1986 All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship

Arrangements

Galway fielded ten of their 1985 junior winning side in the 1986 Senior championship but were defeated by a last minute goal scored by Wexford’s Jackie Codd at Monamolin. Deidre Costello scored 3-1 for Galway. Angela Downey scored 4-2 in Kilkenny’s big quarter-final win over Limerick.

Semi-finals

A four-goal blitz by Dublin’s Marie Connelly turned the semi-final at Monamolin in Dublin’s favour. The second semi-final at Nowlan Park was one of the best in the history of camogie’s 12-a-side era. Cork was leading by five points 3-12 to 2-10 entering injury time when, out of nowhere, Angela Downey got inside her marker and blasted the ball past Marian McCarthy from close range. A short puck-out fell to Angela. Not content to go for a point she let fly for a goal. Marian McCarthy dived to bring off a great save but saw the ball go off her stick to the unmarked Jos Dunne who scored another Kilkenny goal. Cork had led by three points at half-time and a goal from Iren O'Leary seemed to wrap it up for Cork with time running out. The Irish Independent reported: The match was the best seen for some time. It had everything, two skilful committed teams, great scores, near misses and a breathtaking finish. From camogie’s point of view, what a pity it did not end in a draw, thus giving fans another chance to watch these great sides in action. Full credit to Kilkenny for plugging away when the game appeared to be slipping away from them. Clare Jones had her best game in the Kilkenny colours. She along with Angela Downey, Breda Holmes, Jos Dunne and Mary Fitzpatrick looked very sharp.

Final

Kilkenny led 0-5 to 0-2 at half time and as Pat Roche wrote in the Irish Times, the “rate of their subsequent work was devastating,” as they built from a four-point lead to an 11-point one:

Final stages

date = August 10 Quarter-final| team1 = Dublin| score = 0-13 – 1-4 | team2 = Tipperary| stadium = Silver Park}}

date = August 10 Quarter-final| team1 = Wexford| score = 3-8 – 3-6 | team2 = Galway| stadium = Monamolin}}

date = August 10 Quarter-final| team1 = Cork| score = 2-7 – 1-2 | team2 = Antrim| stadium = St Finbarr's}}

date = August 10 Quarter-final| team1 = Kilkenny| score = 6-11 – 2-4 | team2 = Limerick| stadium = Nowlan Park}}

date = August 24 Semi-Final | team1 = Dublin| score = 5-9 – 3-2 | team2 = Wexford| stadium = Monamolin}}

date = August 24 Semi-Final | team1 = Kilkenny| score = 4-11 – 3-12 | team2 = Cork| stadium = Nowlan Park}}

date = September 14 Final | team1 = Kilkenny| score = 2-12 – 2-3 | team2 = Dublin| stadium = Croke Park, Dublin }}

|} MATCH RULES

• 50 minutes
• Replay if scores level
• Maximum of 3 substitutions

References

References

1. Moran, Mary. (2011). "A Game of Our Own: The History of Camogie". Cumann Camógaíochta.
2. Report of final in Irish Press, September 15, 1986
3. Report of final in Irish Independent, September 15, 1986
4. Report of final in Irish Times, September 15, 1986
5. Report of final in Irish Examiner, September 15, 1986
6. Report of final in Irish News, September 15, 1986
7. Irish Independent August 28, 1986
8. Report of final in Irish Times, September 15, 1986