Galway shock Cork in thrilling All-Ireland Camogie final to seal fifth O'Duffy Cup triumph

The Irish Sun

a day ago

Carrie Dolan's ice-cool free in the dying seconds crowned Galway All-Ireland camogie champions, edging out defending champions Cork in a pulsating final at Croke Park
CARRIE ON Galway shock Cork in thrilling All-Ireland Camogie final to seal fifth O'Duffy Cup triumph
WHEN All-Ireland glory threatened to slip from their grasp, Galway's captain came forth to Carrie them home.
In the dying seconds of normal time at the end of an exhilarating and feisty final, 14-woman Cork completed a stunning comeback thanks to an Orlaith Cahalane goal.
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Galway captain Carrie Dolan lifts the O'Duffy Cup after she starred for her side in the thrilling clash
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Cork players left heartbroken after the defeat to Galway in the All-Ireland final
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Galway players celebrate after the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final at Croke Park
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28,795 were in attendance at GAA HQ to see the final
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the momentum was now with the defending champions after they wiped out a five-point deficit to draw level.
Nevertheless, their hopes of a third title on the spin were dashed by Carrie Dolan.
Having been fouled by Kate Wall on the left touchline, the Clarinbridge woman was presented with a chance to nudge Galway back in front with her seventh point of the contest.
Fifty-five metres from goal, she held her nerve to land what proved to be the winning score that saw the Tribe avenge their loss to the Rebels in last year's decider.
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For just the fifth time in their history, Galway have scaled camogie's summit.
And three of those triumphs have come during the reign of Cathal Murray, whose side defied their status as 11-4 outsiders to add to the gaffer's O'Duffy Cup victories of 2019 and 2021.
Murray said: 'That was the moment, Carrie's free. And I'm delighted for her. She's our leader for a reason, she's captain for a reason. She's a leader. It's for moments like that we value her so much.
'Last year we performed but we weren't good enough to win it, so there's an awful lot of hurt.
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"Winning it the way we won it, it's the sweetest one. It's just an unbelievable way to win it. A puck of a ball and with five minutes left, the game is levelled up.
'You just have to batten down hatches, win the balls and Carrie's free was just incredible. I'm absolutely thrilled for her.'
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Led by the outstanding Saoirse McCarthy, Cork never relented throughout a second half that saw them tasked with reeling in a Galway side who could afford to deploy Ciara Hickey as a sweeper.
But when the Leesiders sift through the wreckage of their failure to bring the county its first three-in-a-row since 1973, they will find that the most significant damage was inflicted prior to the interval.
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As well as having Hannah Looney dismissed just before the half-time break, Cork squandered a penalty opportunity during a disastrous first half.
Although the teams were level on 0-2 apiece early on, Galway had the edge when it came to the levels of aggression and intensity which underpinned their superb display.
Cork had a golden chance to raise the game's first green flag in the tenth minute when Amy O'Connor was fouled by Aoife Donohue.
However, Katrina Mackey's penalty was foiled by a Sarah Healy save.
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Cork had to settle for a point from the resultant '45 via O'Connor, who – according to manager Ger Manley in his post-match briefing – had carried a hamstring injury into the game.
While Cork's first-half output was characterised by basic handling errors and sloppy turnovers, Galway had no shortage of heroic performers at both ends of the pitch.
Chief among them was Donohue, whose brilliant run set up Mairead Dillon to beat Amy Lee with a clinical finish that left the women in maroon 1-3 to 0-4 ahead after 14 minutes.
They looked set to bag a second goal through Caoimhe Kelly later in the half, only for the Sarsfields ace to take her point instead.
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However, Cork were furious as goalkeeper Lee was clearly fouled as Kelly gathered the sliotar.
In first-half stoppage time, Cork were punished for coughing up possession cheaply again as the magnificent Ailish O'Reilly scored the second of her three points that left Galway leading by 1-9 to 0-7.
Things then went from bad to worse for Cork as Looney was given her marching orders for lashing out at Dolan.
Notwithstanding that it was a reaction to a shove in the back from the Galway skipper, the correct call was made by ref Justin Heffernan.
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Given the extra body in the Galway defence, Cork had to be much cleverer in their use of the ball in the second half. Twice they reduced the gap to three points, only for Galway to respond and push it back out to five.
A goal was the lifeline Cork needed. And when a pair of long-range McCarthy frees left just a puck of a ball between the teams again down the stretch, it finally came.
Following a long delivery from McCarthy, Cahalane was able to peel away from Shauna Healy before finishing emphatically.
Still, it was the maroon portion of the 28,795 attendance who were celebrating at the final whistle thanks to Dolan's late winner.
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Murray added: 'When they levelled it with the goal, it was a massive point in the game, that puck-out. And that resilience to win it. But we've shown that resilience all year.
'You're battle-hardened coming into an All-Ireland final and you know if it comes down to moments like that, you have the players to step up.
'They're an unbelievable bunch.'
Cork 1-13 - 1-14 Galway
GALWAY: Sarah Healy; Shauna Healy, R Black, R Hanniffy; S Gardiner, C Hickey, D Higgins; AM Starr, O Rabbitte; N Mallon 0-1, A O'Reilly 0-3, A Donohue 0-2; C Kelly 0-1, C Dolan 0-7, 7f, M Dillon 1-0.
Subs: S Rabbitte for Kelly 41 mins, J Hughes for O Rabbitte 53, E Helebert for Hickey 60, A Hesnan for Dillon 61.
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CORK: A Lee; L Coppinger, P Mackey, M Cahalane; A Healy, L Treacy, L Hayes 0-1; H Looney 0-1, A Thompson 0-2; E Murphy 0-2, A O'Connor 0-3, 2f, 1 '45, S McCarthy 0-4, 4f; K Mackey, S McCartan, O Cahalane 1-0.
Subs: C Finn for K Mackey 37 mins, O Mullins for McCartan 41, C Healy for O'Connor 48, M Murphy for A Healy 57, K Wall for E Murphy 59.
REFEREE: J Heffernan (Wexford).
SCORERS FOR GALWAY: C Dolan 0-7(fs); A O'Reilly 0-3; M Dillon 1-0; A Donohue 0-2; N Mallon, C Kelly 0-1
SCORERS FOR CORK: S McCarthy 0-4(fs); A Thompson, A O'Connor (2fs, 1 45) 0-3 each; O Cahalane 1-0; E Murphy 0-2; L Hayes 0-1
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REFEREE: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)