Galway tick consistency box but quantum leap needed
Galway's Ailish O'Reilly battles past Angela Carroll of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final at FBD Semple Stadium. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
Bar one large blip in early June, the champions have been a picture of consistency on almost every front. To be critical would be to unnecessarily nitpick.
Waterford, who Galway overcame to secure League ribbons in April, needed to be overcome a second time to put them in the frame for direct semi-final progress. Tipp needed to be overcome to seal that direct progress. Kilkenny needed to be overcome to keep alive their title defence.
Tick, tick, and tick. Their ticket back to Croker secured. In almost total absence of drama.
This being Galway’s third All-Ireland final on the trot and sixth in eighth years, the players know that we’re now at the part of the season where consistency alone won’t be anywhere near sufficient. The quantum leap in performance they managed between the semi-final and decider these past two years now needs replicating.
It is Galway who have shown more than anyone that there is absolutely no relation between what is required to reach camogie’s concluding Sunday and what is required to reign supreme on the concluding Sunday.
“There are always things to work on,” said captain and 1-4 provider Carrie Dolan following Saturday’s comfortable victory. “Probably not a pretty game to watch. Certainly not a performance that is going to win you an All-Ireland final. We’ve a lot to do.”
Her manager, Cathal Murray, sang the same song.
“Huge amount to improve on. We’re in an All-Ireland final, it is our third year in-a-row. It is a really proud thing to do. We want to go on and win it. But it is going to take a huge performance.”
With Siobhán Gardiner, Olwen Rabbitte, AnnMarie Starr, and Emma Helebert not around in 2026, and long-time corner-back Shauna Healy not long returned to the set-up, the champions’ August 9 line-up is likely to include four players - Katie Manning, Katie Anna Porter, Ally Hesnan, and Niamh Niland - starting their first All-Ireland final. For defenders Manning and Porter, August 9 will be their first time seeing All-Ireland final minutes.
The pair were part of a Ciara Hickey-orchestrated rearguard effort that held Kilkenny to just two points from play across the regulation hour. Hesnan’s pace and line-breaking complemented Dolan’s intelligence and vision at midfield, while Niland had her moments in the inside line.
Incredibly obvious, though, was how Niland and Caoimhe Kelly’s impact is dependent on the type of ball going in. When the sliotar travelled low, the inside pair constantly threatened flags. When floated in high, they were routinely bested.
“We are missing a lot of leadership and experience in our group from last year,” said Murray.
“It's really good to see some of the young players come into our team and play so well. We might have been criticised in the past for not giving them players [their chance], but I think we have given them that experience.
“Today was the first big test for them. That’s what we were worried about coming in. It is huge to get that experience. They have stepped up and I am massively proud of the group, and certainly massively proud of those players.”
The worry now is this promoted group might not have as many experienced heads beside them on the concluding day.
2025 Player of the Year Aoife Donohue departed during the second half because of a knee injury. 2025 All-Star Niamh Mallon played no part owing to a recurring shoulder injury. Sub Sabina Rabbitte had to be removed because of a thumb injury.
Same as 12 months ago, Galway require Mallon, Donohue and Ailish O’Reilly lifting and leading against Cork. Largely subdued on Saturday, the latter pair contributed one point between them.
This was an eye-opener for Kilkenny. This was another ladder step seamlessly climbed by Galway. Just one more step towards a first-ever back-to-back.
“No, honest to God, it hasn’t even been talked about,” said Murray when asked about backing up the 2025 triumph.
“For me, it is a different group. It is about this year and the 2026 championship. Obviously, it's brilliant to get back to a final. And when you're back in an All-Ireland final, you want to win it. There's no other motivation than that.”
Well, they’ll surely mine some bit of additional drive from the fact that their one large blip of 2026 came against the side hunting revenge in a fortnight.
C Dolan (1-4, 1-0 pen, 0-3 frees); C Kelly (0-3); N McPeake, N Niland (0-2 each); D Higgins, A O’Reilly, A Kelly (0-1 each).
A Prendergast (0-8, 0-8 frees); S Barcoe, R Phelan, C Doheny (0-1 each).
S Healy; K Manning, R Black, R Hanniffy; KA Porter, C Hickey, D Higgins; A Hesnan, C Dolan; A Donohue, Á Keane, N McPeake; N Niland, A O’Reilly, C Kelly.
S Corcoran for Donohue (41); S Rabbitte for C Kelly, A Kelly for Keane, M Dillon for Niland (all 54); D Higgins for L Kelly (57).
A Norris; M Teehan, A Carroll, T Fitzgerald; C Dowling, N Deely, A Brett; L Greene, L Murphy; A Prendergast, C Keher-Murtagh, A McHardy; E Shortall, S Fitzgerald, S Barcoe.
S Fitzgerald for Nolan (37, inj); C Doheny for Shortall (40); R Phelan for McHardy (49); R Dowling for Carroll (61).
A Larkin.
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