All Ireland Preview: All-Ireland hat-trick not a factor for hyper-focused Cork
Image 1 of 3
Cork camogie manager Ger Manley. Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILEImage 2 of 3
Orlaith Cahalane of Cork during the Munster Senior Camogie Championship semi-final match between Clare and Cork at Zimmer Biomet Páirc. Chíosóg in Ennis. Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILEImage 3 of 3
Cliona Healy of Cork and Molly Comerford of Waterford after the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Senior Championship semi-final at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny in July. Ben McShane / SPORTSFILEAfter the bitter disappointment of the men’s hurling final, all Rebel eyes now fall on the women’s team who are trying to win three All-Ireland titles in a row.
Cork secured their place in the 2025 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland camogie final last month after a hard fought battle against Waterford winning out 1-21 to 1-11 in the end.
They now face familiar rivals Galway in Croke Park on Sunday, the same team they beat in last year’s final by a single goal.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the win over Waterford, Cork manager Ger Manley said there is nothing between Cork and Galway and that he expects a very difficult game.
“There’s nothing between the two teams; I think it can go either way. Last year was the same, there was very little between us,” said Manley.
Asked about whether the possibility of winning three titles in a row will be on the minds of him and the players on Sunday, Manley said: “It’s another match. I think we didn’t even put it into our minds this year. Everybody can talk about it all they want. For the girls, our aim every year for Cork camogie is to get to the All-Ireland final.
“Whether it’s two, three, four or five, it doesn’t matter to them; it’s about winning the next day,” he added.
If Cork do manage to retain the O’Duffy Cup for a third time on the trot, they will become the first team to do so since Wexford in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
While Cork remains the most successful team in the championship, Galway’s history is not quite so glamorous, appearing in 21 finals and only managing to win four.
Galway will have it all to prove on Sunday. Last year’s final was a thrilling affair with the teams finding themselves level eight times in the first half and rarely more than two points apart.
Cork came out strong in the second half and carved out a six point lead only for Galway to score six consecutive points to draw level once more. It took everything in Cork’s power to stop the Galway momentum but stop it they did.
Galway’s path to the final last year suffered a few speedbumps in the form of a draw with Wexford and a loss to Cork in the group stage. However, this year’s campaign has been a smoother affair for Galway, winning every game and recording a massive 4-25 to 0-5 victory over Tipperary along the way. Cork have forged a similarly straightforward path to the final, enjoying especially big wins over Limerick, Clare, and Wexford.
The 2025 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Championship Final between Cork and Galway takes place this Sunday at Croke Park with throw-in at 5.15pm.