The defending champions Cork had beaten Galway by 12 points in the group stage but that game probably took on too much significance in analysts’ minds – Galway qualified in second place and then saw off last year’s beaten finalists Waterford and Tipperary to reach the decider.
In the first half of Sunday’s game, they dictated much of proceedings and didn’t have a single wide as they led by a point at half-time.
To be fair, Cork only one shot astray – but the Rebels began the second half well and Katrina Mackey’s goal gave them a cushion.
However, they were never allowed to pull away and Galway stayed within a score in the closing stages only for heroic Cork defending, typified by the indomitable Laura Treacy at centre-back, to ensure that the O’Duffy Cup would spend another winter on Leeside.
Ultimately, the goal was the difference in a 1-16 to 0-16 scoreline, which makes it somewhat surprising that it didn’t receive more attention in The Sunday Game highlights show.
Mackey was challenged by Galway goalkeeper Sarah Healy and centre-back Áine Keane as she attempted to apply the finish, meaning that she didn’t touch the ball to the net with her hurley after it left her hand.
Galway manager Cathal Murray said afterwards that he had been told that, had it not been a goal, a penalty would have been awarded and so the goal was allowed to stand – but a penalty shot is just that, not a guaranteed goal in itself.
In fairness to Murray, he did not wish to make excuses and he praised referee Liz Dempsey’s handling of the match.
One does wonder, though, what the media reaction might have been if such a goal had been the decider in a men’s senior final.
On the one hand, you can understand why the coverage is more geared towards the positive – All-Ireland final night is a chance to promote camogie and to praise the winners and Cork did deserve that praise.
The goal came early in the second half and teams can only react to the game-state that exists – Galway responded well and asked questions of Cork but the Rebels showed real resilience to hang on.
Fiona Keating, celebrates with team-mates after Cork's victory over Galway in the Glen Dimplex Camogie All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final between Cork and Galway at Croke Park. \ Piaras Ó Mídheach\Sportsfile
Given that it was Ger Manley’s first year in charge after taking over from Matthew Twomey, another title was not assured by any means.
That Ashling Thompson won the player of the match award after missing last year’s success as she recovered from a cruciate ligament injury added to the fairytale story.
The win was Cork’s 30th title, the same as the county has achieved in senior hurling – all the more impressive given that, between 1941 and 1970, they didn’t win any.
They are the undisputed queenpins of the sport right now – the county’s intermediate side were also victorious on Sunday, beating Kilkenny, while Tipperary broke Laois’s hearts in the premier junior decider.
The occasion was used to mark the 120th anniversary of camogie first being played and it was interesting to note the words of the association’s president, Brian Molloy, in his speech before he presented the trophy.
Moves towards an integrated association for men’s football, hurling, ladies’ football and camogie continue, albeit slowly, and there have been calls in some quarters – such as from former Wexford star Ursula Jacob last weekend – for hurling to be used as the same for both the male and female versions.
However, while acknowledging that co-operation with the GAA, Molloy – the first male camogie president – also made clear that the name will remain and, with 120 years of history behind it, you can see why it would be something held dear.
Here’s to the next 120 years.
League of Ireland race starts to hot up
Shelbourne’s defeat to Sligo Rovers last weekend may not have pleased Damien Duff but it certainly served to liven up the race for the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division.
Under Duff, Shels have built year on year and have put themselves in a great position to end Shamrock Rovers’ stranglehold on the league.
Shelbourne manager Damien Duff meeting young fans. \ Tom Beary/Sportsfile
However, the casual observer doesn’t really enjoy seeing a processions towards success and the result in Sligo has reignited Derry City’s hopes, with just two points between the sides as the season moves into its final quarter.
Duff may not be to everybody’s tastes as his interviews sometimes have a performative José Mourinho-like (or, if it’s not sacrilege, Roy Keane-like) quality to them, such as a recent one where he slaughtered his players after an FAI Cup win over Bray Wanderers.
However, he gets people talking and, in terms of exposure, he is a valuable asset for the league. Similarly, former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, now with St Patrick’s Athletic, hasn’t been afraid to air his criticisms of the way the league is run and a recent complaint from him about the scheduling of a game against Galway United between two European games led to a response from Galway boss John Caulfield.
There was no love lost between the two when Caulfield’s Cork City and Kenny’s Dundalk were battling for the title and they remain two strong personalities in a league that needs that bit of edge to remain relevant.
No doubt there’ll be a few more differences of opinion between now and the end of the campaign.
The defending champions Cork had beaten Galway by 12 points in the group stage but that game probably took on too much significance in analysts’ minds – Galway qualified in second place and then saw off last year’s beaten finalists Waterford and Tipperary to reach the decider.
In the first half of Sunday’s game, they dictated much of proceedings and didn’t have a single wide as they led by a point at half-time.
To be fair, Cork only one shot astray – but the Rebels began the second half well and Katrina Mackey’s goal gave them a cushion.
However, they were never allowed to pull away and Galway stayed within a score in the closing stages only for heroic Cork defending, typified by the indomitable Laura Treacy at centre-back, to ensure that the O’Duffy Cup would spend another winter on Leeside.
Ultimately, the goal was the difference in a 1-16 to 0-16 scoreline, which makes it somewhat surprising that it didn’t receive more attention in The Sunday Game highlights show.
Mackey was challenged by Galway goalkeeper Sarah Healy and centre-back Áine Keane as she attempted to apply the finish, meaning that she didn’t touch the ball to the net with her hurley after it left her hand.
Galway manager Cathal Murray said afterwards that he had been told that, had it not been a goal, a penalty would have been awarded and so the goal was allowed to stand – but a penalty shot is just that, not a guaranteed goal in itself.
In fairness to Murray, he did not wish to make excuses and he praised referee Liz Dempsey’s handling of the match.
One does wonder, though, what the media reaction might have been if such a goal had been the decider in a men’s senior final.
On the one hand, you can understand why the coverage is more geared towards the positive – All-Ireland final night is a chance to promote camogie and to praise the winners and Cork did deserve that praise.
The goal came early in the second half and teams can only react to the game-state that exists – Galway responded well and asked questions of Cork but the Rebels showed real resilience to hang on.
Fiona Keating, celebrates with team-mates after Cork's victory over Galway in the Glen Dimplex Camogie All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final between Cork and Galway at Croke Park. \ Piaras Ó Mídheach\Sportsfile
Given that it was Ger Manley’s first year in charge after taking over from Matthew Twomey, another title was not assured by any means.
That Ashling Thompson won the player of the match award after missing last year’s success as she recovered from a cruciate ligament injury added to the fairytale story.
The win was Cork’s 30th title, the same as the county has achieved in senior hurling – all the more impressive given that, between 1941 and 1970, they didn’t win any.
They are the undisputed queenpins of the sport right now – the county’s intermediate side were also victorious on Sunday, beating Kilkenny, while Tipperary broke Laois’s hearts in the premier junior decider.
The occasion was used to mark the 120th anniversary of camogie first being played and it was interesting to note the words of the association’s president, Brian Molloy, in his speech before he presented the trophy.
Moves towards an integrated association for men’s football, hurling, ladies’ football and camogie continue, albeit slowly, and there have been calls in some quarters – such as from former Wexford star Ursula Jacob last weekend – for hurling to be used as the same for both the male and female versions.
However, while acknowledging that co-operation with the GAA, Molloy – the first male camogie president – also made clear that the name will remain and, with 120 years of history behind it, you can see why it would be something held dear.
Here’s to the next 120 years.
League of Ireland race starts to hot up
Shelbourne’s defeat to Sligo Rovers last weekend may not have pleased Damien Duff but it certainly served to liven up the race for the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division.
Under Duff, Shels have built year on year and have put themselves in a great position to end Shamrock Rovers’ stranglehold on the league.
Shelbourne manager Damien Duff meeting young fans. \ Tom Beary/Sportsfile
However, the casual observer doesn’t really enjoy seeing a processions towards success and the result in Sligo has reignited Derry City’s hopes, with just two points between the sides as the season moves into its final quarter.
Duff may not be to everybody’s tastes as his interviews sometimes have a performative José Mourinho-like (or, if it’s not sacrilege, Roy Keane-like) quality to them, such as a recent one where he slaughtered his players after an FAI Cup win over Bray Wanderers.
However, he gets people talking and, in terms of exposure, he is a valuable asset for the league. Similarly, former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, now with St Patrick’s Athletic, hasn’t been afraid to air his criticisms of the way the league is run and a recent complaint from him about the scheduling of a game against Galway United between two European games led to a response from Galway boss John Caulfield.
There was no love lost between the two when Caulfield’s Cork City and Kenny’s Dundalk were battling for the title and they remain two strong personalities in a league that needs that bit of edge to remain relevant.
No doubt there’ll be a few more differences of opinion between now and the end of the campaign.
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