4 days ago
Here are the three keys players who might shape the camogie final
Saoirse McCarthy (Cork)
Outside of her four converted frees, left half-forward McCarthy had a whopping 22 possessions against Waterford.
She struck three points from play, directly assisted two more, had the secondary assist for a Sorcha McCartan first-half point, and early involvement in another McCartan point in the second half.
She was a puckout target for Amy Lee, she intercepted Waterford restarts sent short. In the second period, she began to drop deep to pick up and carry possession from behind her own '65. In the words of RTÉ co-commentator Aoife Sheehan, 'she's been everywhere'.
Of Cork's 1-21, she had a hand in 0-11. Her three wides meant both figures could have been even more impressive.
The Déise were far too loose in their detailing of the Courcey Rovers clubwoman. Galway won't be so naive in their tracking of the 25-year-old. They're also forewarned from getting this match-up wrong 12 months ago when handing the assignment to final debutant Olwen Rabbitte.
Róisín Black's return to the Galway full-back line has reduced the requirement of her Oranmaree-Maree clubmate, Rachael Hanniffy, to go back there and carry out specialised marking jobs, and so she seems the perfect fit to try and curtail Cork's form forward.
Travel sickness means Hanniffy is never found on the team bus heading to games. But with her confidence soaring after shutting down Tipp's form forward Grace O'Brien last time out, the stomach is surely there for such a sizable job.
Aoife Donohue (Galway)
Doesn't do bad finals against Cork. One of only two Galway players to score from play in the 2015 defeat to the Leesiders. Player of the match in the 2021 final. Galway's lead contender for that same gong last August.
The westerners' top contributor from play in the '24 decider with 0-4. Assisted a fifth. Her opening touches in either half came way inside the Galway half when dispossessing Amy O'Connor and Aoife Healy respectively, evidence of the instruction by management to go wherever she pleased. Cork didn't follow her and paid handsomely for that decision.
Does Ger Manley instruct Aoife Healy to go wherever her namesake travels tomorrow? The Aghada dual star certainly has the engine for such a taxing assignment.
Donohue's abrasiveness and her authority in possession is so central to Galway's forward play that Cork have to prioritise keeping the sliotar out of her hand, irrespective of where on the field she is.
Laura Treacy (Cork)
She has no equal when it comes to her reading of the game. The 30-year-old's positioning is unrivaled and invaluable. A supremely confident and competent sweeper at the heart of the Cork rearguard.
Galway won't stand on her toes tomorrow, but they have to ensure, through their decision-making and shot selection, that they bypass rather than bring her into the action. Hopeful, route one carry-on will only make her a triumph. Work the flanks and corners.
In last year's final, she collected 10 Galway deliveries/miscued passes/point attempts that went short. After Galway attacks were turned over, hers was the first pass for two of Cork's three winning points in the closing stretch.
If Galway go down the central channel, then they have to be clever and clinical with possession. Anything loose will be latched upon and relaunched by Laura.
