Phew! What a weekend!
A superb feast of camogie was on offer this weekend and some thrilling action across both Saturday and Sunday kept supporters on the edge of their seats.
Cork’s Ashling Thompson leads out her team.
Now, the scene has been set for the Liberty Insurance senior All-Ireland final showdown on Sunday, September 13th, as both Galway and Cork booked their spots in Croker with wins over Wexford and Kilkenny respectively.
First up, it was Galway and Wexford who went head-to-head on Saturday afternoon and what a game it proved to be.
Niamh McGrath of Galway with Linda Bolger of Wexford.
Wexford, who came into the game on the back of a quarter-final win over Dublin on Bank Holiday Monday, threw everything they had at the Division 1 League champions and with the game all square going into injury time, it was hard to pick a winner between the two sides.
Katriona Parrock of Wexford with Ailish O’Reilly of Galway.
A strong and determined display from Wexford kept them neck-in-neck with Galway throughout.
The Tribeswomen got some early points on the board, and a stunning goal by Molly Dunne put them five clear early on.
Katriona Parrock of Wexford with Clodagh McGrath of Galway.
However, Wexford were back within minutes, as a long ball in from Katrina Parrock found the back of the net, and though Galway added more points, there were just four between them at the break (1-8 to 1-4).
Galway stretched their lead in the second half, with two well-placed points from Niamh Kilkenny and still looked to be in control as the clock ticked down.
Deirdre Codd of Wexford with Finoula Keeley of Galway.
Wexford were not finished yet though, and Stacey Kehoe pounced for her second green flag of the day to put the game back in the melting pot once more.
Some well-taken scores for Wexford followed, and suddenly, the game was tied with time running out.
It was Niamh McGrath who kept her cool in injury time though to crush Wexford’s dreams as she raised that all-important white flag to book Galway’s spot in the final on the smallest of margins, 1-14 to 2-10.
Molly Dunne and Ailish O’Reilly of Galway celebrate.
On Sunday then it was the turn of Cork and Kilkenny, after the game had been moved to accommodate Cork ladies’ footballers for their clash on Saturday against Galway.
It looked like Kilkenny were going to have the upper hand in this clash, as they drove into a convincing 1-6 to 0-2 lead midway through the first half.
Cork’s Orla Cotter and Claire Phelan of Kilkenny.
Cork began to find their footing though, and an Emma Kavanagh goal coupled with some well-taken points put them in the lead at half-time, 1-7 to 1-6.
Cork’s Briege Corkery and Stacey Quirke of Kilkenny.
Despite points from Kilkenny as the second half got underway, two goals in the space of a minute midway through the second half, swung momentum firmly in Cork’s favour and they added their fourth of the day shortly after to run out 4-10 to 1-10 winners.
Cork’s Briege Corkery and Orla Cronin celebrate.
They will now go on to defend their All-Ireland title in the final against Galway in what is a repeat of the Division 1 final that saw the Tribeswomen come out on top.
