Talk of Cork three-in-a-row had Galway 'riled up'

"All the talk was about Cork," said Galway forward Ailish O'Reilly. "It felt like we were just coming up to show up and they were just going to be handed the trophy."

Sun, 10 Aug, 2025 - 18:53

PJ Browne

Ailish O'Reilly said the talk of Cork winning a third consecutive All-Ireland camogie title was a major motivating factor for Galway in their victory over the Rebels in Sunday's final.

The game had a thrilling finish, one which saw Orlaith Cahalane bring Cork level with a late goal and then Carrie Dolan nail a winning free for Galway from near the touchline.

"That is sweet," O'Reilly told RTÉ.

"When they got the goal and to respond the way Carrie did, shows a lot about this team after we were written off so much. All we heard all week was the three-in-a-row, the three-in-a-row.

"We were there to take it off them. I think we proved a lot of people wrong. It suited us down to the ground. All the talk was about Cork. It felt like we were just coming up to show up and they were just going to be handed the trophy.

"We were so riled up, to be honest. We kept it to ourselves the last week, but God, this one is sweet. Unreal."

The victory sealed a fifth ever All-Ireland title for Galway. O'Reilly has been involved in four of those victories. She contributed two points to her side's 1-14 total in Sunday's final.

"When we won in '21, maybe myself... I didn't have a great year, the last year or two," she said.

"To do this, to help the team, maybe in the way that I did, but most importantly, it's a team victory. I could not be prouder of all the girls out there. To Cathal and all the management team, it's for them. It's to show any team that anything can happen on the final. Block out all the noise, block out all the comments.

"I am just so happy. I can't wait to get to my family and friends. I know my granny's at home watching, so this is for her. And yeah, looking forward to celebrating."