THE joy of victory wiped out the pain of an ankle injury for super-sub Sorcha McCartan as she helped Cork retain the All-Ireland senior camogie championship.
The former Down star replaced Katrina Mackey after the Rebels goal-scorer pulled her hamstring in the 42nd minute and went on to score two vital points as the holders withstood a strong Galway challenge.
The ex-Castlewellan player was buzzing and still feeling no pain afterwards, even though she had rolled her ankle quite badly between her two scores.
“I got 20 minutes and there was nothing going to get me off the pitch,” said the Down native, who played alongside Galway forward Niamh Mallon when the Mourne women won the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate title in 2021.
“I’ve never been as relaxed going into a game ever. I enjoyed every last minute of it. If you only get 20 minutes, you have to make them count.”
A regular starter last year when she collected her first medal, she has been an impact sub for Cork this season and contributed a goal in the semi-final win over Dublin.
McCartan revealed how she had grown into her ‘super-sub’ role, having found the bench an uncomfortable place at first:
“At the start of the year I would have felt a bit frustrated. But once it came to the knock-out stages, I was thinking more in terms of the team getting over the line.
“Once you realise your role, you have to adapt, accept it, and embrace it. There’s some girls that trained all year and not gotten any game time so I’m just privileged to get that game time and be able to contribute.”
At the other end of the field her former Mourne county colleague Mallon had one of those games when things didn’t quite go for her. She contributed a fine point after 20 minutes, and had an assist in a couple of other scores, but too often she got bottled up.
“I didn’t get a chance to speak to Niamh afterwards,” said McCartan. “Look, everyone knows how good she is. She is the one of the top forwards in the game at the minute.
“We (Cork) had to plan how to handle her because she came into the final with a fantastic scoring record. Thankfully our defenders managed to contain her.”
Cork manager Ger Manley, who took over from Matthew Twomey last August to go in search of a second successive title, was keen to talk up the importance of the effort from the full panel in getting the Leesiders over the line for a 30th title.
He had particular praise for McCartan, commenting: “Sorcha gave us a lot. She has been going brilliant in training and was unlucky not to start. But she gave it to us off the bench.
“She’s a super player and getting better every day. She’s tough, she’s hard and she gives you everything. She has a big future with this Cork team.”
McCartan made a pivotal contribution after Galway hit six points in succession to leave the teams level on 50 minutes.
McCartan reinvigorated her side with a tremendous point, fellow sub Clodagh Finn followed up with another, and then set up McCartan to confirm the verdict.
Manley was delighted with contribution from across the Cork panel: “We needed something from the bench and we got it from the girls that went in. You have to battle. There’s nothing easy up here. Galway came up but we’re there and we’re going to push on again if we can.
“We put so much into this campaign. You’ve Laura Treacy, (Ashling) Thompson, the Mackeys (Katrina and Pamela), Amy O’Connor, Laura Hayes. Méabh Cahalane came on after a hamstring tendon injury that’s supposed to keep you out three months. We put a lot in, so did Galway but we were a small bit better, I think.”
Galway boss Cathal Murray was gracious in defeat, and proud of his players, who had gone in as underdogs having lost by 12 points to Cork in the group phase when both sides were already qualified.
“It’s hard to put into words,” said Murray. “Obviously, bitterly disappointed. Super proud of the girls. Since the game in Páirc Uí Chaoimh we’ve been completely written off. There’s been a lot of obituaries written about us. For the last six weeks we’ve done ourselves really proud.”
