Cathal Murray's ‘unfinished business' mission complete as Galway land third All-Ireland crown under his reign
JOB DONE Cathal Murray's 'unfinished business' mission complete as Galway land third All-Ireland crown under his reign
CATHAL MURRAY has been hailed for orchestrating his Galway tenure to a glorious crescendo in Sunday's All-Ireland senior camogie final.
The hugely successful Tribe boss admitted the O'Duffy Cup triumph over Cork was the sweetest one yet as an unfinished symphony was completed.
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Galway claimed yet another All-Ireland Camogie title after a win over rivals Cork on Sunday in Dublin
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Galway manager Cathal Murray led the side to glory for a third time at GAA HQ
On a day when the Rebels were chasing a three-in-a-row, three ended up being the magic number for Murray instead.
The Sarsfields man led Galway to All-Ireland glory for the third time – no mean feat in a county that had only landed the holy grail twice before he took the reins in 2018.
Murray revealed that he effectively called time on his tenure after losing last year's final to Cork, only to cite 'unfinished business' for his decision to remain at the helm.
And forward Niamh Mallon reckons the gaffer deserves enormous credit for conducting the women in maroon to achieve another pitch-perfect performance at Croke Park.
She said: 'I'm just delighted for the group and delighted for Cathal. They put a massive effort in. It's easy for people to have pops at management teams and the way they set teams up.
'But the time and effort that group has put into us has been massive since the turn of January. And they got their just rewards. I'm just delighted to be part of the group and very grateful."
It took a controversial Katrina Mackey goal to decide the contest in Cork's favour when the teams clashed in the 2024 final. Nevertheless, Galway were depicted as rank outsiders to flip the script.
Their determination to upset the odds was evident from the outset as Murray's side brought a level of energy and aggression that Cork failed to match throughout the first half.
Mallon reflected: "It was fierce intense, to be honest. And we kind of knew that coming into the game.
"If we were going to turn Cork over, it was going to be intensity that was going to take us there. We brought a massive intensity this time last year, we just didn't have the composure to see it out.
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'I think the experience of last year really stood to us, particularly coming down the stretch. We managed the game a whole lot better than this time last year. We're just delighted to get over the line."
Galway were full value for their five-point lead at the interval. Indeed, it resembled an unassailable deficit for Cork when coupled with the dismissal of Hannah Looney in first-half stoppage time.
But that blow seemed to galvanise the defending champions, who raised their game considerably after the change of ends.
Orlaith Cahalane's goal in the final minute of normal time brought Cork level and nudged Galway out of the ascendancy for the first time since the opening quarter.
Still, the final say was had by the women from the west. Having been fouled by Kate Wall, Galway captain Carrie Dolan aced a free that sealed their one-point win.
Mallon explained: "We really went after stopping their running game at source. If they get out, they're a fierce dangerous side.
'Trying to not let them build from the back and give them a platform, particularly in that middle third, that's where they got us last year.
'They hit 1-3 or 1-4 without reply by building solely from the back. We knew we couldn't let that happen if we were going to win and thankfully we managed the game better in that third quarter."
Cork manager Ger Manley fumed at referee Justin Heffernan after the game, accusing the Wexford whistler of a 'shocking' performance.
But Mallon felt Heffernan played his part in facilitating a refreshing level of physicality that significantly boosted the entertainment value of the showpiece.
PLAYER'S PERSPECTIVE
Asked if the game was as taxing as it looked, she said: "I think so. And I think the referee really played into that. He let the game go and it really contributed to a really good game.
'There were a few questionable decisions last year coming down the stretch on both sides. I think he did a great job to let the game flow. You got a spectacle out of it."
After just two seasons with Galway, Mallon has already experienced both the agony and ecstasy of the biggest day in the camogie calendar.
The former Down forward has been based in Galway since 2018 through her job as a sports scientist at Orreco. She finally made the decision to switch inter-county allegiances last year.
Mallon, 30, admitted in the wake of the recent semi-final win over Tipperary that it was 'a huge challenge' to feel at home in her new surroundings.
But having played a starring role in Sunday's triumph, the 2024 All-Star insisted: 'Cathal, the management team, the players – they were brilliant.
"I spoke after the Tipp game that it was something in my own head. It was something I'd never experienced in a camogie dressing room in ten, 15 years and it was something I had to get over.
'I think the experience of coming into my first All-Ireland final was something I needed to work through. I think the experience of last year stood to me. Just very grateful to the group."
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