Sabina Rabbitte goal steers Galway to league title defence against Cork

A fantastic goal from Sabina Rabbitte mid-way through the second half, allied with a personal contribution of a goal and eight points from Carrie Dolan and a dour defensive display, all added up to Galway retaining their Very Camogie League Division 1A title at the expense of an equally driven but less economic Cork.

It is a seventh title in total for Galway but a third in five seasons as Cathal Murray has constantly utilised the Spring to build competition for places, the result of which has been the westerners' most fruitful period ever, with two All-Irelands also in the bank in his tenure.

That this victory came with so many new faces and the likes of Niamh Kilkenny, Sarah Dervan, Siobhán McGrath, Orlaith McGrath, Sarah Healy and the retired Heather Cooney unavailable, to name just six, marks them out as the team to beat in the All-Ireland Championship, with at least some of those slated to return.

They had to inflict a first defeat of the group stages on Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh to book their place in the final and even that would not have been enough had Tipperary beaten Kilkenny, instead losing by a point.

Cork will be one of those with something to say about the destination of the O’Duffy Cup and have not been without their injury problems themselves, the likes of Katrina Mackey and Ashling Thompson among the considerably significant absentees but they have to be stung by what is a fourth consecutive loss in a national final.

Cork got the first score of the Very Camogie League Division 1 final and it was a goal converted by Orlaith Cahalane #RTEGAA