Very Ireland Camogie League Division 1A final
Cork v Galway (Sunday, Croke Park, 1.50pm)
IT would have been a huge shock if the Division 1A didn’t end up featuring two teams out of Cork, Kilkenny and Galway.
When both Kilkenny and Galway lost in the opening round that shock looked on – and Tipperary remained in the contention until the very last game when they went down narrowly to Kilkenny and Galway came up along
the rails to beat Cork and set up a rematch with the Leesiders.
When both teams started the league there were plenty of changes from last year. Cork still got off to a good start and built up a head of steam. By contrast, Galway struggled in their early games.
After losing by three goals on the first day to Tipperary, they improved just about enough to beat a clearly out-of-sorts Kilkenny and then got the results they needed against Dublin and Clare.
Their best performance was saved for their visit to Pairc Ui Chaoimh when they battled their way to a 1-11 to 1-10 victory, helped by a goal from Ailish O’Reilly in the 48th minute.
A 42nd minute goal from Emma Murphy looked to have opened a gap for Cork, but the O’Reilly goal gave Galway the momentum to get a result that means the teams now face each other in three successive games. They are set to play at a Galway venue on the first weekend of the senior championship.
In recent years, Galway have proven to be a bogey team for Cork, whom they beat on the way to both the 2019 and 2021 All-Ireland titles. They are a bit off championship pace however and, with no Connacht championship between the end of the league and start of the All-Ireland, they need the extra game that they get with a league final.
Cork looked in better shape coming into the last game. With nothing at stake for them, their performance lacked a competitive edge and they paid for it.
Manager Matthew Twomey probably needs Cork to win a trophy to build their confidence ahead of the championship. It won’t be easy, but they should do it.
DERRY will look on ruefully as Kerry and Meath contest Sunday’s Division 2A final (Croke Park, 12pm). They could have been there, perhaps should have been there.
Kerry made the running from the start and when they came to Lavey a month ago, the top two places looked to be between them and Derry.
The visitors surprised the Oak Leafers that day – with Derry’s other defeat proving their costliest as they went down 1-9 to 0-10 to Meath in the final round of group games, a victory that sealed the Royals’ spot in Sunday’s decider.
In tomorrow’s Division 2B final (Clonmel, 3pm) Cork will aim to repeat their group stage victory over Kilkenny.
