Cork retained their All Ireland Minor Camogie title in tremendous fashion at Ardrahan on Sunday 23rd August 1999, and in the process put titles back-to-back. Aided by the strong wind, Cork were quick to stamp their authority with Jennifer O'Leary, Gemma O'Connor and Emer Dillon popping over points inside six minutes Cork showed they meant business

Claire Conroy opened the Galway account with a 12th minute point. Enjoying maximum posession, Cork failed to capitalise playing with a strong wind and an Orla Curtin goal 17 minutes into the game, gave Galway the lead. But Cork's response was instant with an O'Leary point levelling matters

Team captain Niamh Bowles (Newtown) gave Cork the lead one minute later. With Orla McCarthy and Bowles on top at centre field, Cork pressed forward and forcing Galway to commit fouls, Cork stretched their lead with superb free-taking from the excellent Emer Dillon with two points, one from 50 yards and a second, 65 yards out on the far sideline.

With the sides swooping points, Cork led 0-8 to 1-2 at the break, but were turning play against a very strong wind. Cork got the dream start in the second half when Catriona Kelly billowed the net inside one minute. Galway's Claire Conroy responded with a pointed free and the champions were under pressure. Two minutes later, Orla Curtin, who was causing the Cork defence all sorts of trouble, gave Aoife Murray no chance from close range. But once again, responding like champions, Cork came down the field from the puck out.

A blistering Emer Dillon shot was saved by goalie Carol Kelly, corner-forward Gemma O'Connor was on hand to finish to the net. Galway, refusing to die, came forward with Orla Kilkenny, who was now operating at centrefield, giving plenty of supply to her inside line, they had the deficit down to three points.

But once again, Cork responded in the shape of Emer Dillon, who again broke the Galway herats with two superb pointed frees. Sensing Cork's hunger, Galway lifted their game. A superb run by corner forward Regina Glynn found Orla Curtin on the edge of the square, and she finished iwth precision past Cork keeper Aoife Murray to put just two points between the sides. Orla Kilkenny added a point with nine minutes remaining and it was anybody's game.

Cork introduced substitute Colette Desmond to their forward line where she added the much needed strength, and they came forward in waves and were rewarded with a point from Desmond with her first touch at six minutes remaining.

Scorers:
Cork: E Dillon 0-6, G O'Connor 1-1, J O'Leary 0-3, C Kelly 1-0, Niamh Bowles, C Desmond 0-1 each.
Galway:O Curtin 3-0, C Conroy 0-5, O Kilkenny0-3

Cork: A Murray, J O'Callaghan, J Twomey, C O'Gorman, J O'Sullivan Aine Kelleher (Newtown), S Corkery, O McCarthy, Niamh Bowles (Captain)(Newtown), G O'Connor, C Kelly, E Dillon, J O'Leary, M Watson, S O'Donovan.
Subs: K McCarthy for J Twomey, C Desmond for M Watson

Galway: C Kelly, A Doherty, R O'Connor, L Linnane, E Pearse, E Flynn, D Coen, R Glynn, S Murphy, M Keogh, K Ryan, B Kerins, C Conroy, O Curtin, O Kilkenny (Capt)
Subs: C Bowes for K Ryan, A Connolly for M Keogh

Referee: C Doody (Limerick)

All-Ireland champions Cork retained their Munster Minor camogie crown on 3rd May 1999, and in the process created their own piece of history by becoming the first Cork team to take a championship title at 15-a-side when they overcame Clare at Ballyanly.

Cork began strongly with a Marie Watson (Milford) point and a Catriona Kelly goal three minutes later. They had stretched their leady by pooints from Orla McCarthy and Catriona Kelly (2) before Lorraine O'Loughlin opened the Clare account with a well struck point. With the Cork centre field well on top of their opponents, a steady supply was ensured for the forwards.

Cork increased their lead when Catriona Kelly goaled in the 18th minute but it was replied to instatnly when Clare's best forward on view Lorraine O'Loughlin rounded her marker and finished superbly to the net. However, any hopes of a revival from Clare were quickly quashed by the super Jennifer O'Leary goal just one minuter later

Laura Linnane converted a Clare free but points from Gemma O'Connor, Jennifer O'Leary (2) and Emer Dillon and a Marie Watson goal gave Cork a comfortable 4-8 to 1-2 advantage going into the half-time break. Cork's superiority was evident again throughout the second half and despite the best efforts of the Clare defence they could not stem the tide.

Cork now go on to meet the Ulster champions in the All-Ireland semi-final on August 1.

Scorers:
Cork: C Kelly 2-6 (0-1 free), J O'Leary, E Dillon 1-3 each, M Watson 1-2, G O'Connor 1-1, N Murphy 1-0, K McCarthy, O McCarthy 0-1 each.
Clare: L O'Loughlin 1-1, L Linnane 0-3 (0-2 free, 0-1 '45), A Kelleher 0-1.

Cork: A Murray, J Twomey, S Deasy, J O'Sullivan, A Kelleher(Newtown), J O'Callaghan, N Bowles (Captain, Newtown), O McCarthy, M Watson, C Kelly, J O'Leary, E Dillon, G O'Connor, K McCarthy, S Corkery.
Subs:N Murphy for S Deasy, S Quinn for K McCarthy, K Newman for J O'Sullivan.

Clare: R Lynch, M O'Connell, A Kilmartin, M Hehir, M Dinan, D Lynch (Captain), A Shanahan, A Ryan, N Murphy, L Linnane, J Scanlon, N Walsh, C McMahon, L O'Loughlin, A Kelleher.
Subs: M O'Halloran for M Hehir.

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