Cathal Murray hails incredible and resilient champions
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the game, the Sarsfields club man felt that the Tribeswomen got what they deserved in an incredible final performance.
"The performance out there was absolutely outstanding and everyone died on their feet. There's huge resilience in this group."
"When Orla Cahalane got the goal, brought it back to level, it was a massive point in the game, it looked like we were gone," he said post-game.
Cork's history-chasing run was not lost on Galway, with both Murray and Ailish O'Reilly referencing it after the thrilling decider.
"We were kind of wrote off all week. I don't think anyone had given us a chance, but we knew after last year, losing by three points, we knew if we performed, we always say it about Galway, if we perform, we're as good as any team", Murray said.
Galway overcame the odds in one of the great finals in recent memory, and Murray was also quick to point out that coming up just short in recent years was also a massive driving factor.
"We won two All-Irelands in 2019 and 2021 and then we had a barren period. We lost two semi-finals to the eventual All-Ireland champions in 2022 and 2023", he said.
"Obviously last year was cutting. We got so much right, we performed so well but Cork were the better team. We can have no excuses.
"We knew if we got back here that we would give it another go and to win three All-Irelands, and we've won three All-Irelands in seven years and that's really, really special."
Following the first half dismissal of Hannah Looney, Cork responded strong in the second half, which Murray expected.
"They're an absolutely savage team and they're unbelievable champions. As Carrie (Dolan) said, down to 14 players and still to come at us with whatever need to come at us in the second half."
Galway produced a 70-minute performance, the type needed to dethrone a great champion like Cork. However, as Murray referenced, Galway came through a tricky path to the final and managed to get over the line, speaking to the mentality of the squad.
"With this team, I know we lost the league final, but we weren't ready. We did not have our homework done and we knew that.
"We turned it around and we wanted to be ready for the first championship game against Dublin.
"When you beat Dublin, Derry, Waterford, Tipperary and Kilkenny to get to an All-Ireland final, you deserve to be there.
"To beat Cork today, the champions that they are, it's just unbelievable.
"This team is incredible and it's going to be we're going to celebrate it long and hard."
FT: Galway 1-14 Cork 1-13
Carrie Dolan wins it for the Tribeswomen with a huge free in injury time
Watch on @rte2 and @rteplayer https://t.co/ZfZ9mA9XTY #SundayGame pic.twitter.com/cxUWlQyxCr
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 10, 2025
The deciding score would come from Galway's inspirational captain Dolan. The Clarinbridge forward struck seven frees, the last of which to win the game coming deep in injury time to snatch victory for Cathal Murray's squad.
The manager had full faith in the reliable ball striker to come up with the goods in the closing stages.
"Carrie does that every day of the week", he said.
"I think she missed one in the league final against Tipperary last year. That hit her hard, but she scored one against Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final last year.
"That free, a pressure free and in the last minute of an All-Ireland, that's just unbelievable stuff.
"She's captain for a reason. She's captain because she's a leader. Herself and everyone else out there were just absolutely exceptional."
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