Aoife Donohue: 'You are wondering why we're not getting numbers at games'

Michael Bolton

As Cork were favourites to capture their third All-Ireland title in a row, Galway and Aoife Donohue had different ideas.

Donohue put in a player of the match performance to help Galway win their first title since 2021, and go one better after final defeat to Cork last season.

A Galway team mixed in with youth and experience, it was a familiar feeling for Donohue, who has won four out of Galway's five All-Ireland's.

Looking back at the final, she says it was a great occasion for the sport.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but Jesus, it was an unbelievable All-Ireland final. When you’re out there, you don’t really think about it too much, but the intensity, the tackles, and the scores, it had everything.

“They’re all very special in their own ways. But after the defeat last year, and just the way we performed on Sunday, it was hugely satisfying. It’s a sweet one.

“It was an unbelievable All-Ireland final and it’s got a lot of coverage since the game.

"It was a brilliant advertisement for camogie. You had everything on show: physicality, the skill levels, the conditioning of every player out on that pitch. You’d be hoping that we use it in a positive way and that people get on board now and start supporting us.

Having gone into the final as underdogs, it was a position which suited Galway, as they put Cork under huge pressure all game, with Donohue's performance showing the standard Galway brought to the final.

"Before the game, our focus was on winning the All-Ireland. It is nice to come out on the right side when you go in as an underdog.

"Cork are an unbelievable team, they have been unbelievable champions. They blew us off the pitch in the league final as well.

"Our focus was very much on our own group, and peforming and trying to get the best out of ourselves and going after winning an All-Ireland."

2025 will be a year to remember for Camogie, with the debate on skorts bringing new eyes to the game.

The final brought a crowd of 28,795 to the triple header to Croke Park, with an average of 353,000 turning in to RTE’s coverage of the game.

Looking ahead to next season, Donohue says more coverage across the season must be prioritised, and hopes the final will lead to more people coming to games.

"I think maybe the coverage during the championship, there wasn't really much around about games - I think the whole skort thing kind of took over and everyone was talking about that.

"We still probably didn't get much support then after that as well, but I definitely think we're in a much better position. I think it's been an unbelievable year for camogie.

"We had two really good semi-finals, the All-Ireland final was unbelievable and you'd be hoping we can go from strength to strength now."

"When you look at the men's game and you see a stadium full and even the ladies’ football, I think there was close to 50,000 there, you are kind of wondering why we're not getting numbers at the games."