"We Were There To Take It Off Them": Galway Star Comes Out Swinging Over Cork Praise

Galway are the 2025 All-Ireland Camogie Champions after defeating a much-fancied Cork side 1-14 to 1-13 in Croke Park on Sunday evening.

In what was a nail-bitingly tense affair, both Cork and Galway went blow-for-blow throughout, contesting a fiery affair in which Galway's superior opening half eventually stood to them and saw them end the Rebel's bid for three in a row.

Cathal Murray's Ladies' started like a train, opening the scoring in the second minute, before holding out a crucial 9th-minute penalty, when the affair was level at two apiece and the Rebels were looking for a foothold in the game.

Four minutes later, they'd punish Cork's inefficiency with a goal of their own, tipping the scales back in their own favour and kickstarting a run that would see them head in at the break five points the better.

The biggest talking point of the opening 30 came not on the scoreboard, however, but in the referee's notebook, where, after a fiery half hour of action that saw both sides biting away at each other, Cork's Hannah Looney was shown a red card for attempting to strike her marker.

HT: Galway 1-09 Cork 0-07

Cork's Hannah Looney sees red and the Leesiders will play the entire second-half down a player

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Despite boasting a numerical advantage for the entirety of the second half, Galway all but failed to make it count on the scoreboard, with only an extra-time point securing their title.

After adding just four points to their first-half tally by the end of regulation time, Galway had opened the door for a fourteen-lady Cork side, who, when they scored a 59th-minute goal to level the affair, set up the most exhilarating of finishes.

Orla Cahalane with a great, late goal to level this final at the death

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Even a last-minute goal proved insufficient, however, and like they had all day, Galway found a final gear, sailing the winning point through the uprights as the clock struck 62, securing the O'Duffy Cup.

FT: Galway 1-14 Cork 1-13

Carrie Dolan wins it for the Tribeswomen with a huge free in injury time

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Speaking to RTÉ on the final whistle, Galway's Ailish O'Reilly did not mince her words, delivering one of the most impassioned and pointed All-Ireland winning speeches in recent years.

Making no attempt to hide her emotions, the Galway full-forward took aim at her side's underdog status and the idea that they were only there to make up the numbers, saying her side were there to take Cork's much talked about three-in-a-row off them.

That is sweet. When they got the goal, and to respond the way Carrie did shows a lot about this team after we were written off so much.

It suited us down to the ground, all we heard all week was the three in a row, the three in a row, and we were there to take it off them. I think we proved a lot of people wrong.

All the talk was about Cork, they felt like we were just coming up to show up and they were just going to be handed the trophy, we were so riled up to be honest.

This is sweet. Absolutely unreal to be honest. I could not be prouder of all the girls out there. I'm just so happy, I can't wait to get to my family and friends.

Galway full-forward Ailish O'Reilly speaks to Valerie as the Tribeswomen celebrate their All-Ireland triumph

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After claiming what is her fourth All-Ireland title, O'Reilly clearly had little fear of the microphone in what was one of the most refreshing post-match interviews this author has seen or heard in quite some time.