It’s camogie heaven!

IT’S often said ‘what is rare is wonderful’ and that was certainly the case for Galway camogie at Croke Park on Sunday when the seniors claimed their first O’Duffy Cup in 17 years and the intermediates completed a glorious double with an equally as gutsy McGrath Cup victory.

Emotions ran high after both games, but particularly the senior as a number of Galway’s greatest servants – no more so than the ageless Therese Maher – had finally fulfilled their sporting ambition of a lifetime and secured that elusive All-Ireland senior medal.

Indeed, the sub-plots to this greatest of days for Galway camogie were in abundance and to the fore was manager Tony Ward, who not only guided the county to their first ever senior title back in 1996, but now also has the distinction of leading both senior and intermediate teams to All-Ireland glory at Croke Park on the same day.

The intermediates, captained by Kinvara’s Sinead Keane, had set the scene with a 0-12 to 0-10 win over National League (Division 2) champions Limerick, with Ardrahan’s Rebecca Hennelly and Sarsfields Orlaith McGrath both shooting four points apiece.

The move of McGrath from full forward to a wing-forward berth – from which she tallied three superb points – was instrumental in the winning of this game although that is not to undermine the contribution of the rest of a well balanced side.

However, the big one was the senior and having only claimed one All-Ireland title in 15 previous final appearances, the weight of history lay on the Tribeswomen’s shoulders. In the end, they made light of it and were worth every bit their 1-9 to 0-7 victory.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.