Cork 1-16; Galway 0-16
This was a real arm-wrestle of an All-Ireland final with underdogs Galway putting it up to the hot favorites before finally going under after a titanic struggle at Croke Park on Sunday.
The Connacht side had the temerity to match the Rebelettes step for step and blow for blow in a first half which saw them sneak a one-point interval lead against a slight wind.
If Cork didn’t know they were up against it by then, then they were left scratching their heads when a whirlwind third quarter which saw them kick six points clear, was once again negated by a dogged western outfit who simply refused to go away.
This forced the southern management to make their final play of the dice - by going to the bench and it was the impact of the subs which finally saw the holders get across the line for back-to-back victories.
Three points in a row was the final nail in the coffin which for once the gallant losers had no response to as Cork now look to completing a hat-trick of O’Duffy Cup titles next year.
Former Down star Sorcha McCartan, who is the daughter of 1994 All-Ireland winning Down footballer Greg, was the heroine of the hour as she struck over two of those three late scores with Clodagh Finn striking the third after earlier making one of McCartan's scores.
The crowd of 27,811 was just shy of last year’s record numbers but they saw a match which had both sets of supporters on the edge of their seats from first puck until last.
Both sides put a huge emphasis on closing down space which meant that there were few efforts for goal in the first half which Galway shaded to set themselves up for victory.
However they had to withstand a red tide which saw them put a six-point margin on their opponents before showing commendable fight to level matters with only six minutes remaining.
Cork though had the superior bench and it was enough to earn them their 30th title.
Katrina Mackey emerged as a key player for Ger Manley's team with her goal and two points important in the overall scheme of things.
Hannah Looney explained afterwards: “We knew Galway were going to put up a challenge. I know people were saying it was going to be a bit easier than that but it never was. It was one of the hardest games we've played all year. That’s what was expected. What we want is to be a generational team. To win back-to-back is only the start of it, we'll keep going.
“It's something we've done in Cork before so it's in the tank in a lot of us girls. What hasn't been done is the three in a row, and maybe it's too early to start speaking of that. We'll enjoy the winter, we'll enjoy the celebrations. It's amazing.”
Cork: A Lee; M Murphy, I O’Regan, P Mackey; H Looney, L Treacy, L Hayes; A Thompson (0-1), A Healy; C Healy (0-1), F Keating (0-1), Sa McCarthy (0-3, 0-1f); A O'Connor (0-3f), K Mackey (1-2), Or Cahalane (0-2) Subs: S McCartan (0-2) for Mackey 39, C O'Sullivan for C Healy 47, M Cahalane for Looney 51, C Finn (0-1) for Keating 53, Murphy for O Cahalane 63.
Galway: S Healy; D Higgins, R Black, R Hanniffy; O Rabbitte, A Keane, C Hickey (0-1); A Starr, N Kilkenny; N Mallon (0-1), N McPeake, A Donohue (0-4); C Dolan (0-8, 0-7f), A O'Reilly (0-2), N Hanniffy Subs: O McGrath for O’Reilly 49, N Niland for N Hanniffy 62, A Hesnan for Rabbitte 65.
Ref: L Dempsey (Kilkenny).
