Galway face a trip into the unknown when they take on Cork in the Gala All Ireland senior camogie championship final at Croke Park at 4.00 p.m.

It is the first time in ten years that Galway have reached the All Ireland senior final and it is twelve years since the county won its only title.

In its proud history Galway camogie played in the first All Ireland senior camogie final in 1932, which was played in Galway Sportsground and reached All Ireland finals in 1933, '37, '39, '40, '46, '60, '62 and '93 without success.

However all that changed when the county team led by Imelda Hobbins captured the O’Duffy Cup in 1996, but Galway failed again in two successive final in 1997 and ’98 to win the title back. Since then there have been ten barren years as Galway failed to reach the final.

Now they are back in Croke Park on final day and all indications are that the Tribesgirls can well finish the task on hand. The only team to beat Galway in league or championship this year has been Kilkenny and while they won the league, they didn’t reach the All Ireland semi final.

Galway have already beaten the Cork side this year and they had also defeated Wexford before they ousted them as they went to retain the title they won last year. To beat All Ireland champions was a wonderful achievement, but it will count for little if Galway cannot finish the job and win back the O’Duffy Cup after a twelve year absence.

Led by Sinead Cahalan of Mullagh, a player who already holds an All Ireland junior and intermediate medal, this team is ready to take on Cork.

Cahalan has been an outstanding captain all year and leads by example. The team includes two All Ireland medal winners from 1996 in Veronica Curtin and Aine Hillary. Curtin holds two All Stars and has won All-Ireland minor, junior and senior medals. The Kinvara native missed a number of games through injury but was back for the Wexford game and played a major role.

Aine Hillary from Pearses was a substitute in the 1996 team and has won medals at many grades from Under 14 to senior, in addition to five All Ireland club titles with Pearses.

Therese Maher is another player of sterling service on the team and while her two sisters were on the ’96 team, Therese won an All Ireland minor medal that and the following year. That experience backed up with young players like Niamh Kilkenny, Anne-Marie Hayes, Sarah Noone, Therese Manton and Jessica Gill gives Galway a great chance.

A lot will depend on the performance of Jessica Gill, a player with outstanding scoring ability and who has scored 6-40 in this year’s championship. Gill has displayed tremendous power and experience despite her youth and is a player that Cork will watch carefully.

The team has been expertly coached under the direction of former Galway hurlers Liam Donoghue and Damien Coleman and Anne Broderick. Clarinbridge player Donoghue was a long serving captain of Galway senior hurling team. An All-Ireland Minor winner in 1992 and an Under 21 medal two years later, Donoghue has a lot of experience behind him.

Damien Coleman won and All-Ireland Under 21 medal with Galway in 1993 and a Railway Cup medal, before adding an All-Ireland Club medal with Portumna in 2006.

Ann Broderick was a member of Galway camogie team that captured All-Ireland honours in 1996. Anne was Galway camogie player of Year in 1995 and is a sister of former All-Star hurler Kevin Broderick.

Galway defeated Limerick, Wexford, Cork and Dublin, but lost to Kilkenny and drew with Tipperary before taking the scalp of Wexford when the sides met in the All Ireland Semi final.

They are now ready for the challenge to take on Cork and march on to give Galway their second All Ireland senior camogie title.

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