A double for Cork footballers

Cork Ladies Football – Fine National League Double for Cork. By Fr. Liam Kelleher.

After a month break on a grand world tour it was great to return and see the Cork Lady Footballers doing so well in the National League with both the A team and the B team taking the points for the 2nd time in the Suzuki Ladies National Football league. While the game of Ladies football is alive and well in the countries I visited, particularly Australia and New Zealand they are still in their off season, with the height of the Summer temperatures, keeping them away from the competitive front.

It is hard to believe that there are 5 Senior Teams in both Melbourne and Perth, while in Cork City there is no Senior team and the only club in existence in the City is Nemo. What about all the other famous and well established clubs in the City, like the Barrs, Blackrock Na Piarsaigh, Glen Rovers, Bishopstown, Delanys, Mayfield etc, what about making an effort to get the ladies going. The main difference between Australia and here, is that for the most part, the Ladies club is totally integrated with the mens, with one set of officers. They have few problems with pitches either with so many recreational areas provided by the public bodies.

Huge blow

Speaking about pitches, I was devastated when I returned, to learn that Cork Co Council had turned down planning permission for the development of ladies Football pitches in Innishannon, on the grounds that the approach roads were too narrow. This is most disappointing after 3 years of committed effort in fundraising by the clubs and so many people. The site is just a mile, from Innishannon Village and it should not have been a major task to widen the road a little to accomodate the pitches. The whole thrust of social responsibility in most countries to-day is to provide facilities for recreational activities, to ensure that the needs particularly of our young people are fulfilled.

There are now up to 50 Ladies football clubs in the Co doing an excellent job in this respect and struggling no doubt to get areas to play, they have been contributing towards the provision of a home for Ladies Football for the Co and every player pays a subsidy to the Co Board with their registration for the year. The onus now should be on the Cork Co Council and indeed the Cork mens Board to row in behind the Ladies and find them new land and help them develop that for a sport that is doing tremendous good for our youth and reputed to be the fastest growing sport in the country. More about that later and I assure our readers there will be much more.

In the meantime lets get back to the continued success story of Cork in the Inter-co arena.

Suzuki NL Div 2.

While Cork may be plying their trade in Division 2 of the Suzuki National League this season it may be a blessing in disguise, with the pressure off and the opportunity given to try out as many players as possible and of course with the majority of the players in 2nd level and 3rd level colleges to give those doing important exams the opportunity to concentrate on these.

2nd Round Cork 2-13 Cavan 0-06.
Cork travelled to Mountmellick on Sunday on the Back of a huge win over Wexford the week before. A few from that game were missing but Cork still had a very strong squad available. The game despite the final score line was much closer and Cavan did provide a stiff challenge for the Rebel girls. After playing open attractive football Cork led at half time, in perfect summer like conditions on a score of 1-07 to a single point. They maintained their momentum in the second half and scoring on a regular basis they ran out comprehensive winners on a score line of 2-13 to 0-06.
Cork scorers. Susan Power 1-03. Amy O’Shea 1-02. Valerie Mulcahy 0-04 Caoimhe Creedon 0-02 Karen O’Sullivan 0-01 Jean Lucey 0-01.
Team Claire o’Donoghue Beara, Brid Stack Rockchapel, Fiona O’Sullivan Naomh Abán Elaine O’Riordan Liscarroll, Elaine Cotter Gabriel Rangers, Edel O’Sullivan Donoughmore, Blathnaid Wiseman Beara, Norita Kelly Rockchapel, Karen O’Sullivan Beara, Jean Lucey St Vals, Valerie Mulcahy Rockbán, Mary O’Connor Donoughmore, Susan Power Beara, Amy O’Shea Rockbán, Caoimhe Creedon Naomh Abán. Catriona Foley Rockbán, Elaine Harte Rockbán, Rena Buckley. Donoughmore, Tara Galvin Dromtariffe, Maria O’Neill Watergrasshill.

Div 3. Cork B 1-06 Limerick 0-05. This game was fixed for Donoughmore but with the pitch deemed unplayable on Saturday the game was transferred to Bruree in Limerick. In a very low scoring game Cork got the better of Limerick. The marking was particularly tight in the first half with Limerick scoring 2 points with Corks solitary point coming from Midleton’s Kareina Richards, Ireland under 16 soccer star. The 2nd half was a much more lively affair. Cork upped the ante and ran out worth winners by 4 points to collect their 2nd brace of points in the league. Their 2nd half scores coming from Ciara O’Sullivan 1-02. Niamh Hickey 0-01. Triona Lucey 0-01. and Eimear O’Connell 0-01.

Team. Wendy Walsh Mourneabbey, Eimear Walsh Donoughmore, Mairead Kelly Rockchapel, Gearóidin Kearney Inch, Rose Cogan Donoughmore, Angela Walsh Inch, Annie Walsh Inch, Eimear O’Connell Naomh Abán, Anne Marie Walsh Inch, Eleanor Twohig Castlemagner, Niamh Hickey Kildorrery. Triona Lucey St Vals, Ciara O’Sullivan Midleton. Liz Ahern Carrigtwohill, Kareina Richards Midleton, Claire Fenton Midleton, Catherine Twomey Naomh Abán. Eileen O’Brien Liscarroll, Katie Kelleher Inch.

Fr. Liam Kelleher Pro 021-4886128 087-8516984

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