All-Ireland Camogie Final player ratings: Dolan a leading light but Looney tormented by red mist

Irish Examiner

a day ago

How they rated — Cork
Amy Lee: How she didn't get a free when Caoimhe Kelly pushed the Cork goalkeeper and then pointed for Galway is anyone's guess. Lee may be more frustrated about not getting a hurley to Mairead Dillon's strike for the goal. Not that she was necessarily at fault either. 7
Libby Coppinger: Lined up on Caoimhe Kelly from the start. Fouled Aoife Donohue for a free that Galway converted to go five clear in the 51st minute. A strong performer overall though. Used her possessions wisely with assured distribution. 7
Pamela Mackey: Trotted over to mark Carrie Dolan when the Galway captain and number nine took her place at full-forward. Dolan had a powerful game, though Mackey remained a tireless performer, holding the sliotar at full-time as she attempted to create one last meaningful play. 6
Meabh Cahalane: The Cork captain cleared plenty of ball and thundered into a series of tackles, setting the tone at times in a bruising encounter. She made a beeline from the off for Ailish O'Reilly who picked off two first-half points and another in the second-half. 7
Aoife Healy: In a game of inches, her fumbled collection from a 55th-minute hand-pass was costly. She was replaced shortly after. It was a tough day having been handed the task initially of marking Aoife Donohue who starred for Galway. 6
Laura Treacy: Lost no face in defeat. Did Trojan work at the centre of Cork's defence and won two second-half frees that were converted just when the need was greatest. No surprise to see her go down with cramp late on. 7
Laura Hayes: A powerful performer at the back for Cork. Won a crucial 13th-minute free that was pointed, scored one herself, had a shot at goal saved and, overall, defended ferociously, throwing herself body first into tackle after tackle. Her 48th-minute point was the score of the game. Soon after, she took a big hit and simply soldiered on. 8
Hannah Looney: Cork's dual star will be tormented by her act of petulance in first-half stoppage time, lashing out at Annmarie Starr and leaving the referee with little decision but to issue a red card. Her and Ashling Thompson had been more than holding their own at midfield. 5
Ashling Thompson: Hugely influential in the first-half, covering the hard yards, as she always does. Scored two points and helped set up another score. Booked for a silly 29th-minute foul and the free was converted. Her influence waned as the game wore on, perhaps to be expected at 34 in a rip-roaring contest. Struck a costly wide late on. 7
Emma Murphy: Started all six of Cork's Championship games, even if she was a late addition here, wearing number 24. Began at wing-forward with Derval Higgins tracking her. Struck a point early in the first and second halves and was eventually substituted. 7
Orlaith Cahalane: Started in the inside line with Shauna Healy keeping tabs. Got through a tonne of work and was among those who dug deep in the second-half, feeding Laura Hayes for her excellent point. The goal was a thing of beauty late on, from how she raced onto the diagonal pass to the shot execution. 7.5
Saoirse McCarthy: Brilliant in the semi-final and will be remembered for the shift she put in during the second-half here. Scored three points from frees, one of which she won herself. Won dirty ball, linked up the play. Time after time. A certain All-Star will be some consolation. 8
Katrina Mackey: Will inevitably have nightmares about the penalty miss. She helped create it, feeding Amy O'Connor with a sumptuous pass, but the strike was tame and easily saved. Gave her all and won a hard fought free that was converted in the 23rd minute. But was the first Cork player replaced. 6
Sorcha McCartan: A powerful performer for Cork on her day but this wasn't hers. Which Galway's Rachael Hanniffy can take some credit for. A hero in the closing minutes of last year's final, she made a 41st minute exit here. 5.5 Amy O'Connor: Cork's prolific scorer came into the final with a hushed up hamstring injury and never really got going. Won the penalty and converted three frees but was eventually replaced in the second-half. 6
SUBS 5 Clodagh Finn had an immediate impact, winning a free that was converted but all of the five changes were attack minded and none of them got on the scoresheet. Kate Wall will be frustrated with her challenge on Carrie Dolan that led to the Galway matchwinner.
HOW SWEET IT IS: Galway players Carrie Dolan, behind, and Mairead Dillion celebrate after their side's victory in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final match between Cork and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
How they rated — GALWAY
Sarah Healy: Did well to get down and save Katrina Mackey's penalty, even if the shot lacked a little venom. Saved early in the second-half from Laura Hayes too. Used her long puck prowess to get her restarts away well. Couldn't be blamed for the late Cahalane missile. 8
Shauna Healy: Picked up Orlaith Cahalane from the off. That was a terrific battle that lasted the duration. The quality of the delivery left her up against it for the late goal. Conceded a second-half free, which was converted, for charging, but overall was excellent. 7.5
Rachael Hanniffy: Given the task of tracking Sorcha McCartan's movements and met the Down native's power and aggression head on. McCarthy didn't get a shot away while on the pitch and was eventually taken off. 7.5
Roisin Black: Any worries about a lack of match sharpness after a late return to duty this year were unfounded. Picked up Katrina Mackey and had a powerful game. The foul on Clodagh Finn for a free that Cork knocked over was a rare lowlight. Getting out in front, grabbing possession and clearing in the 44th minute summed up her all action style. 8
Siobhan Gardiner: Not initially named to start but wore number 21 and replaced Emma Helebert. Lasted the duration and deserved to as she did a decent job on Saoirse McCarthy when making her in the first-half. 7
Ciara Hickey: Sometimes the spare defender, sometimes the tight marker, depending on the situation. Her distribution wasn't always perfect but she moved plenty of ball forward and up the pitch. Still going strong with a brilliant block on Ashling Thompson in the dying minutes before being eventually rested. 7.5
Dervla Higgins: Involved in Galway's first score, in the third minute. Three minutes later, she blocked an Emma Murphy shot, setting the tone for a strong performance. Will look back with satisfaction on a lionheart display. 7.5
Annmarie Starr: Put in a serious shift in the Galway engine room. Right in the thick of it next to Aoife Donohue when the penalty was conceded so dodged a bullet there. 7
Olwen Rabbitte: Wore number 11 but lined up at midfield beside Annmarie Starr. Tried to string the play together, with mixed results. Eventually taken off with her tank apparently empty in the final 10 minutes. 6.5
Niamh Mallon: Galway's top scorer from play beforehand added just a single point though it was an important one to get them off the mark in the second-half. Clipped a wide too but brought industry and experience to her wing position. 7.
Mairead Dillon: Capped her maiden final with a brilliantly taken goal in the 14th minute, a low and sound finish that she will never forget. Her impact all year has been vital as Galway coped with the absence of four key players from the 2024 final team. 7
Aoife Donohue: Scored the first point of the game - setting the tone for a thrilling performance. Her second point came after Cork had wasted their penalty attempt, so was timely. She fed Mairead Dillon for the goal and won two other frees that resulted in points. 8 Ailish O'Reilly: Hugely experienced performer who delivered yet again for Galway. It wasn't the 0-5 she sniped in the semi-final but three points on final day is good going. Hawk-Eye, bizarrely, was required for her first point which flew over the black spot. 7.5
Carrie Dolan: Began the game at full-forward but popped up all around the field. Didn't score from play - all seven points came from frees - but was still hugely influential. She was fouled for the red card and won two vital second-half frees that she converted, including the matchwinner. 9
Caoimhe Kelly: The teenager appeared to push Cork goalkeeper Amy Lee before scoring a 22nd minute point, a bad call in what was eventually a one-point game. Had a limited impact other than that and was taken off early in the second-half after a wide. 6
SUBS - 7 Cathal Murray was criticised for failing to act quickly enough with subs last year. He only used one until the 53rd minute this time but Sabina Rabbitte, who came on in the 41st minute, did have a big impact. She tore into the play and was unlucky that more of her work didn't turn to scores.