Cork dream it all up again to reclaim camogie title

Cork lost 14 players, including five starters, from the panel which reached the 2025 All-Ireland camogie final 

Few, possibly none other than Cork, could have absorbed such an exodus but the pickings are rich in Cork camogie. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final: Cork 2-14 Galway 0-19 

Like U2 on the second last day of 1989, Cork had to go away and dream it all up again after last year.

As it had been for Bono and the boys after The Joshua Tree, 12 months ago was the end of something for Ger and the girls. Manley mightn’t have known the full extent at the time but losing 14 players, five starters from the agonising final defeat to Galway, was an overhaul with a capital O.

Few, possibly no other county could have absorbed such an exodus but the pickings are rich in Cork camogie. The motivation was ripe too for players, especially for the St Finbarrs contingent who had suffered All-Ireland final defeats to Galway sides in the space of five months.

Heavy favourites as they were, they were never going to fully justify it. Not with the number of All-Ireland final newbies in the team and certainly not given the wafer-thin margins that had defined their previous two final meetings with Cathal Murray’s side.

Backed by Saoirse McCarthy and Orlaith Cahalane’s goals in the space of six minutes, they went on to lead by six points on two occasions. But in keeping with this keen rivalry the ultimate difference was a solitary score.

Galway can argue that Carrie Dolan’s early second-half free was good but HawkEye didn’t intervene to contradict the umpire’s assessment. More hurtful to them was the retirements through injury of Niamh Mallon in the first half and sweeper Ciara Hickey in the second.

At the same time, before Hickey retired with a knee issue, she was finding the likes of Ashling Thompson were upsetting her ability to put out fires as she had done so with acumen in the first half. Combined with the switch of Cahalane to the inside line having been an extra half-forward in the first half, the manoeuvres worked for Cork.

“Maebh Murphy was very good for us but she wasn’t as effective as a sweeper as we would like her to have been because Galway were playing the ball out the wings,” said Manley. “So, what we did was we pushed up on Ciara (Hickey), Thompson went centre-forward, Millie (Condon) went to midfield – Millie Condon has been phenomenal for us this year.” 

Cork sure had been mediocre at times in the opening half but their battling qualities ensured they remained in touch at the break, 0-7 to 0-9. That deficit was well and truly wiped clean with four of the first five second-half scores. After a Niamh McPeake point for Galway, McCarthy landed Cork’s first goal in the 40th minute.

McCarthy had fetched as well as finished it, completing a fine solo run that included a hop off the sod. It was the first goal Galway conceded in this championship and first since Orlaith Cahalane’s against them 12 months ago.

The second from Cahalane was the next score and again had a direct hue to it. The sliotar was broken down from another long delivery into the path of Cahalane who controlled the ball beautifully and finished just as pretty beyond Sarah Healy.

“Nobody touched her,” said Manley of the McCarthy goal. “I couldn’t believe it for a Galway team to let her through. It mightn’t happen again next year. And then Orlaith Cahalane got onto a great break. We felt there was goals against their full-back line.” 

The last of Sorcha McCartan’s four points, a glorious effort from long range on the Hogan Stand side in the 58th minute, put Cork six up for a second time. It was their last score. Galway whittled down the margin to two in the fourth minute of additional time and Cork were reeling. Even some of their stalwarts were feeling the heat.

Dolan was an inspiration but Galway didn’t throw enough caution to the wind. With seconds remaining, goalkeeper Healy came up for a late free but her effort was too high and in front of a record 33,419 crowd for a standalone camogie finals day the victory was Cork’s.

It sure didn’t look to be on the cards early on. Galway had turned Cork over almost twice as many times as Cork did to them in the first half. Aimless or foolish ball into a two-woman Cork full-forward line that was studiously guarded by sweeper Hickey sure didn’t help.

Some of Cork’s bigger stars looked out of sorts and so much was left to McCartan who was their only scorer from play in the first half. Her first of two points didn’t come until the 18th minute either.

Galway’s indiscipline was their only con in the opening period. Amy O’Connor sent over all four frees she struck and McCarthy posted one from longer range.

Galway captain Dolan could have been seen the line for her shoulder-to-head challenge on Millie Condon but referee Gavin Donegan adjudged that the foul only merited a yellow card.

Laura Hayes was in the wars on a number of occasions but she was at least taking the fight to a Galway side whose forward movement was causing difficulty for Cork.

Galway never went more than three points ahead and were flawless in their shooting after a couple of early wides and one shot that dropped short. Caoimhe Kelly had three points to her name by the break while Niamh Niland had a brace.

Twice Cork squared the game but three consecutive Galway points, all from play, between the 26th and 30th minutes gave them a deserving platform.

O’Connor punished an infringement on Cahalane before the half-time whistle.

Cork, a team whose touch eluded them at vital times and seemed intent on avoiding the smart plays, remained in the hunt. They experienced moments again when they were far from perfect but they didn’t have to be. Their good was enough.

Scorers for Cork: A. O’Connor (0-5, 4 frees); S. McCartan (0-4); S. McCarthy (1-2, 0-1 free); O. Cahalane (1-1); E. Murphy, L. Hayes (0-1 each).

Scorers for Galway: C. Dolan (0-5, 4 frees); N. Niland (0-4); C. Kelly, A. Donohue (0-3 each); D. Higgins, N. McPeake, M. Dillon, S. Healy (free) (0-1 each).

CORK: A. Lee; I. O’Regan, L. Coppinger, M. Cahalane (c); A. Fitzgerald, M. Murphy, I. Sheehan; A. Thompson, L. Hayes; S. McCarthy, M. Condon; O. Cahalane, S. McCartan, A. O’Connor.

Subs for Cork: O. Mullins for E. Murphy (56); A. Ryan for S. McCarthy (60+1).

GALWAY: S. Healy; R. Hanniffy, R. Black, K. Manning; C. Hickey; D. Higgins, A. Hesnan, K.A. Porter; N. Mallon, C. Dolan (c); N. McPeake, A. O’Reilly, A. Donohue; C. Kelly, N. Niland.

Subs for Galway: J. Hughes for N. Mallon (temp, 18-ft); Á. Keane for C. Dolan (temp, 18-19); S. Healy for K. Manning (42); Á Keane for C. Hickey (inj 45); M. Dillon for A. O’Reilly (53); S. Corcoran for J. Hughes (58).

Referee: G. Donegan (Dublin).