It was almost a drought there, by Cork standards.
They hadn’t won the senior camogie All-Ireland in two whole years, it was getting ridiculous. That was put right on Sunday and, my God, what a way to put it right.
Magic. Pure magic.https://t.co/ENym0Ws2R4 #SupportHerSport @LibertyIRL
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) September 10, 2017
Cork are the champions of Ireland once more after Gemma O’Connor and Julia White produced stunning heroics to rescue a classic final from the jaws of defeat and the celebrations were every bit as special as the performance.
After lifting the O’Duffy Cup for the third time in four years, the Rebelettes covered Croke Park with sheer merriment and joy.
Ashling Thompson, who captained the side to their last title in 2015 and who was so, so solid today on the Cork 45′ against Kilkenny, was a picture of pure passion and seeming relief to get back to where Cork belong.
As soon as the full time whistle went, so did her helmet.
Her and Eimear O’Sullivan just clattered into each other’s embraces.
Just look at what it means.
This is what it’s all about.
But Thompson has been on the losing side too and it’s not lost on her the misery and dejection that overcomes the beaten team.
After their semi-final win, she was a picture of class.
She'd go thro you for ball but nice from @AshlingThompson aft @corkcamogie survive tough tussle w/ Galway to face @KilkennyCamogie in final pic.twitter.com/67O4v0ACF9
— clíona foley (@ponyyelof) August 19, 2017
That wasn’t to be Cork’s fate on Sunday though. Far from it.
And, in a performance of pure grit and steel, breathtaking energy and class skill, the All-Ireland was sent packing back down towards the Lee for another year and the women who had made the country sit up and take notice of such a super spectacle lapped it all up in the changing rooms afterwards in a moment that will live vividly as long as each and every one of them do.
Ashling Thompson posted the video of their celebrations on Instagram and if this doesn’t make you want to join a team and go training to make a dream a reality, nothing will.
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