Cork savour camogie glory, divisional future in doubt plus a club football preview.
The Echo Sport PodcastShow Notes
The Echo Sport Podcast crew break down a thrilling All-Ireland camogie final, look at the future of divisional teams after the latest championship withdrawal and pick the matches to catch in the second round of football group games.
Cork captured the O'Duffy Cup for the 31st time after a gripping game in Croke Park against their fierce rivals Galway. Goals were the key, Saoirse McCarthy and Orlaith Cahalane burying two in the second half, but also the Rebels' second-half attitude when they pushed up the pitch more and tackled with far greater intensity to turn around a two-point deficit.
Sorcha McCartan and Laura Hayes were also magnificent but this was a triumph for the collective as the young guns fired on the big stage. Cork lost five of the starting 15 from 2025 but newcomers like Isobel Sheehan, Meabh Murphy, Millie Condon and Ava Fitzgerald rose to the occasion.
There was just one divisional/colleges match played as UCC had to give a walkover to Carbery, who now progess into the last seven of the Premier SFC proper. Seandún beat Muskerry to earn the right to face Imokilly in the hurling equivalent but serious questions have to be raised about the merits of including representative sides in a competition where clubs are pushed to the pin of their collars.
The clubs are back in the spotlight next weekend when the stakes couldn't be higher, particularly for the teams who were beaten in their opening fixtures.
Among the standout fixtures are St Finbarr's against Douglas, Ballincollig v Knocknagree and Clon-Haven in the same PSFC group, Carbery Rangers and O'Donovan Rossa in a Senior A derby, Uibh Laoire and Bantry at Premier Intermediate and Kilmurry versus Buttevant at Intermediate A.
Now in its fourth season, every Monday, Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field. You can listen on Echolive.ie/podcast or anywhere you get your podcasts.
Don’t forget to log onto www.IrishExaminer.com as well to catch up on the best inter-county analysis including Dalo’s Hurling Show and The Gaelic Football Show. Plus there's a special digital bundle offer with access to the Examiner and Clubber TV, which streams the best of the Cork GAA club matches. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The Echo Sport Podcast
The Echo Sport Podcast crew breaks down the Premier Senior and Premier Intermediate Hurling finals on this week's show, as well as previewing a busy Bank Holiday weekend as the Cork GAA season hits its thrilling conclusion. The big prizes on Sunday afternoon went to Glen Rovers and Ballincollig. Neither game fully caught fire but the Glen won't care after edging the first county final against the Barrs in 38 years thanks to a pair of Eoin O'Leary goals and a steady showing overall. O'Leary's haul of 2-2 took him to 5-13 for the season and surely on the radar of the Cork selectors. The Glen were just that bit better balanced than the Barrs, who did have a late shout for a penalty to force a draw, and it was a sweet victory after being relegated in 2023. It also atoned for county final losses in 2018, '19 and '20. Barrs were 0-12 to 0-10 up at the break having finished the first half well but O'Leary's opening goal turned the tide. Patrick Horgan finished with 0-3 from play but so too did midfielder Rhys Dunne. Ethan Twomey clipped a staggering 0-5 from play in the second half for the Barrs but it wasn't enough. Ballincollig were a point down at half-time against Dungourney after a slow start but took control in the second half to make up for losing the PIHC final 12 months ago to Ballinhassig. Adam Wills rifled the goal, his brother Stephen Willis picked up Man of the Match for his clinical shooting from play while Theo Morgan and Cian O'Driscoll nailed 0-3 apiece. In defence, James Dwyer, Ross O'Donovan, Barry Coleman and Fenton Denny were also immense. It's a blend of hurling and football next weekend, with the Premier Junior Hurling final on Friday night pairing St Catherine's and Kilshannig. On Sunday afternoon, there's a football double-header, Cobh versus Canovee at Premier Junior, followed by champions St Finbarr's against great rivals Nemo Rangers in a repeat of last year's Premier Senior decider. Now in its fourth season, every Monday, Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field. You can listen on Echolive.ie/podcast or anywhere you get your podcasts. Don’t forget to log onto www.IrishExaminer.com as well to catch up on their analysis including The Replay, the new highlights show anchored by Seanie McGrath, Dalo’s Hurling Show and The Gaelic Football Show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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