Angela Downey described the final as a slow-paced match and a poor game, but Cork deserved to win.
Although Lynn Dunlea stretched Cork's lead to double scores, 0-14 to 1-4, almost 20 minutes into the second half the game had an unexpectedly exciting finish with Therese Maher being denied a match-saving goal by the Cork goalkeeper Cora Keohane.
Pat Roche wrote in the Irish Times: Weathering a storm of Galway onslaughts in the closing 10 minutes had been an achievement in itself.
Avenging last year's defeat by Galway was sheer joy for the team - and for the supporters it was a delight to watch the skills of goalkeeper Cora Keohane, defenders Denise Cronin and Sandie Fitzgibbon, garnished by the delicate scoring touches of Lynn Dunlea, The timing of her scores in the second half was as crucial as the points themselves, as they staved off a threatened Galway storm.
The best example of this came in the seventh minute of the second half after Denise Gilligan smashed home Galway's first goal, leaving only three points between the sides.