Cork strike late to claim intermediate camogie title

Fiona Nelligan lived out the spirit of "don't count your minutes, make your minutes count" for Cork’s intermediate camogs this afternoon in Croke Park, as the Charleville player popped up with the decisive score to give the Rebels the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland intermediate title for the fifth time in their history and first since 2018.

With just under ten minutes remaining, Claire Doheny pounced on a breaking ball, capitalising on tigerish work from full-forward Caroline Kennedy and fired over what looked like a crucial point to nudge Kilkenny 1-10 to 1-8 in front.

However the closing stages of the contest were dominated by Donie Daly’s Cork side, at both ends of the field.

Lauren Homan, top scorer in the championship as a whole, had played well but hadn’t dominated the game as much as some of her other contests this year. That didn’t affect her composure as she stood over a free on the 20m line, right out on the Hogan stand sideline, and split the uprights to start their rally.

Three Cork defenders converging to block down Niamh Crowley, and then Tara McCarthy hooking Doheny to prevent a score from the subsequent break summed up Cork’s ravenous desire to force the issue their way, and that effort was rewarded when Cliona O’Callaghan strode through to fire over the equaliser.

With the wind at their backs and four minutes of stoppage time to play, by now it was Kilkenny who would have gladly listened to Brian Kearney’s final whistle and reset themselves for a replay next weekend in Thurles.

Cork celebrate beating Kilkenny by the narrowest of margins in the All-Ireland intermediate camogie final