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\nThe Cork side led by two at the break<\/p>\n
St Finbarr\u2019s 0-15 Athenry 1-12<\/p>\n
Athenry and Cork’s St Finbarr’s must replay for AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie honours after a late point from the Galway side forced a dramatic draw in the final at Croke Park.<\/p>\n
Trailing by six with five minutes left, Athenry found a way with Anna Jordan\u2019s goal setting up a thrilling finale and Kayla Madden equalising deep into added time with a point.<\/p>\n
When Eimear Hurley, who is back on home turf after playing in goals for Dublin this summer, came off the bench and pointed a beauty in the 55th minute, St Finbarr\u2019s were six points clear, 0-15 to 0-09, and on their way to a maiden senior club camogie title.<\/p>\n
A six-point lead in the context of the scoring flow of this game seemed definitive, particularly given the difficulties caused by the swirling wind.<\/p>\n
But that was to reckon without the type of gumption Athenry have shown all year.<\/p>\n
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They did dethrone the defending champions Sarsfields, remember, in their county final.<\/p>\n
Of course, the Barrs have shown it too, in snatching the Munster title from De La Salle\u2019s grasp and then qualifying for the decider with a point in the dying embers of a second period of extra time against Loughgiel Shamrocks.<\/p>\n
That just adds value to what Athenry did.<\/p>\n
To rule them out of the equation was to reckon, most of all, without the ridiculous Therese Donohue (nee Maher).<\/p>\n
The mother-of-three is 44 now, a dozen years removed from her inter-county retirement finally as a belated All-Ireland winner.<\/p>\n
There are a few generations of camogie followers now that only know of her brilliance from stories.<\/p>\n
They will be aware maybe, that she is the aunt of this year\u2019s All-Ireland-winning captain Carrie Dolan.<\/p>\n
But if you want a little hint as to why Dolan has always been such a leader for Galway from a very young age \u2013 she pointed from a late free to deny Cork in this year\u2019s All-Ireland remember \u2013 the evidence was writ all over Croke Park again at the end of 2025.<\/p>\n
Into the fourth minute of injury time, Donohue soloed clear of three Barrs defenders into the heart of enemy territory, Athenry needing a point to rescue what had seemed an impossible situation.<\/p>\n
\nThe Cork side led by two at the break<\/p>\n
It looked like she might have been fouled but Ray Kelly waved play on.<\/p>\n
The Barrs got it away but Athenry recovered it.<\/p>\n
A couple of more passes and with the clock gone into the fifth minute of injury time, the sliotar was in Madden\u2019s hands about 35m out.<\/p>\n
The half-forward struck unerringly, for her second score of the game, but she will hardly hit a more important one.<\/p>\n
Donohue finished with three points, having signalled her intent with the opening score in the second minute.<\/p>\n
Perhaps most tellingly, she also had the shot that struck the Barrs crossbar, a minute after Hurley\u2019s point, from which Jordan pounced on the rebound to goal and change the direction of this game completely and utterly.<\/p>\n
Goal for Athenry – Anna Jordan strikes to put just three between the teams #RTESport<\/a> \u2014 The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) December 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Athenry had had a lot of the play in the second half but now, the Blues were completely on the back foot.<\/p>\n Sabina Rabbitte lofted over from a 55m free on the Hogan Stand side and after Ciara Hurley saved from Jessica Gill, converted the resultant 45.<\/p>\n Then came the stunning denouement, a last puckout and the final whistle.<\/p>\n Much of the attention at the start was on the match-ups, and the battle between Athenry skipper and senior camogie\u2019s player of the year nominee Dervla Higgins, with Barrs playmaker, the Cork star Orlaith Cahalane, was worth the admission fee alone.<\/p>\n There was the sight too of Olwen Rabbitte lining out in midfield for Athenry, despite having a cruciate ligament operation due, luckily after the scheduled replay date of 3 or 4 January.<\/p>\n She lasted the entire game, holding the fort with some astute positioning and deliveries.<\/p>\n But for the most part, it just looked like the Barrs\u2019 greater economy would seal the deal.<\/p>\n They led by 0-08 to 0-06 at the break, and the TV stats told us that they had a greater efficiency from their 11 chances, with Athenry creating 13.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, the Galwegians had four wides in that period, compared to their opponents\u2019 one.<\/p>\n Nicole Olden benefited from much of Athenry\u2019s attention being elsewhere, providing three points from play in that first half.<\/p>\n Keeva McCarthy, Ciara Golden and Cahalane were also on the mark from play.<\/p>\n Donohue and Kerri O\u2019Driscoll had a brace each, while Madden had also slotted her first and in truth at that stage, it was hard to call.<\/p>\n The second half began with five points in as many minutes, the Togher crew coming out on top by three-to two to stretch their advantage marginally.<\/p>\n The Barrs take the lead through Nicole Olden #RTEGAA<\/a> #RTESport<\/a>
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