It probably helped that they had Galloping Jesus on their side, although there was nothing even remotely miraculous about the way Cork won yesterday's women's All-Ireland football title. They came to Croke Park to contest their first final, and ended up comprehensively beating the reigning champions Galway, 1-11 to 0-8.

And there are several addenda to their fine victory. It produces a league- championship double, and rewards five members of the team with a unique All-Ireland football-camogie double. It also completes Cork's journey from the best county at underage football to the outright best. For that they do have to thank Jesus.

Much of that underage success has been attributed to the work of Fr Liam Kelleher - the man they affectionately call Galloping Jesus because of his long involvement with running - and the Cork players were quick to acknowledge him in the aftermath of victory, agreeing he too deserved a medal.

Those that definitely got a medal were defenders Angela Walsh, Rena Buckley and Briege Corkery, who along with substitutes Mary O'Connor and Caitríona Foley can now boast All-Ireland winning seasons in both football and camogie - and no one else can.

Team coach Eamonn Ryan can also boast a game plan that worked to perfection. Maybe Galway didn't reach the heights of last year, but that's because Cork's tight defending never allowed them to.

Although they trailed 0-4 to 0-3 at the break, Cork opened the second half with four points without reply, and soon after saw Valerie Mulcahy brilliantly convert a penalty. Galway never had a chance after that.

The crowd of 23,358 was a little disappointing given the occasion, but at least they all got to walk on the hallowed field of Croke Park, as the now customary pitch invasion also followed Armagh's victory over Sligo in the junior final.

Those arriving just in time for the senior match were greeted by the chaotic scenes of the Armagh celebrations and could have been forgiven for thinking they'd arrived after the main event.

"Yeah, we were a point down at half-time," admitted Mulcahy, "but we'd been down like that so much before, so we definitely knew it was still within our grasp. We have such spirit, and we just kept fighting.

"Once we got those scores we just kept driving on, like.We were never satisfied with what we had. I think we just wanted it more.

"And I've dreamed alright about taking a penalty in an All-Ireland final, so I just kept believing it would go in, and thank God it did."

Though it probably helped Galloping Jesus was watching too.