

Therese O’Callaghan

Cork senior camogie manager Ger Manley said they needed to have a team talk at half-time to inspire their second-half comeback, the third quarter yielded an unanswered 1-4.

Galway took a one-point lead to the dressing-room, 0-10 to 0-9.

“We went in at half time, I can’t say we were happy. We set standards and the standards weren’t good, I didn’t think we were working hard enough in certain areas and that changed in the second half. I thought we were very good in that third quarter, we got a good lead. That’s what it’s about: when you’re on top, get the scores and I think we got the scores and we stayed steadfast in the end.

“But give Galway their credit, they’re a super team. They lost a couple of players from last year, us on the flip side, we got players back - Laura Hayes, Ashling Thompson, Cliona Healy and Orlaith Cahalane. If you flip that over, it’s a good turnover for us. It’s a competitive squad, there’s some fierce talent in Cork, the intermediate team as well, and there’s more out there.

“I think we raised the bar this year, fitness-wise, hurling-wise. There were times today we looked very good, there were other times where we wouldn’t have been happy. Some of the performances we gave were top class. Look for us, I’m relieved. I’m just delighted with the spirit shown by the team, the work they put in.

“You can see Ashling Thompson, I don’t know how many years she's been playing, the Mackeys are at it 16 years. Katrina pulled her hamstring before she got the goal, she went on but we had to take her off, then (Sorcha) McCartan came on and her ankle is like a balloon, she played on. They just got on with it.

“Libby Coppinger was missing from full-back, Meabh (Cahalane) was missing from the half-back line, Gráinne (Cahalane, injured) was one of our subs in the backs and we were tight for backs. Aoife Healy has played in the backs all year, we pushed her up midfield and she made a huge difference, and she’s been a marker for us.

"I’m delighted, it was a great game to win. If we had lost I would have been sick.”

Katrina Mackey’s goal was a hand-passed goal, but it stood.

“I’d say she threw it in, did she? I don’t care how she threw it. From what I saw, she went to strike it and she was fouled, and when she threw the ball up to hit it, it went in. She was in the process of striking it, I thought she was fouled. Amy O’Connor was definitely fouled when she put the ball across. When I saw it, I kind of went ‘woah’, but they pucked the ball out, so it was done and dusted.”

Cork had been on top in all of their championship games, never really tested.

“We knew it wouldn’t be easy today. It’s grand to say we’re playing matches, but we needed a match like that. We needed that game to show what we’re made of and I think it really showed there in the last seven or eight minutes when the going got tough. You saw the senior players, they all stood up and we got a couple of great scores from the subs again."

There was special mention for the player sitting to the manager’s left in the media room, and her sister Gráinne.

“Meabh Cahalane had an injury there, if it was someone on the men’s team he’d be out for three months, she got back in six weeks. That’s the spirit that we’ve shown all year really, they just worked so hard. We’ve put so much into this. We started at the start of the year very late, purposely to plan for this: this was our aim, to get back, and we got back.

“Gráinne ruptured her Achilles the night we had the press night. If we had 15 Cahalanes, you’d be delighted. They have a great attitude. Meábh’s attitude is spot on, she’s been a brilliant leader for us all year. She was just unfortunate, the injury came at a bad time, a simple thing in training. Came on today, she was so good, and that’s the way we have been all year. Everyone came on and did their best. I know people have said we weren’t tested, but we beat what’s in front of us.

“We’ve a happy camp. It’s very hard not to give them all a game. We spoke about it two weeks ago, the trust thing. It’s all about the team, not the individual. I don’t care who plays, I don’t care who scores and that was reiterated at half-time. You saw Amy O’Connor, the pass she gave for the goal, what a pass and Mackey put it away. It’s the team and she personifies that.”