Analysis: Midfield maestros Ashling Thompson and Aoife Healy key to Rebel mastery

Amy O'Connor may be Cork's headline act but their bid for two in a row is underpinned by the midfield partnership of Ashling Thompson and Aoife Healy. While O'Connor alone has accounted for a quarter of Cork's scoring total, the team's engine room has provided the platform as they've cruised into this afternoon's All-Ireland senior camogie final against Galway.

Cork's 12-point group stage win over Galway put them straight into the All-Ireland semi-finals ahead of the Tribe County, where next up they were 20-point winners over Dublin.

Between those two crucial wins, Thompson and Healy made four blocks and a remarkable 20 interceptions or turnovers. It created a rebound effect in front of their half-back line, allowing the reigning champions to absolutely suffocate and dominate each team they have faced thus far.

They also shot a combined six times for 0-03, as well as providing 1-06 in assists, Healy caught two puckouts, and the pair had 46 and 30 possessions respectively over the two games that put them into the final.

Of those assists, 1-05 of them were made by Healy whose role is more box to box providing impacts between both Ds, whereas Thompson is more heavily involved in the link-up play. Almost as an orchestrator at times, 30% of her possessions have been in the central pocket between halfway and her own 65.

Half of Healy's possessions were short passes, flicks or handpasses, as she carries at pace to draw in an opponent before freeing up a team mate nearby. Thompson also played shorter passes for just over 75% of her possessions, but mixed it up with longer or mid-range passes almost a quarter of the time - aiming for the corners or the pockets between the opposition 45 and 65.

Aoife Healy has been starring in a