[1][2] Galway were without star players Lourda Kavanagh and Áine Hilary due to injury, and their victory was more remarkable for the fact they failed to win a single league match in 2004, but under the new management team of former player Sharon Glynn, former U21 hurler Damian Coleman and former All-Ireland SHC winner P. J. Molloy.
[3][4][5][6][7] Galway started nervously and had to wait 23 minutes before their opening score, a point from full-forward Veronica Curtin who was to marry to selector Damian Coleman.
[clarification needed] After Emer Dillon and Curtin exchanged points early in the second half, Cork closed the gap with two Jennifer O'Leary frees, the second which came 12 minutes into the half was Cork's last score of the day.
Goalkeeper Stephanie Gannon, the 2004 young player of the year, ran the length of the pitch to take the penalty, but it was saved on the line.
Galway manager Damian Coleman said: "We came determined to compete and win.