Cork captured a fourth successive TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship crown as Ulster champions Monaghan were put to the sword at Croke Park. Goal-machine Valerie Mulcahy, sent-off in the semi-final victory over Tyrone but cleared to play in the decider, bagged 3-02 as the Rebelettes defeated Monaghan by 14 points. At half-time, just three points separated the sides, Cork leading by 1-08 to 0-08, but the magnificent Leesiders turned up the heat in the second half to ensure a senior ladies football-camogie double in 2008. The killer goal for Cork, Mulcahy's second five minutes after half-time, was a much-debated effort as the Rockbán ace appeared to be in the square when she fisted Geraldine O'Flynn's speculative delivery to the net. Cork were also awarded two penalties during the game, both coolly converted by Mulcahy, and despite their obvious superiority, the winning margin flattered the victors.

Kilkenny's all-conquering three in a row hurling team dominate this year's Vodafone-sponsored GAA All Stars list, with a stunning 14 nominations. Henry Shefflin is chasing his eighth award, which would bring him to within one off his county-man DJ Carey's record haul of nine awards. In all, eight counties are represented in the nominations, with League and Munster champions Tipperary enjoying the second highest number of nominees with nine. Cork are rewarded for their nail-biting jousts with Clare, Galway, Tipperary and Kilkenny with seven nominations, while beaten All-Ireland finalists Waterford and Clare have five nominations each. Offaly and Dublin both received two nominations, with Galway getting just one nominee in the form of Joe Canning.

All-Ireland football champions Tyrone were further rewarded for their efforts today when ten members of the Red Hand team were nominated for this year's Vodafone-sponsored GAA All-Stars. In all, 13 counties are represented, with beaten finalists Kerry coming a close second to Tyrone in terms of nominees with nine players nominated. Wexford, the surprise package of this year's All-Ireland championship have four nominees, along with fellow beaten semi-finalists Cork. Leinster champions Dublin have just three players nominated compared to seven last year.

Cork manager Denise Cronin heaped praise on Aoife Murray after the goalkeeper’s brilliant performance in the All-Ireland camogie final triumph over Galway. Murray claimed she was at fault for Galway’s first half goal, but more than redeemed herself when she stopped a 37th minute penalty and also made a spectacular save in injury-time. "Aoife was outstanding," Cronin said. "She was very disappointed with the goal that went in. We know she is one of the best players in the country and I think she proved that." The Cloughduv goalkeeper acknowledged the role team captain Catriona Foley played in helping her to get over her first half mistake.

What a difference a year makes. Just 12 months after the heartbreak of losing the three-in-a-row, Cork's revamped camogie team and management bounced back to win their 23rd Gala All-Ireland senior title yesterday but it is probably fair to say the Rebelettes have never worked harder for one. A rookie Galway team, with only one title to their name and back in their first final for 10 years, tore into them right from the start and contributed hugely to a game whose combined skill and ferocity made it one of the greatest the game has ever seen. Apart from the sheer brilliance of the hurling, it veered so dramatically at times that it was like an out-of-control rollercoaster. Ultimately, Galway's brilliant young side, left weeping at its climax, will forever rue not taking any of the three great goal chances that came their way -- including a penalty -- in the second-half.

A brace of first half goals from Síle Burns were the decisive scores as Cork claimed the O’Duffy Cup for the 23rd time, following a five-point victory on a wet day at Croke Park, which saw some of the best goals witnessed at GAA Headquarters this year. 18,727 watched on as Cork dug deep to give an impressive performance, following a hard earned win over Galway in the Gala All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final Jessica Gill certainly was a major player in ensuring Galway continued to keep in touch in this game, and the Athenry ace was also key in the opening stages, as Galway led by 0-4 to 0-0 after nine minutes, with all of those scores coming from Gill frees. However it was the reliance of Liam Donoghue’s charges on scores from placed balls which cost them dearly, but in reality it was Cork’s rear-guard which reigned supreme.