Cork retained the O'Duffy Cup as they had to dig deep to get past a valiant Galway side in headquarters this evening. Katrina Mackey's second half goal the real killer blow in this tie.

In a tight first half the sides were level on eight different occasions. Katrina Mackey hit over the first point of the game within the opening minute. A free from Saoirse McCarthy put two between the sides in the second minute.

Galway opened the scoring through Carrie Dolan (free) and she drew the sides level in the sixth minute with another pointed free. Cork looked for scores but credit to the Galway defence they held firm. An Orlaith Cahalane free edged Cork ahead again in the ninth minute but a fine Ailish O’Reilly point levelled matters after 10 minutes of play.

Mackey and Aoife Donohue traded points while Dolan fired over two frees. McCarthy and Fiona Keating were amongst the Cork scorers as the sides were level for a seventh time in the 26th minute.

Dolan hit over her fifth free of the game to put Galway ahead again in the 29th minute. Amy O’Connor drew Cork level as half-time approached. A fine point from Donohue saw Galway go in at the break in front 0-10 to 0-09.

 Inside the opening minute of the second half Cahalane drew Cork level with a fine effort. Ashling Thompson fired over a point to give the Rebelettes the lead again. In the 36th minute Cork raised the green flag; Amy O’Connor with a great run, she passed to Mackey and despite being under pressure she found the back of the net.

Cork stretched their lead to five points in the 38th minute when McCarthy hit over her third point of the game. O’Connor was on target from a free before two Dolan points (one free) cut the gap to four in the 43rd minute. 

Points from Ciara Hickey and another Dolan free saw Galway come within two points of Cork in the 48th minute. A fantastic point from Donohue saw just one between the sides entering the final 10 minutes. 

Donohue got to the end of a Dolan pass one minute later to equalise. Down the other end Sorcha McCartan’s effort was saved from going over by Galway netminder Sarah Healy.

McCartan got a score minutes later to give Cork the lead.

Substitute Clodagh Finn put two between the sides with a fine effort in the 55th minute. As Galway chased the game they gave away a number of silly frees in their forward line. It was a dramatic ending in headquarters, McCartan added another off the bench to ensure a three point margin in the end.