Antrim, Cork and Armagh claim camogie titles

Antrim powered to their first All-Ireland Intermediate camogie title since 2021 with a 1-22 to 0-11 victory over Laois.

Elaine Dowds' side powered clear in the second period of a game in which they never trailed as they stamped their return to the Senior grade for 2027.

Roisin McCormick top-scored with 1-11 and her goal in the 40th minute proved to be the game-breaker as Laois - who were Junior champions last year - suddenly found themselves with no way back having been just two behind five minutes earlier.

It was not just the McCormick show, as Eobha McAllister hit five from play with Meave Kelly hitting three fine scores of her own as the Ulster side raced clear.

Antrim flew out of the traps with early points by Lucia McNaughton and Eobha McAllister whop both fired just over when there may have been more on offer.

Laois did settle as Grainne Delaney and a Clodagh Tynan free from deep tied it, but Antrim were looking much more fluid and Roisin McCormick would hit four on the spin including one from play.

The Leinster side had a sight of goal of their own when Catherine Kirby was played in, but she too couldn't keep her effort down with McAllister responding immediately at the other end.

The sides would trade again with McCormick grabbing her fifth of the half and while Aimee Collier reduced the gap to three, Meave Kelly had the final say for Antrim to help them into a 0-9 to 0-5 advantage at the interval.

Tynan and Collier landed frees for Laois after the restart to halve the deficit but after an exchange of points, Antrim took firm control with four straight points as Janey McIntosh and Shannagh Hegarty also go their names on the board.

The gap was out to nine when McCormick danced around a couple of challenges to finish to the net and that was ultimately that.

Kaylee O'Keefe responded with a Laois point, but they were outscored by eight to three down the stretch with McAllister, Kelly and McCormick keeping the board ticking for Antrim who claimed the Jack McGrath Cup for the first time in five years.

It has been a successful August for the Saffrons, who also won the All-Ireland Junior Football title at Croke Park earlier in the month.

Cork held off a late Galway rally to regain the All-Ireland Senior Camogie title with a 2-14 to 0-19 victory over Galway, making up for last year's final defeat by the Tribeswomen.

Goals from Saoirse McCarthy and Orlaith Cahalane midway through the second period proved crucial as the Rebels claimed camogie's top honours for the 31st time, denying Galway their first back-to-back success.

The sides were level on four occasions during the opening half before Galway hit scores through Aoife Donohue, Dervla Higgins and Caoimhe Kelly, while Cork's Amy O'Connor pulled one back as her side trailed 0-9 to 0-7 at the half.

Cork made the better start to the second period to get back on terms and it remained level in the 40th minute when McCarthy produced a piece of brilliance to get through on goal and hit the net.

While Galway hit back with a score, Cork were soon in for a second goal as Orlaith Cahalane fired low to the corner of the net.

The margin was out to six with O'Connor and Down native Sorcha McCartan both landing their fourth points of the day, but Galway produced a storming finish, whittling the gap to two and had a chance for a late winning goal, only for goalkeeper Sarah Healy to blaze her effort from a free over.

Armagh were crowned Premier Junior champions with a 0-17 to 0-15 victory over Cavan in Sunday's opening game at Croke Park.

The Orchard County, who last claimed the title in 2020, had lost three finals since including last year but made up for it in this all-Ulster affair.

Rachael Trainor top-scored with six points for PJ O'Mullan's side who were narrowly ahead after 10 minutes, but Cavan turned it around with Róisin O'Keefe on target.

Armagh led by one at the interval and pushed on early in the second half to go five clear.

While Cavan remained in contention, they were unable to reel Armagh in as the Orchard saw it out.