2026 All Ireland U23 Championship – Round 1
Galway v Cork
Date: 29 Mar 2026, 2pm
Venue: Duggan Park
Ref: Raymond Kelly
FT: Galway 0-11 Cork 1-11
Match Report
By Sarah Gaughran, PRO
The Galway U23 team suffered a three-point defeat to Cork in the opening round of the U23A Camogie Championship on Sunday in Duggan Park. Cork fielded a strong side, while Galway were without key players, including captain Katie Anna Porter, vice-captain Ciara Hickey, and Shannon Corcoran.
Cork made a dream start, putting immediate pressure on the Galway defence. A pass across the square from Emily O’Donohue found Ciara Golden, who batted the ball to the net inside the opening minute. Just a minute later, Cork were awarded a penalty following a tackle by Galway goalkeeper Laura Freeney on Amy Sheppard. Cork keeper Ana Kearney stepped up to take the penalty, but her effort struck the crossbar, denying Cork a second quick goal.
Galway’s defence worked hard to clear their lines, but Cork continued to dominate early on. Sheppard opened her account in the ninth minute with a converted free, and Orlaith Cahalane quickly added another point from the restart. Niamh McInerney got Galway on the scoreboard in the 12th minute with a point from play after two earlier efforts had come back off the crossbar. Golden and Cahalane added two more quick points in the 19th minute to extend Cork’s lead to six. Caoimhe Kelly and Sheppard (from a placed ball) traded scores before the break, leaving Cork 1-4 to 0-2 ahead at half-time.
With the advantage of a strong breeze, Galway started the second half brightly, scoring four unanswered points through Aoibheann Barry, Kayla Madden, Katie Gilchrist (free), and Kelly to reduce the gap to a single point by the 36th minute. Cork responded well, however, with a 45 from Sheppard and further points from Rose Murphy and Cahalane.
Kelly added her third point midway through the half, but Cork struck again with three unanswered scores from Sheppard (two, including one free) and Niamh McNabola. Galway finished strongly, with Kelly adding two more points and further scores from McInerney and Barry, but it wasn’t enough as Cork secured a 1-11 to 0-11 victory.
Galway will be disappointed not to have claimed the win, but they can take encouragement from their strong finish and determination, which should stand to them as the season progresses. They now turn their attention to a trip to Kilkenny next weekend.
ADDITIONAL:
- Cork 1-11 Galway 0-11 (All-Ireland under-23 Camogie Championship Commentary and Reaction with Cathal Murray) – Galway Bay FM
- Cork 1-11 Galway 0-11 (All-Ireland under-23 Camogie Championship Commentary with Darren Kelly and Imelda Hobbins) – Galway Bay FM
- Golden’s early strike floors Galway rivals in All-Ireland U23 Camogie Championship – Connacht Tribune
Team
U23 PANEL
Captain – Katie Anna Porter (Davitts)
Vice-captain – Ciara Hickey (Davitts) and Reitseal Kelly (Sarsfields)
