CORK ended a seven-year wait for national league silverware – and West Cork had a huge say in it.

Dohenys’ Melissa Duggan delivered a player-of-the-match performance, while Beara’s Áine Terry O’Sullivan led the charge up front as Cork powered past Galway in the Division 1 final at the Gaelic Grounds.

It was a win built on resilience. Trailing and under pressure at half time, Cork regrouped, reset and produced a storming second-half display to finally get their hands back on the trophy.

Duggan, a rock in defence throughout, admitted Cork were far from satisfied with their opening 30 minutes.

‘We were very disappointed having only two points on the board going into half-time,’ she told The Southern Star.

‘I know we were against the wind but we still felt like we didn’t play to our full potential. There was, I suppose, a regrouping at half-time. We just knew if we were anywhere there or thereabouts in the last 15 minutes that our fitness would stand to us.’

Galway’s dangerous forward line – including Kate Slevin, Leanne Coen, Olivia Divilly and Lynsey Noone – asked serious questions of the Cork rearguard all afternoon, but Duggan and company stood firm when it mattered most.

‘We knew Galway are a serious outfit,’ Duggan added.

‘They have pace to burn and their forwards are excellent, so we knew it was going to be a tough challenge. But going in at half time, we also knew we were still in the game and that mattered.

‘We are a team that never gives up and we are resilient. Cork has had a lot of hard losses over the years, especially with this group. We knew if we kept it close that, in the last 15 minutes, we could hopefully turn it around.

‘I’m so proud of our team. We haven’t won a trophy in a long time. I’m just delighted for our supporters and our families because they’ve stuck with us, especially through the hard times.’

Cork’s second-half response was decisive. Goals proved the difference – Katie Quirke finding the net before a Galway own goal further tilted the balance in the Rebels’ favour. Up front, Áine Terry O’Sullivan was a constant outlet, her work-rate and leadership setting the tone. The Beara forward chipped in with two vital points as Cork took control down the stretch.

‘I think it’s a very important win for this group,’ O’Sullivan said.

‘There’s a few of us who have played in Division 1 finals before, but the majority of the girls hadn’t. To get over the line today is absolutely brilliant. It’s a real positive for us going into the championship.

‘We built into the league week on week, and it was the same for Galway – they were promoted again this year. It probably wasn’t the best game with the conditions, but thankfully we came out on the right side of it.’

The victory marked Cork’s first league title since 2019 and their first final appearance since 2021 – a gap that added extra significance to Sunday’s success.

‘I think it was 2019 when we last won it, and 2021 when we were last in a (Division 1) final,’ O’Sullivan noted.

‘It’s not like these chances have been coming around too often for Cork, so hopefully this is the start of a new run for this team.’

For O’Sullivan personally, the win carried added meaning. Having stepped away from the inter-county scene for a period, she is relishing her role in this evolving Cork squad.

‘Yeah, I’m happy enough to still be involved,’ she said.

‘I went away for a couple of years but always had it in the back of my head that I’d like to come back. It’s great to experience days like these.

‘Hopefully there’s a long summer ahead of us now if we can keep the momentum going and keep working hard.’

The hope is there may be more big days to come.