2021 All-Ireland Senior Championship Final
Galway v Cork
Venue: Croke Park
Date: Sunday 12 Sep 2021, 4:15pm
Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)
FINAL SCORE: Galway 1-15 Cork 1-12
MATCH PHOTOS: Galway v Cork (Photo credit: Don Soules Photography)
Back row (L to R): Laura Glynn (Sarsfields), Ciara Murphy (Clarinbridge), Rachel Hanniffy (Oranmore Maree), Ann-Marie Starr (Killimor), Laura Ward (Sarsfields), Roisin Black (Oranmore Maree), Heather Cooney (St Thomas), Tara Kenny (Sarsfields), Mairead Dillon (Kilconieron), Niamh Hanniffy (Oranmore Maree), Maria Cooney (Sarsfields), Carrie Dolan (Clarinbridge), Sarah Dervan (c) (Mullagh), Sarah Healy (St. Thomas), Sarah Spellman (Sarsfields), Caitriona Cormican (Cappataggle), Lisa Casserly (Ballinderreen), Aine Keane (St. Thomas), Niamh McGrath (Sarsfields), Ciara Donohue (Mullagh).
Front row (L to R): Elisha Broderick (Castlegar), Ava Lynskey (Ardrahan), Noreen Coen (Athenry), Ailish O’Reilly (Oranmore Maree), Orlaith McGrath (Sarsfields), Siobhan Gardiner (Ardrahan), Catherine Finnerty (Mountbellew Moylough), Dervla Higgins (Athenry), Shauna Healy (Ardrahan), Aoife Donohue (Mullagh), Niamh Kilkenny (Pearses), Emma Helebert (Ballinderreen), Siobhan McGrath (Sarsfields), Molly Mannion (Mountbellew Moylough), Rebecca Hennelly (Ardrahan)
MATCH REPORT
12/09/2021: McGrath major makes it day to remember for Galway – Camogie Association
Match report by DARAGH Ó CONCHÚIR
On the day that the first Galway team to ever win the O’Duffy Cup was honoured, the Tribeswomen returned to the top of the tree for the fourth time, when just outstaying the same opposition 1-15 to 1-12, that fell victim to the county’s trailblazers in 1996.
It was Siobhán McGrath who scored the crucial goal when Sarsfields ended Slaughtneil’s dominance as All-Ireland club champions in 2020 and the flying forward came up with the defining major once again.
It came as Galway rescued what looked a perilous situation when Katrina Mackey sent a thunderbolt to the roof of their net in the 49th minute.
That made it 1-11 to 0-11 but from that juncture forward, Galway outscored the Munster crew by 1-4 to 0-1 and when one considers that they began the game with four points inside minutes, it was those bursts that proved definitive.
Cathal Murray’s side had already reduced the margin to one when McGrath finished delicately beyond the advancing Amy Lee in the 56th minute, after the excellent Ailish O’Reilly had broken the line and provided the consummate pass.
Orla Cronin, who was magnificent after being cleared to play in the early hours of the morning by the DRA, made it a one-point game but as Cork poured forward, Galway forced some huge turnovers and capitalised on the space, McGrath’s sister Orlaith hitting two big points to ensure it was Galway’s day.
The availability or otherwise of Cronin dominated the build-up and the Enniskeane playmaker lined out with 26 on her back, skipper and the match winner against Kilkenny, Linda Collins making way.
For their part, Galway brought in Carrie Dolan to make her first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury in the opening round against Westmeath, with Niamh Hanniffy dropping to the bench and Aoife Donohue reprising the midfield partnership with Niamh Kilkenny that propelled Cathal Murray’s side to their last All-Ireland in 2019.
It was a game befitting an All-Ireland final with phenomenal quality in terms of physicality, skill and stamina and while it could have gone either way with a different bounce of a ball or the difference of a blocked pass here or there, it was difficult to argue against the eventual result given how Galway had led for most of the affair.
It was a frantic start but Galway had the better of it. Dolan drove over two frees and Siobhán McGrath hit the first of her two opening-period points. O’Reilly cut in from the left to fire over from 40m soon after and it was a dream opening.
Gradually, Cork chiselled their way back into it, with great thanks to their midfield pairing of Ashling Thompson and Hannah Looney, the latter in particularly taking the battle to the opposition and close to the best player in red throughout the nigh-on 70 minutes.
Thompson ran onto a break from a Lee puckout to get the Rebels off the mark without breaking stride. McGrath replied before Sarah Healy was forced into an tremendous save from Mackey, after Cronin had drawn the cover.
Cronin hit a brilliant score soon after, the first of three consecutive points for Cork, the other two quite superb efforts from Looney.
Galway’s defenders had to make a number of interceptions with the Leesiders creating overlaps, one from Dervla Higgins – herself released to play after being sent off in error in the semi-final – from Amy O’Connor almost assuredly preventing a goal.
O’Connor was looking lively and she clipped a nice point, while Cronin was very evident in general play too, a testament to the strength of her mentality after her week.
Her shooting from placed balls was not so good though and she shot four first-half wides form frees. One was a straightforward attempt to equalise and it was punished as Kilkenny hit the target at the other end.
Scores from Cronin (free) and Mackey, after Cronin had somehow stolen possession, brought Cork level for the first time but an inspirational score by Donohue on the run from wide on the right gave Galway the edge at the break, 0-9 to 0-8.
The third quarter was a real arm wrestle with very little scoring. It wasn’t from the lack of opportunities – there were plenty – but both sets of defences shone, Libby Coppinger and Shauna Healy just two that came up with some massive plays. And when it was necessary to take a yellow card, they did that too.
Kilkenny extended Galway’s advantage when somehow escaping a phalanx of Cork defenders but Paudie Murray’s charges remained threatening without translating half-chances to scores, most notably when O’Connor blocked Sarah Healy but shot wide from a narrow angle.
Cronin punished a foul on O’Connor and repeated that trick after Dolan had slotted from a free to leave a point between them at the water break, 0-11 to 0-10, though it had taken a miraculous block from Looney to deny Dolan a goal just before that.
Cronin arced over a beauty from the right, after excellent work by the tireless Saoirse McCarthy and the teams were level.
Collins had been introduced five minutes after the restart and was again a reliable outlet with her assured handling. The captain came up with a massive play to set up Mackey’s goal, winning a ball she had no right to, carrying and then delivering the perfectly weighted handpass.
Mackey still had a bit to do coming in from the right but the Douglas forward unleashed a howitzer that gave Sarah Healy absolutely no chance.
Croke Park shook but crucially, Galway did not. Dolan converted a free with her last act of the game before being withdrawn, having made a vital contribution after so long on the treatment table, and O’Reilly took over the placed ball duties, just finding the inside side of the post soon after.
And it was the Oranmore-Maree attacker who provided the vital assist for the match-deciding score, giving McGrath that split-second she needed to transfer sliotar to hurley to angle a shot to the net.
Cork had contributed splendidly to a wonderful occasion, and surely one of the highest-standard finals in the history of camogie.
But it was Galway who took the spoils.
PwC GPA Player of the match: Aoife Donohue (Read more)
SCORERS FOR GALWAY: C Dolan 0-6 (0-6f); S McGrath 1-2; N Kilkenny, O McGrath, A O’Reilly (1f) 0-2 each, A Donohue 0-1
SCORERS FOR CORK: O Cronin 0-6(4fs); K Mackey 1-1; H Looney 0-2; A Thompson, C Sigerson, A O’Connor 0-1 each
GALWAY: Sarah Healy, D Higgins, Shauna Healy, s Dervan, C Cormican, E Helebert, S Gardiner, N Kilkenny, A Donohue, C Dolan, S Spellman, C Finnerty, O McGrath, S McGrath, A O’Reilly. Subs: N Hanniffy for Finnerty (ht), R Hennelly for Dolan (51), A Starr for Cormican (60), N Coen for Spellman (60+1)
CORK: A Lee, P Mackey, L Coppinger, M Cahalane, L Hayes, L Treacy, S McCarthy, H Looney, A Thompson, C O’Sullivan, F Keating, C Sigerson, K Mackey, A O’Connor, O Cronin. Subs: L Collins for O’Sullivan (36), C Healy for Keating (59)
Ailish O’Reilly 
Siobhan McGrath 
Orlaith McGrath 
Carrie Dolan 
Niamh Kilkenny 
Sarah Healy, Shauna Healy 
Dervla Higgins 
Caitriona Cormican 
Ava Lynskey, Rachel Hanniffy, Mairead Dillon, Heather Cooney, Sarah Spellman, Ciara Murphy
View additional match photos: Joe Keane
ADDITIONAL MATCH REPORTS:
- 16/09/2021: Galway finish in a blaze of glory to regain All-Ireland camogie title – Connacht Tribune
- 16/09/2021: Murray’s title-winning side stands on the cusp of greatness – Galway Advertiser
- 16/09/2021: Murray’s charges did deep to take second title in three years – Connacht Tribune
- 13/09/2021: Workrate the watchword for Galway girls – Camogie Association
- 12/09/2021: Galway’s energiser bunny gets up from the knocks to bring the O’Duffy Cup home – SportJoe.ie
- 12/09/2021: Galway wins fourth All-Ireland Senior Camogie Title – Report and Reaction – Galway Bay FM
- 12/09/2021: ‘The great teams have done it back-to-back’ – Galway boss lays out goal for All-Ireland winners – The42.ie
- 12/09/2021: Cork 1-12 Galway 1-15 – All-Ireland camogie final recap – RTE.ie
- 13/09/2021: Galway claim All-Ireland Senior Camogie title after dramatic win over Cork – Irish Independent
- 13/09/2021: Camogie gets the final it needed. Galway get the win they craved – Irish Examiner
- 12/09/2021: Experienced Galway edge Cork in camogie All-Ireland final – Irish Times
- 13/09/2021: Murray Managers Agree On Merit As Tribes Edge Verdict After Humdinger – SportDaz
2021 Senior team profiles
Club: St. Thomas
Position: Goalkeeper
Camogie Honours:
1 Minor A All-Ireland title
2 U16 All-Ireland A titles
All-Ireland Senior A Title with St. Brigid’s College
2 U16 All Ireland Puc Fada Titles
1 All Star 2019
2 Senior All-Ireland titles 2019, 2021
Galway Debut: Senior 2017
Club: Ardrahan
Position: Back
Camogie Honours:1 Intermediate All-Ireland title 2013
2 Galway National League 2015 & 2019
1 Minor All-Ireland title
Club Senior 2013 & 2018 Ardrahan Club
Intermediate Championship & League 2011 Ardrahan Club
All-Star 2018
2 Senior All-Ireland titles 2019, 2021
AIB Provincial Club Player 2018
2 All Star 2019, 2020
Galway Debut: Senior 2012
Club: Mullagh
Position: Back
Camogie Honours:
1 Intermediate All-Ireland title 2009
3 Senior All-Ireland titles 2013, 2019, 2021
National League 2015 & 2019
Ashbourne Cup 2005
County Final 2014
6 All Stars
Galway Camogie Sport award 2014 & 2018
Galway Debut: Senior 2008
Club: Athenry
Position: Defender
Camogie Honours:
1 Senior League 2019 – Galway
2 All-Ireland Senior titles 2019, 2021
Soaring Star 2019
Gael Linn 2017
Athenry Player of the Year 2018
AIT Player of the year 2019
College All-Star 2019
Intermediate Club Championship and League 2017 – Athenry
Connacht Club Championship 2017
Galway Debut: 2014 Intermediate v Antrim
Club: Ballindereen
Position: Defender
Camogie Honours:
2 National League 2015, 2019
Purcell Cup 2018
2 Interprovincial 2016, 2018
Senior A Colleges 2015
Junior Colleges 2013
2 Senior All-Ireland titles 2019, 2021
Junior A Club title 2019
Connacht Junior A club title 2019
Galway Debut: Senior 2016 v Tipperary
Club: Ardrahan
Position: Defender
Camogie Honours:
Senior Club Title: 2013/2018
Intermediate club title: 2011
Minor Club Title: 2012
National League: 2015
1 Minor All-Ireland title 2012
1 Senior All-Ireland title 2021
Galway Debut: Senior 2015 National League
Club: Cappataggle
Position: Midfielder
Camogie Honours:
1 Intermediate All-Ireland title 2013
2 Minor All-Ireland titles 2004, 2006
1 Interprovincial 2018
1 Intermediate Club 2016
2 Senior All-Ireland titles 2019, 2021
Galway Debut: Senior 2008
Club: Oranmore Maree
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
4 Ashbourne titles (University of Limerick) 2015-2019
All Star for third level college camogie 2019
2 Senior National League titles 2015 & 2019
2 Senior All-Ireland titles 2019, 2021
1 Minor All-Ireland title 2012
1 Club Senior League title 2017
1 Club intermediate championship title 2014
1 Club junior championship title 2013
Galway Debut: Senior 2017 v Dublin
Club: Pearses
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
1 Minor All-Ireland title
3 Senior All-Ireland titles 2013, 2019, 2021
2 Senior League titles
3 Senior Gael Linn titles
6 All Star Awards Galway
Camogie Association/WGPA Senior Players’ Player of the Year award 2019
Galway Debut: Senior 2006
Club: Mountbellew/Moylough
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
1 Senior league title 2019
2 Senior All-Ireland titles 2019, 2021
Galway Debut: Senior 2015 v Cork
Club: Sarsfields
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
4 County Senior Club Championship
1 All-Ireland Club title
1 All-Ireland Senior League
3 County Minor Club titles
1 Senior All-Ireland title 2021
1 Minor All-Ireland title
1 All-Ireland Senior Schools
3 County U16 Club Championship
1 U16 All-Ireland title
1 County Féile
Galway Debut: Senior 2019 v Tipperary
Club: Mullagh
Position: Midfielder
Camogie Honours:
2 Senior National League 2015 & 2019
Purcell Cup 2018
2 All Star 2016 & 2017
Connacht Gael Linn Senior Interprovincial 2016 & 2018
3 Senior All-Ireland titles 2013, 2019, 2021
1 Intermediate All-Ireland title 2013
1 Minor All-Ireland title 2010
4 Senior Club League 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2018
1 Senior Club Championship, 2014
2 Minor A Club Championship, 2008 & 2009
PwC GPA Player of the month August 2021
Galway Debut: Senior 2014
Club: Sarsfields
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
1 Senior All-Ireland Club title (2019)
4 Senior Club titles
1 Senior All-Ireland title 2021
1 Minor All-Ireland title
2 U16 All-Ireland titles
1 Ashbourne Cup medal
PwC GPA Player of the month July 2021
Galway Debut: Senior 2017 v Tipperary
Club: Sarsfields
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
1 All Star (2020)
1 Senior All-Ireland Club title (2019)
4 Senior Club Titles
2 Senior All-Ireland title (2013, 2021)
1 Intermediate All-Ireland title (2013)
1 National League title (2015)
Galway Debut: Senior 2012 v Offaly
Club: Oranmore Maree
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
3 All-Ireland Senior titles 2013, 2019, 2021
2 National League – 2015 & 2019
2 U18 All-Ireland titles – 2010 & 2012
2 U16 All-Ireland title – 2010
3 All Star 2013, 2015 & 2017
Junior A and Intermediate club county title – 2013 & 2014
1 Club Senior League champions 2017
Galway Camogie Clubs Dream Team award recipient 2018
Galway Debut: Senior 2013 v Kilkenny
Club: Sarsfields
Position: Goalkeeper
Camogie Honours:
Féile All-Ireland Champions 2007
Many underage County Club Titles: U10/U12/U14/U16/U18s
County and Connacht Club Intermediate Champions 2010
Athlone Institute of Technology Camogie Player of the Year 2015
County Club Senior Champions 2016
1 Senior All-Ireland title 2021
Galway Debut: Senior 2019
Club: Killimor
Position: Midfielder
Camogie Honours:
4 Club Senior County titles 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2015
1 Club Senior All-Ireland title 2011
Gael Linn 2016 & 2018
2 Senior National League titles 2015 & 2019
3 Senior All-Ireland titles 2013, 2019, 2021
Galway Debut: Senior 2011
Club: Sarsfields
Position: Back
Camogie Honours:
2 County National League 2015 & 2019
Senior Gael Linn 2016
3 Senior All-Ireland titles 2013, 2019, 2021
1 Intermediate All-Ireland title 2013
2 Minor All-Ireland titles 2010, 2012
1 U16A All-Ireland 2009
4 Club Senior Club 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
1 All-Ireland Club Championship 2020
Intermediate Club & Connacht 2010
2 Minor A 2010 & 2011
1 Minor B 2008
U16 A 2008 & 2009
Féile na nGael All Ireland 2007
Féile 2006 & 2007
College College title with GMIT 2014
County Intermediate Player of the Year 2013
Connacht Minor Player of the Year 2011
Galway Debut: Senior 2014
Club: Oranmore Maree
Position: Back
Camogie Honours:
1 Club Intermediate Title
1 Senior All-Ireland title 2021
Club: Sarsfields
Position: Backs/Forwards
Camogie honours:
1 Purcell Cup medal (Mary Immaculate College)
1 Minor A All-Ireland Title
1 Intermediate All-Ireland Title (2013)
2 Senior All-Ireland Title (2013, 2021)
1 Senior All-Ireland Club Title (2019)
4 Senior County Club Titles
Galway debut:
Club: Sarsfields
Position: Midfielder
Camogie Honours:
1 All-Ireland Senior Club
4 Senior Club titles
2 Senor All-Ireland titles 2013, 2021
1 Minor All-Ireland title
1 U16 All-Ireland title
2 Interprovincial titles
Galway Debut: Senior 2009
Club: Ardrahan
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
2 U16 All-Ireland titles 2009 & 2010
1 Minor All-Ireland title 2010
2 Intermediate All-Ireland titles 2009 & 2013
3 Senior All-Ireland titles 2013, 2019, 2021
Soaring Star 2013
All-Star 2016
Club Senior championships 2013 & 2018
Club Intermediate championship 2011
Club Minor A championship 2012
Club U16 A championship 2010
Galway Debut: Senior 2011
Club: Athenry
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours: 4 Club Senior county titles
1 Club Intermediate county title
Junior A schools All Ireland Presentation College Athenry
1 National League title
1 Minor All-Ireland title
3 Senior All-Ireland titles 2013, 2019, 2021
2 Gael Linn Galway
Galway Debut: Senior 2011 v Wexford
Club: Clarinbridge
Position: Midfielder
Camogie Honours:
1 All-Ireland league medal
2 All-Ireland Senior title 2019, 2021
Interprovincial All-Ireland – Connacht
4 Ashbourne Cup medals – University of Limerick
3 college league Cup medals – University of Limerick
1 All-Ireland Senior A camogie medal – Seamount College
1All-Ireland Junior C camogie medal – Seamount College
1 Under 16 county medals – Clarinbridge
2 Junior A county medals – Clarinbridge
2 Junior A league county medals – Clarinbridge
1 Intermediate Club Title- Clarinbridge 2020
Galway Debut: Senior 2015 v Limerick
Club: Clarenbridge
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
1 U16 All-Ireland title 2015
1 Senior Schools All-Ireland 2015
1 Minor All-Ireland title 2017
1 Senior National League 2019
2 Senior All-Ireland title 2019, 2021
Intermediate Club Championship 2020
Galway Debut: Senior2018 v Clare
Club: St. Thomas
Position: Defender
Camogie Honours:1 Club Intermediate title
1 Intermediate All-Ireland title
2 Senior National League titles
2 Gael Linn titles
3 Senior All-Ireland titles 2013, 2019, 2021
Connacht Player of the Year 2014
All Star 2015 and 2019
Galway Debut: Senior 2010
Club: Ardrahan
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
Minor All-Ireland Runners Up 2018
1 Minor All-Ireland title 2017
Club Senior League 2017
1 U16 All-Ireland title 2016
2 All-Ireland Senior titles 2019, 2021
Galway Debut: Senior 2019 v Antrim
Name: Laura Ward
Age: 24
Position: Backs
Club: Sarsfields
Camogie honours:
2 Senior All-Ireland titles 2019, 2021
1 Division 1 League title 2019
4 Club Senior Club 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
1 All-Ireland Club Championship 2020
AIB club team of the year for 2020.
Club: Ballindereen
Position: Midfielder
Camogie Honours:Junior Colleges 2013
2 All-Ireland Senior titles 2019, 2021
Junior A Club title 2019
Galway Debut: Senior 2017
Club: Mullagh
Position: Back
Camogie Honours:
1 County U14 Féile 2008
2 County Minor A 2008 & 2009
1 U16 All-Ireland title 2010
1 Connacht Inter- Provincial schools title 2013
4 Galway Senior League 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2018
1 Galway Senior Club Championship 2014
3 Connacht Intermediate 2014, 2015 & 2016
Purcell Shield 2015
Purcell Cup 2018
National Senior League 2019
2 All-Ireland Senior titles 2019, 2021
Galway Debut: Senior 2014
Club: Oranmore Maree
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
Minor All-Ireland Runners Up 2018
1 Minor All-Ireland title 2017
Club Senior League 2017
1 U16 All-Ireland title 2016
1 Senior All-Ireland title 2021
Galway Debut: Senior 2019 v Antrim
Club: Castlegar
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
1 Minor All-Ireland 2017 - Galway
1 U16 All-Ireland 2015 - Galway
1 Senior All-Ireland title 2021
Galway Debut: Intermediate 2019
Club: Mountbellew/Moylough
Position: Midfielder
Camogie Honours:
1 U16 All-Ireland title 2015
1 Minor All-Ireland champions 2017
2 Senior All-Ireland titles 2019, 2021
Senior league champions 2019
Galway Debut: Senior 2017
Club: Kilconieron
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
U16 All Ireland 2015 & 2016
Minor 2017 All Ireland
1 All-Ireland Senior title 2021
Galway Debut: 2019 Intermediate
Club: St.Thomas’s
Position: Forward
Camogie Honours:
1 U16 All-Ireland title 2018
1 All-Ireland Senior title 2021
Galway Debut: Intermediate 2021 v Dublin
MATCH PREVIEW:
- All-Ireland Senior Final Preview with Sarah Dervan, Cathal Murray & Rena Buckley – Galway Bay FM
- Preview – Cork Vs Galway – All-Ireland Senior Final – SportsDaz
- 12/09/2021: “I think we’re still playing a small bit within ourselves. We know the potential is there” – Camogie Association
Promo: 2021 All Ireland Senior Championship Final, Sept 12 2021, Croke Park
1996 Galway team honoured:
Twenty five years on from their first All-Ireland senior camogie title the 1996 Galway team will be honoured for their achievement in Croke Park on Sunday. Read more: 1996 All-Ireland Senior Final – Galway v Cork
