GAELIC GAMES: Gavin Cummiskey on how Armagh just failed to mark their rise to senior status with All-Ireland success

It's a pleasure to witness the culmination of a great sporting odyssey. For the 25,665 supporters who turned up in Croke Park yesterday this was guaranteed as both Cork and Armagh came intent on completing wholly different, yet equally engaging, journeys.

Cork prevailed 1-7 to 1-6 in a gripping contest.

Armagh's 12-month ascent from junior to senior status has been spectacular but Cork's clinical quest for back-to-back All-Ireland titles came to fruition thanks ultimately to a late point from Geraldine O'Flynn.

Cork must be recognised for enriching the quality of the women's game. They are unbeaten since February 2005 while seven of the panel now hold four All-Ireland medals, a pair apiece in football and camogie.

A rich rebel era indeed but they so nearly fluffed their lines.

"Favouritism is a funny thing," said Cork coach Eamon Ryan. "You can talk and talk and talk but when you have to guard against human nature and complacency, well, you know it's hard to do anything about it when they get a grip on you."

Armagh raced into an interval lead, 1-4 to 0-3, thanks to a superbly stuck goal from Mairéad Tennyson.

Cork responded with inspirational contributions from captain Juliet Murphy, dual star Briege Corkery and the official woman of the match, Nollaig Cleary.

It was thrilling stuff and, as tends to happen when the stakes are raised to this pitch, littered with agonising errors.

Alas, a harsh refereeing intervention somewhat sullied the contest. Mayo's Declan Corcoran had already sided with one umpire over another to disallow a Cork point just before half-time - television replays proved this incorrect. Then after 38 minutes, Corcoran sinbinned Armagh corner back Caoimhe Marley for what seemed an innocuous tackle on O'Flynn.

Cork kicked 1-1 in the next 10 minutes to a single Armagh point. Armagh, who themselves profited from an umpire error in the semi-final victory over Galway, refused to seek an excuse.

"The referee felt it was a sin-

binning, you deal with it and get on with it," said manager Jacqui Clarke. "Sometimes it is your day, sometimes not. You live and learn from it. What you miss one day you tend to get on another."

The standard of the women's game is stronger than ever. Pity the officials still can't get it right.