Player ratings: Dolan defiant for Galway but McCartan the pick of Cork heroes
TOP PERFORMER: Sorcha McCartan of Cork celebrates scoring a point. Pic: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile
Dealt with a dropped ball in the first half and with the help of Ava Fitzgerald cleared the line. Good variety with her puck-outs. It was her restart in the 46th minute that found Sorcha McCartan, who fed Orlaith Cahalane for Cork’s second goal. Kept a clean sheet. 8
Solid. Missed 2025 due to ACL injury. Tagged Ailish O’Reilly at the throw-in and while she kept her scoreless in the first half, O’Reilly was fouled for a free and set up Dervla Higgins for a point. O’Reilly was substituted in the fourth quarter. 7.5
Picked up Caoimhe Kelly at the start. Kelly notched three lovely first-half points but didn’t register in the second half. The number three is such a sticky defender and repeatedly cut out a lot of ball and got in one vital interception. 8.5
Started on Niamh Niland but couldn’t prevent the corner forward from scoring two first-half points. Got to grips with it thereafter and her work-rate was immense. The victorious captain set the tone. 8
Appearing in her first All-Ireland senior final, Ava was tasked to mark Aoife Donohue. Donohue scored three points but the rookie defender was full of energy all through. Dictated the tone. 8.5
Played sweeper, and played it to perfection. Had a dry run in this role in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Tipperary. Part of a newly constructed half-back and did her job superbly. 8
As an All-Ireland senior final debutant, had Niamh McPeake for company at throw-in, but she didn’t put a foot wrong. Used the ball very well and looked very much at home in her first Croke Park outing. 8
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Recovered from a hamstring injury to line out at midfield. In the thick of the action and always looked dangerous in link-play. Gave her all. It is her midfield partnership with Laura Hayes, they fit so well together. 8
Was the link around the middle third and good at gaining possession in this area. Won a few frees. Moving her to the number nine jersey this year has made a massive difference. Scored a brilliant point to level the game early in the second half. 9
Clipped a second-half point straight from the restart. It was a rousing score that started the Rebel comeback. Relentless running is a huge part of her game. Substituted five minutes from time. 7.5
Immense in the second half. Her goal was of the inspirational type and set Cork on their way. Had to get around a couple of defenders before nailing a brilliant shot into the left corner in the 40th minute. The goal came from a lengthy delivery. 8
In her first start in an All-Ireland senior final, she was everywhere, full of running. Settled into the game from the off. Won a lot of dirty ball. Didn’t score, but like Gearóid Hegarty in the hurling final, she didn’t have to. 9
Arrowed over five frees, four were in the first half and some from tricky positions. Came into the final as Cork's top scorer with 1-22, seven of these from frees. 7.5
Her move in nearer the posts in the second half was pivotal. Has great awareness of where her teammates are. She and Sorcha McCartan are club mates and have a huge understanding of each other’s play. Initial ball for the goal came all the way from Amy Lee. 9
A quality player and made for the big stage. She slotted four points from play and was fouled for some more. Her ability to catch cleanly, turn and strike over the shoulder is a real crowd-puller. Subbed in the 60th minute with a broken finger. 9.5
Cork called up two subs late on. Órlaith Mullins came in for Emma Murphy (55) and Hayley Ryan came in for an injured Sorcha McCartan (60). Not on long enough to be rated.
Saoirse McCarthy’s 40th-minute goal was the first time she was bested this summer. Of the two conceded, this is the one that’ll annoy her. Called forward to strike the potentially match-winning free. Blasted over from 30 metres out. Two excellent first-half puckouts to find Aoife Donohue and Caoimhe Kelly in space, points followed. 7
Matched up with Amy O’Connor. Very little ball travelled into their Eircode in first half. Of the five frees O’Connor converted, none were of Hanniffy’s doing. She was, however, occasionally jittery. Drove forward to win 67th minute free that Healy struck the wrong side of the crossbar. 6.5
An awful afternoon for the Galway full-back. Along with the four points Sorcha McCartan took her for, McCartan also provided the flicked assist for Cahalane’s goal. Black was also sold a dummy for Saoirse McCarthy’s opening Cork goal. 5
As expected and as she’s been doing all summer, Higgins operated at wing-back. Her marker, Emma Murphy, had only one first-half shot. Higgins herself pointed on the half hour, having forced the turnover for that score. Murphy pointed early in the second-half, but didn’t see out the hour. Higgins had a 57th minute shot skim the post. 7
The corner-back thundered into her debut final. Bar one late foul, she bested Orlaith Cahalane across first-half. Manning’s turnover led to Galway’s second point, provided the delivery for their third, stopped Cahalane for their fourth, and caught a Cork clearance for their ninth. Struggled when Cahalane pushed in. Surprise substitution on 42 minutes. 7
Monumental loss when forced off injured on 45 minutes. Bore all the hallmarks of the dreaded cruciate. Cork’s deliberateness in hitting the flanks in the opening half meant Hickey didn’t sweep as much as normal. Showed superb vision to pick out Carrie Dolan for first-half point. 7
Didn’t follow her assigned Cork forward, Millie Condon, who operated from deep. Condon was by far the more influential of the pairing. Porter lacked for assertion in this her first senior final involvement. 5
Same as the June 6 opener between the counties, Hesnan’s brief was to shadow Saoirse McCathy so as to allow Hickey sit and sweep. She fouled McCartan for Cork’s opening score. Successful in that McCarthy didn't have a first half shot. Second half an altogether different tale. No joy in containing Cork No.11. 6
Her heavy challenge on Laura Hayes set the physical tone. Led right through. Hurled on the edge. Outstanding mistake was going short to Kelly with a 57th minute free. Two narrow second-half wides. Superb fetching on Healy’s puck-out. Assisted 0-2 in first-half. Won two of the four frees she converted. 8.5
A late promotion to the line-up, in place of Áine Keane. This was Mallon’s first start since coming off injured 30 minutes into Galway’s championship opener on June 6 - and it showed during the 15 minutes she was on the field before her shoulder went once again. Fouled Laura Hayes for Cork’s second point. 5
Anonymous first half. Millie Condon operating in her vicinity, on top of Isobel Sheehan tagging presence, discommoded her. Fouled Amy O’Connor for converted Cork free on 52 minutes. One second-half point, another attempt short. Failed to replicate earlier championship form. 5
Rose to the occasion. No surprise there. Saved her outstanding performance of the championship for the decider. Forced her usual tray of turnovers. Clipped over three points, won the turnover for another. So busy in the maroon comeback effort. 8
Galway’s breakout performer. Provided her team’s opener after three Galway efforts inside opening two minutes came to nought. And while her second point attempt fell short, Niland doubled her tally on 22 minutes. Top-scorer from play with 0-4. Won the turnover for their 11th. Hit a pair of momentum-sapping wides in injury-time. 8
A first All-Ireland final that simply did not go for the long-serving 32-year-old. None of the smart influence that defined her four winning-final displays. One of two Galway forwards not to score. Was fouled for a converted free. A pair of white flags came from her turnovers won. Withdrawn on 53 minutes. 6
The teenager repeatedly stepped up to the mark. Ultra-productive when fed. Three fabulous first-half points. Had Libby Coppinger in serious bother. Assisted Galway’s 12th point and won the free for their 17th. 8
Jennifer Hughes (5) was Niamh Mallon’s 15th-minute replacement. It represented Hughes’ first involvement since the League final win in mid-April as injury had sidelined her summer. Ineffective in attempting to constrain Laura Hayes. Was eventually taken back off. Áine Keane (5) replaced the injured Hickey. Shauna Healy (5) came in for her first involvement since 2025 final. Mairéad Dillon (6) and Shannon Corcoran (6) were driving and impactful forwards when sprung. The former should have goaled.
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