They go again!
It’s a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland senior camogie final between holders Galway and Kilkenny and we’ll be bringing all the action to you live from Croke Park.
Sinéad Farrell here and we’re delighted to welcome you along to our live coverage of the game.
This is set-up up to be a Christmas cracker this evening. Can Kilkenny banish the ghosts of All-Ireland finals past or will Cathal Murray’s side be champions again in 2020?
We’ll have the team line-ups for you in the next few moments so do stay with us.
And feel free to get involved in the coverage by either posting a comment below or you can contact me directly on @sinead_farrell7
Here’s how Galway are named to line out:
1. Sarah Healy (St Thomas’)
2. Shauna Healy (Ardrahan)
3. Sarah Dervan (Mullagh)
4. Heather Cooney (St Thomas’)
5. Emma Helebert (Ballindereen)
6. Siobhán Gardiner (Ardrahan)
7. Tara Kenny (Sarsfields)
8. Aoife Donohue (Mullagh)
9. Niamh Kilkenny (Pearses)
10. Carrie Dolan (Clarinbridge)
11. Catriona Cormican (Cappataggle)
12. Rebecca Hennelly (Ardrahan)
13. Ailish O’Reilly (Oranmore/Maree)
14. Niamh Hannify (Oranmore/Maree)
15. Orlaith McGrath (Sarsfields)
There’s one change in the Kilkenny team that starts tonight:
1. Aoife Norris (Piltown)
2. Michelle Teehan (James Stephens)
3. Claire Phelan (Lisdowney)
4. Davina Tobin (Emeralds)
5. Colette Dormer (Barrow Rangers)
6. Meighan Farrell (Thomastown)
7. Grace Walsh (Tullaroan)
8. Anna Farrell (Thomastown)
20. Kellyann Doyle (Piltown)
10. Miriam Walsh (Tullaroan)
11. Anne Dalton (St Lachtain’s)
12. Aoife Doyle (Piltown)
13. Mary O’Connell (Clara)
14. Denise Gaule (Windap)
15. Katie Nolan (St Martin’s)
An All-Ireland final in Covid time
Some pre-match reading to keep you going before the 7pm throw-in.
Kilkenny’s Katie Power, who is missing this evening’s final due to injury, says her side are playing without fear this year after a run of bad luck in previous All-Ireland finals:
“There’s just something this year. We’re stronger personally and as a unit. And I think that showed against Cork. Other years, we went six points down after five minutes and our heads would be gone. Whereas [against Cork] the girls only started hurling after that. After the game, I was so proud, so happy.”
Read more from the Piltown forward here.
Now, we’ll throw it over to you. How do you see this game going?
Poll Results:
Kilkenny players are out on the pitch now working through their warm-up.
And now it’s the turn of Galway to take to the field. 20 minutes to go until throw-in.
Late change for Galway ahead of throw-in.
17. Siobhán McGrath (Sarsfields) replaces Rebecca Hennelly
Throw-in! Galway 0-0 Kilkenny 0-0
1 min: Galway 0-1 Kilkenny 0-0
First blood to Galway as Siobhán McGrath gets an early point.
3 mins: Galway 0-1 Kilkenny 0-1
Aoife Doyle swings over a beautiful point from a tricky angle to even things up. Beautiful conditions in Croke Park tonigh.
Galway 0-1 Kilkenny 0-2
Good defensive work from Galway as they prevent a possible goal chance to force a ’45. Denise Gaule stands over it and taps it over to give the Cats the lead.
Galway 0-3 Kilkenny 0-2
Carrie Dolan with a well-taken free to level the game for a second time. Grace Walsh concedes a free moments later from close range, as Dolan doubles her tally.
12 mins: Galway 0-3 Kilkenny 0-2
Galway enjoying most of the possession in the early stages. Dolan sends in a long-range free from near the sideline but Kilkenny clear their lines.
But they’re struggling to keep the ball up the other end as Galway centre-back Siobhán Gardiner hits the first wide of the game.
16 mins: Galway 0-3 Kilkenny 0-3
Both sets of backs are on top and very little time afforded to anyone on the ball.
Free awarded to Kilkenny after an intense passage of play, with blocks, hooks and hustle from both sides.
Gaule converts to bring us back to level-pegging.
20 mins: Galway 0-4 Kilkenny 0-3
Ailish O’Reilly edges the champions back in front with the first piece of play after the water break.
23 mins: Galway 0-5 Kilkenny 0-3
There’s a break in play as Meighan Farrell requires treatment after a clash. A Galway free follows and Dolan brings her tally up to three points from frees.
Galway now lead by two.
20 mins: Galway 0-5 Kilkenny 0-4
Mary O’Connell responds to reduce the gap to one. There’s more scores coming from open play in this phase of the game.
25 mins: Galway 0-5 Kilkenny 0-4
Big let-off there for Kilkenny. Ailish O’Reilly tried to link up with Niamh Kilkenny to send her through for a goal chance but the referee blows for a free out.
Gaule misses a free at the other end.
26 mins: Galway 0-5 Kilkenny 0-5
Anne Dalton drills the ball between the posts to level the game.
Goal! Galway 1-5 Kilkenny 0-5 (McGrath ’27)
28 mins: Galway 1-5 Kilkenny 0-5
Orlaith McGrath produces the first goal of the game to give the holders a three-point lead.
Big blow for Kilkenny as it comes just seconds after they had hit the equaliser.
Five minutes added time to be played.
31 mins: Galway 1-5 Kilkenny 0-6
Massive goal chance for Kilkenny there. Doyle had the goal at her mercy but grabbed her second point instead with a powerful shot.
Half-Time! Galway 1-5 Kilkenny 0-6
Here’s that Orlaith McGrath goal
Orlaith McGrath rounds the keeper to tap home the first goal of the game for the reigning champions - watch live on @rte2 and @rteplayer #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/9TvocDcxq5
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) December 12, 2020
31 mins: Galway 1-5 Kilkenny 0-7
The second half is underway as Gaule sends over a monstrous free to leave just one between them.
33 mins: Galway 1-6 Kilkenny 0-8
Siobhán McGrath briefly extends the gap to two points before Gaule lands her fourth free of the night.
This is going right down to the wire. No changes on either side at half-time, by the way.
37 mins: Galway 1-7 Kilkenny 0-10
LEVEL!
Katie Nolan levels the game briefly with a great shot after getting the ball in loads of space.
Aoife Donohue replies to keep Galway’s noses in front. Gaule misses a chance to level it but Doyle steps in to get her third of the night.
Again though, there was a goal chance there.
37 mins: Galway 1-7 Kilkenny 0-11
Gaule puts Kilkenny in front with her first of the night from play. What a score it was from distance.
41 mins: Galway 1-8 Kilkenny 0-11
Galway aren’t going away as Dolan breaks through the Cats’ cover to grab her first from play with a lovely shot over her right shoulder.
Dolan has four now.
42 mins: Galway 1-8 Kilkenny 0-12
Another goal chance for Kilkenny but Mary O’Connell fumbles the ball at the crucial moment.
The ball comes to Aoife Doyle who splits the posts from a difficult angle to get her fourth of the night.
Kilkenny lead by one at the second water break.
49 mins: Galway 1-8 Kilkenny 0-13
Grace Walsh advances up the field to get her first of the night as Kikenny lead by two.
56 mins: Galway 1-10 Kilkenny 0-13
LEVEL!
Niamh Kilkenny showing great leadership to land a point for Galway when it’s needed most.
Dolan follows up with a free to make it a draw again.
57 mins: Galway 1-10 Kilkenny 0-13
PENALTY!!
Kilkenny have another chance to go for goal.
Goal! Galway 1-10 Kilkenny 1-13 (Gaule ’58)
60 mins: Galway 1-10 Kilkenny 1-14
Gaule lands her fifth free of the night. Could that be it to seal it?
Three minutes of added time to follow.
62 mins: Galway 1-11 Kilkenny 1-14
Dolan gets her fourth free of the night. Galway need a goal.
Full-Time! Galway 1-11 Kilkenny 1-14
That’s that. After years of All-Ireland final hurt and pain, Kilkenny are champions once again. The scenes at the final whistle said it all, with Brian Dowling and Denise Gaule both giving really emotional interviews on RTÉ now.
Sinéad Farrell has her match report up on The42 so you can cast an eye over that, while there’ll be plenty more to come this evening and tomorrow. Thanks for reading, enjoy the rest of your Saturday night.
