Veteran Thompson shines as Cork's dual gems lead the way 

Three Cork players were chasing double league glory at the weekend. The football was lost, but all were magnificent in the camogie decider Sunday.

Saoirse McCarthy of Cork celebrates her side’s victory in the Very National Camogie League Division 1A final match between between Cork and Galway at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile

Division 1A Camogie League final: Cork 0-21 Galway 0-10 

Three Cork players were chasing double league glory at the weekend. Libby Coppinger, Hannah Looney and Aoife Healy lost the Division 2 ladies football final on Saturday against Galway in Croke Park. Less than 24 hours later all three were magnificent in ending Cork’s 12-year wait for a Division 1A camogie league title in FBD Semple Stadium.

Cork manager Ger Manley lauded their efforts. “There are some brilliant players there. The example is the three girls that played the football league final in Croke Park yesterday and how good they were.

“Libby is like a new player back to us from last year (ACL injury).

“I thought today was one of the best performances since I’ve been involved as manager. You can see the composure and the concentration, everything is right.” 

Cork were forced into two changes, with 2024 Player of the Year Laura Hayes ruled out with a calf injury. She was replaced by the experienced Amy O’Connor while Emma Murphy came in for Katrina Mackey who got injured in the warm-up.

The alterations didn’t impact them.

For twins Katrina and Pamela Mackey and Ashling Thompson, it is a second league medal as they are survivors of the 2013 victory over Wexford.

Midfielder Thompson, at 35 years of age, was player of the match, scoring three fabulous points, while Amy O’Connor and Saoirse McCarthy shared eight between them.

Despite being a last-minute replacement, Murphy looked very much at home. Her two early points and one from Thompson and an O’Connor free settled them.

Carrie Dolan, who bagged six points, brought wasteful Galway back to within two in the 20th minute but Cork, who ended with eight different scorers, seized control with points from Thompson, Sorcha McCartan and Clodagh Finn.

Defensively the Rebels did their job with little fuss.

Dolan was the only Galway scorer in the first half and all from frees as her side trailed 0-4 to 0-9 at the break.

“We weren’t at the races at all,” reflected Galway manager Cathal Murray after the defeat.

“Cork were miles the better team and no excuses to be honest with you. It’s not too many times we don’t turn up as a team but we just didn’t turn up today unfortunately. A lot of things went wrong everywhere, all over the field, so we’ll just have to go back to the drawing board.

“We’re a lot better than that, we know that, but we’ll just have to give them a break now, ten days off, and prepare now for the 24th of May, the first round of the championship.” 

Further daylight appeared in the second half when Cork had more than doubled their advantage by the three-quarter stage, 0-13 to 0-6. They outscored Galway eight to four in the fourth quarter with contributions also coming from the bench.

“We were very disappointed with the way we performed against Galway two weeks ago,” victorious captain Meabh Cahalane revealed. “When we play Galway we pride ourselves on performance. We had a good look at ourselves and training went through the roof.

“I think that showed today because it was a really physical game and the ref let a lot go. When the game is let go, we get the best out of each other.”

Scorers for Cork: A O’Connor (0-2 frees) and S McCarthy (0-1 free) (0-4 each), S McCartan, E Murphy and A Thompson (0-3 each), C Finn (0-2), H Looney and M Condon (0-1 each).

Scorers for Galway: C Dolan (0-6, 0-5 frees), Sarah Healy (free), C Hickey, N Niland and S Rabbitte (0-1 each).

CORK: A Lee; P Mackey, L Coppinger, M Murphy; M Cahalane (Capt), L Treacy, A Healy; A Thompson, H Looney; A O’Connor, S McCarthy, S McCartan; C Finn, E Murphy, O Cahalane.

Subs: C Healy for C Finn (45), A Fitzgerald for H Looney (51), K Wall for E Murphy (56), R Harty for A Healy (57), M Condon for A O’Connor (60), O Mullins for O Cahalane (63).

GALWAY: Sarah Healy; Shauna Healy, D Higgins, R Hanniffy; E Helebert, O Rabbitte, C Hickey; AM Starr, M Dillon; Á Keane, C Dolan (Capt), N Mallon; A Donohue, A O’Reilly, C Kelly.

Subs: A Hesnan for AM Starr, R Black for E Helebert, S Rabbitte for C Kelly (all 39), A Kelly for A O’Reilly, N Niland for N Mallon (both 48), S Gardiner for A Donohue (52), A Lynskey for M Dillon (57).

Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin).