Hello, and welcome to our live coverage of the 2022 All-Ireland senior camogie final.
Cork and Kilkenny renew their rivalry on the biggest stage; the Rebels seeking a first O’Duffy Cup since 2018, looking to go one better than runners-up last season, and the Cats aiming to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand for the first time since 2020.
One of the Big Three will come out on top — Galway are reigning champions and also league holders — but who will it be?
Throw-in at Croke Park is 4.15pm, and it’s live on RTÉ 2. But we’ll keep you up to date right here.
First, a look at the teams. Kilkenny were unchanged when they were first named on Friday, with Ashling Thompson in from the start for Cork this time. We’ll keep you updated on any late changes.
Cork
1. Amy Lee (Na Piarsaigh, captain)
2. Méabh Murphy (Ballinora), 3. Libby Coppinger (St Colum’s), 4. Meabh Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
5. Laura Hayes (St Catherine’s), 6. Laura Treacy (Killeagh), 7. Saoirse McCarthy (Courcey Rovers)
8. Hannah Looney (Killeagh), 9. Ashling Thompson (Milford)
10. Katrina Mackey (Douglas), 11. Fiona Keating (Courcey Rovers), 12. Chloe Sigerson (Killeagh)
13. Cliona Healy (Aghabullogue), 14. Sorcha McCartan (St Finbarr’s), 15. Amy O’Connor (St Vincent’s).
Kilkenny
1. Aoife Norris (Piltown)
2. Michelle Teehan (James Stephens), 3. Grace Walsh (Tulloroan), 4. Tiffany Fitzgerald (Young Irelands)
5. Niamh Deely (James Stephens), 6. Claire Phelan (Lisdowney), 7. Laura Murphy (O’Loughlin Gaels)
8. Steffi Fitzgerald (Young Irelands), 9. Katie Power (Piltown)
10. Denise Gaule (Windgap), 11. Michaela Kenneally (Windgap), 12. Julliane Malone (Mullinavat)
13. Mary O’Connell (Clara) 14. Miriam Walsh (Tulloroan) 15. Katie Nolan (St Martin’s)
Late change for Cork: 18. Ciara O’Sullivan comes in for Cliona Healy at corner forward.
The pre-match formalities are well underway; the teams currently marching behind the Artane Band after being greeted by President Michael D Higgins.
Five minutes to go to throw-in.
Throw-in: Ray Kelly throws the ball in, and we’re off.
Kilkenny 0-1 Cork 0-0
1 min – Tiffany Fitzgerald with the first score of the game. A great start for Kilkenny, one of their corner backs getting them off the mark.
Kilkenny 0-2 Cork 0-0
5 mins – It looked like the sides were level, the Rebels up and running after an excellent score from Sorcha McCartan. But HawkEye came into play and ruled it out.
Katie Nolan splits the posts at the other end after great work from Julianne Malone.
Kilkenny 0-3 Cork 0-0
8 mins – Miriam Walsh sneaks another just inside the posts. An interesting full-forward/full-back battle unfolding there between her and Libby Coppinger
Kilkenny 0-4 Cork 0-0
12 mins – Walsh with her second score of the evening. Kilkenny will be happy with their start, but they’ve had a few wides too — one from Walsh just before, two from Katie Power. Cork labouring for their first score.
Kilkenny 0-6 Cork 0-0
15 mins - Denise Gaule gets in on the scoring act for Kilkenny with a quick-fire double.
Just before that, Cork half-back Laura Hayes saw yellow for a shoulder challenge on Steffi Fitzgerald.
Kilkenny 0-6 Cork 0-0
18 mins – Grace Walsh is down receiving some medical treatment, Cork coach Davy Fitzgerald is urging calm, and there’s shades of their slow start in the semi-final here when they failed to score for a massive chunk of the first half.
They have two wides on the board already, Ashling Thompson off target there. They really need a score.
Kilkenny 0-6 Cork 1-0
GOAL for Cork, and they’re up and running! Fiona Keating drives through the middle and slots home, incredible leadership shown when it was needed most.
Kilkenny 0-7 Cork 1-0
22 mins – The perfect response from Kilkenny, as Michaela Kenneally hits back at the other end. It must be noted that they have five wides themselves, Nolan with their latest.
Kilkenny 0-7 Cork 1-1
23 mins – Amy O’Connor nails a free for Cork. It was won as a result of the Rebels running at Kilkenny, finding joy from that, in particular.
Kilkenny 0-7 Cork 1-2
28 mins – O’Connor sends a free over from the 45m line, won by Thompson, who was tripped, after good work from herself and midfield partner Hannah Looney. She’s frustrated though, hoping for advantage.
Kilkenny 0-7 Cork 1-3
30 mins – Fiona Keating brings the gap to one. Two minutes added on.
Kilkenny 0-7 Cork 1-4
30+2 mins – Katrina Mackey brings the sides level with a superb team score.
HALF-TIME: Kilkenny 0-7 Cork 1-3
All square at Croke Park. Kilkenny with the first six points of the game, the Cats first out of the traps and holding Cork scoreless for 20 minutes.
Fiona Keating got the Rebels up and running with a superb goal, the momentum shifting in their favour for the remainder of the half. A half of two halves almost, you could say.
Here’s a look at Keating’s goal:
Fiona Keating brings Cork to life in the final with their first score after 20 minutes.
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SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway.
23,426 the official attendance at HQ today. No half-time changes.
Cork 1-5 Kilkenny 0-7
34 mins – O’Connor puts Cork in front for the first time with a free. Her third point. The free was won by Thompson, who ran at the Kilkenny defence.
Cork 1-5 Kilkenny 0-8
36 mis – And Walsh does well at the other end to get her third. Their first score since the 20th minute of the first half.
Kilkenny 0-9 Cork 1-5
39 mins – Nolan taps over a straightforward free, which was won by Walsh. The full-forward is causing Cork serious problems in there, and Méabh Murphy sees yellow for her efforts to stop her.
Kilkenny 0-9 Cork 1-6
40 mins – Keating with another for Cork, and we’re level once more.
Cork 1-7 Kilkenny 0-10
42 mins – Mackey shows her class with an exceptional score from near the sideline under the Cusack Stand.
Nolan nails a free at the other end just after. Level once more.
Cork 1-8 Kilkenny 0-10
43 mins – Saoirse McCarthy with an excellent point to nudge Cork ahead again. The game has really sparked to life in the second half, the scoring tit-for-tat.
Cork 1-8 Kilkenny 0-11
45 mins – Nolan with another nice finish – her second point from play, and fourth overall.
Cork 1-9 Kilkenny 0-12
48 mins – O’Connor with another well-taken free for Cork, before Nolan responds accordingly from a placed ball at the other end.
Kilkenny substitution – Sophie O’Dwyer on for Michaela Kenneally.
Cork 1-10 Kilkenny 0-12
50 mins – Looney edges Cork in front once more. A let-off for her side just beforehand, as Nolan uncharacteristically misses a free after a needless foul.
Cork substitution – Emma Murphy is in.
Cork 1-10 Kilkenny 0-12
52 mins – It really is nip and tuck, this one set to go right down to the wire. Every single ball is crucial from here. Davy Fitz is animated. The possession stats flash up, courtesy of RTÉ: 52% Kilkenny, 48% Cork.
Cork 1-11 Kilkenny 0-12
55 mins – O’Connor sends another free over the bar to put Cork two up, after a delay. Chloe Sigerson was down for treatment, but she appears to be okay.
Cork substitution – Cliona Healy replaces Méabh Murphy.
Kilkenny substitution – Aoife Prendergast in for Mary O’Connell.
Cork 1-11 Kilkenny 0-12
56 mins – HawkEye is used once more, Gaule’s free deemed wide. It was a fairly scoreable one, though a silly one to concede by Ashling Thompson.
Kilkenny 1-12 Cork 1-11
GOAL for Kilkenny! Substitute Sophie O’Dwyer slammed home on the ground; Niamh Deely with the original lobbed effort, which sent the Cork defence back-pedalling and goalkeeper Amy Lee clearing off the line, but it fell kindly to O’Dwyer and she made no mistake.
Kilkenny 1-12 Cork 1-12
59 mins – Mackey ties it up. Incredible. A thrilling second half!
Four minutes added on.
Kilkenny 1-13 Cork 1-12
60+1 mins – Denise Gaule shakes off her last miss with an important free.
Cork substitute – Orlagh Cahalane comes on for Sigerson.
Kilkenny 1-13 Cork 1-12
60+3 mins – Phenomenal stuff from Gaule down the home straight, with two massive blocks. Coppinger does likewise to win the ball back for Cork. One minute left.
A frantic last few minutes, so much happening, but Kilkenny remain one up.
Thompson with a narrow wide from long range. There goes the final whistle, it’s all over.
FULL-TIME: Kilkenny 1-13 Cork 1-12
Joyous scenes as Kilkenny celebrate at the final whistle, crowned champions for the first time since 2020. This is their eighth decider in the last 10 years, but just their third O’Duffy Cup lift in that period.
That 58th-minute goal was crucial: goal-scorer Sophie O’Dwyer telling RTÉ the win is “the best feeling ever” and “if I missed the rebound, I would have been in trouble!”
What a second half, a thrilling finish.
We’ll leave it here as Kilkenny captain Aoife Prendergast lifts the silver, the Cats champions for the 15th time in their history. A massive win for Brian Dowling’s team, the emotion caputured perfectly by former boss Ann Downey amongst the on-field celebrations.
That’s all from me, Kevin O’Brien’s match report from Croke Park will follow in the next few minutes.
Congratulations to Kilkenny, commiserations to Cork. What a game, what a rivalry.
Enjoy your Sunday evening, have a good one!
