Cats to Pounce or Tribe to Triumph?
This Sunday’s Senior All Ireland Camogie Final sees the Cats back in their fourth All-Ireland final in a row and a sixth in seven seasons. They’ve lost the last two deciders to Cork conceding late points. They played Sunday’s opponents on 2013 and 2015 with the counties sharing one title each. Sunday is Galway’s first return since losing out in 2015.
Cat Attack
Kilkenny hit an impressive 2-21 against Tipp in their semi-final, with Michelle Quilty firing 1-9. Ann Dalton scored the other major with a quick thinking scooped effort into the roof of the net. Both players combined with some electric attacking play when they clicked. It took all of it to put away Tipp who have proved themselves the years surprise package of 2019. Their feisty semi showing will have given them huge encouragement along with a solid season for their intermediates.
In Sunday’s showpiece we can expect Quilty, Ann Dalton with her switch farther up the field, Miriam Walsh and Katie Power to lead the Cats bid to reclaim the O’Duffy Cup after the last two years of heartbreak. There’s plenty there in the hurt locker to draw upon. Kilkenny offer a serious goal threat this season and they will be in the hunt for three pointers. If they can score goals they can win the game. Thirty years ago manager Angela Downey famously scored an All-Ireland winning goal for Kilkenny against Cork losing her skirt and stick in the process as Cork defender Liz O’Neill made a last gasp effort to stop the certain goal. The incident led to a front page photo in the Irish Times. Skorts are made of stronger stuff these days. Angela Downey will have drilled into her charges the need to do everything possible and more to claim the silverware.
Galway at Double Strength
Opponents Galway contest both the senior and intermediate finals which can often ensue when a large panel has generated momentum, both teams training as one and driving everyone on. Interestingly this year, Cathal Murray has kept his panels separate to give each their own space and identity as a team. Galway are in buoyant mood after defeating Cork in the semi. A Galway win would be their third O’Duffy Cup, perhaps a surprisingly small return from such a strong county that has contested 17 finals. This year they have already beaten the Cats in the league final and that win over rivals Cork will give the Tribe’s Camogie team a real shot of confidence.
Against Cork, the Galway work rate, resilience and grace under pressure were to the fore. Six points in reply to Julia White’s first half goal, showed they would not back down. They consistently put pressure on Aoife Murray’s puc outs forcing Cork turnovers. It was a hard fought one point win, with Niamh Kilkenny to the fore with three points from play. They also had a Sarah Healy penalty saved by Gemma O’Connor, but it didn’t affect their momentum. Interestingly the second half saw each team score four points, it was that first half effort that made the difference. On Sunday Niamh Kilkenny, Aoife Donohue, tricky insider Ailish O’Reilly and dual star and GP Catriona Cormican ones to watch, all led by experienced skipper Sarah Dervan.
It will be an interesting tactical contest with Kilkenny adept at setting up with players withdrawn to launch raids from deep by their fast and skillful strike force. Quilty and Dalton are deadly and creative and the team are capable of big scores if they cut loose with Katie Power and Ann Dalton both reliable scorers. Galway bring tremendous skill and resilience and it should be a real cracker.
A Neighbourhood Rivalry: Westmeath and Galway
Galway face Westmeath in the Intermediate decider, the latter having overcome a fancied Down outfit in their semifinal by a single point. Galway won five and drew one in their campaign to date. The unlikely neighbourhood derby should be an interesting affair to say the least. Westmeath will look to Megan Dowdall, Mairéad McCormack their skipper, Laura Doherty and Sheila McGrath to provide the leadership they showed in shifting last years finalists Down. Galway call on the services of youth with Ava Lynskey, Molly Mannion, Méabh Scally and Laura Ward key for the tribe. Westmeath have proved themselves doughty and determined, their qualifying group went to the bitter end and they managed a draw with Kilkenny to qualify.
Kerry and Limerick in Junior Decider
Kerry and Limerick contest the junior final with the Kingdom gaining the upper hand in their earlier group head to head. They prevailed by three points against the Limerick Camogie women and Sunday will be even tighter. Kerry will be hoping to pat last year’s loss to Dublin to bed and in Patrice Digging and Julianne O’Keeffe they have the leaders on the pitch. For the Treaty outfit, Rebecca Noonan does the bulk of scoring from dead balls with Michelle Curtin and Geri-Mai O’Kelly other attacking options. Captain Grace Lee leads by example. It promises to be a rip roaring start to the showpiece on Croke Park.