A review of Cork Ladies football in 2004

 


 

A
REVIEW OF CORK LADIES FOOTBALL IN 2004

 

Dreams
became a reality for so many involved in Cork
Ladies Football in 2004. Two All-Ireland titles,
five Munster titles, two TG4/O’Neill’s All-Star
Awards, five nominations, Munster Player of
the Year, Munster Young Player of the Year,
one Suzuki Division 1 National League Final
and one senior Munster club title.    

SENIOR:
The success of the senior squad rocketed at
the hands of Manager Mary Collins and Coach
Eamon Ryan and as a result Cork became serious
contenders for the All-Ireland title. The
National League campaign renewed self belief
in players, who for many years lacked that
certain punch to change the history books
and consequently reached their first ever
Division 1 National League final, live on
TG4 against the then All-Ireland champions
Mayo.

 

The
Cork senior team before the Suzuki
National League Final against Mayo.

Leading at the half by 7 points, the Rebels
were bound to bring the cup home however All-Star
Cora Staunton had other ideas and with some
exceptional scoring she made sure it wasn’t
to be. Cork made amends in the Munster Championship
overcoming favourites Kerry in style 4-13
1-9 to bring the cup to Leeside for the first
time in the history of Cork Ladies Football
and Dromtariffes Geraldine O’Flynn deservedly
received Player of the Match. Cork were drawn
on the tougher side of the quarter final series
against Mayo and for the third time in 2004
the Connaught girls defeated Cork, ending
their campaign for a day in Croke Park.

 

 

 

JUNIOR:

The Junior squad began their challenge in
their newly promoted Division 2 and achieved
their objective for the league in that they
remained in the second division. 

Under the leadership of Timmy O’Callaghan,
they regrouped for the championship and secured
wins over Kerry, Limerick and Waterford. This
set the scene for a Tipperary, Cork Munster
final in Páirc Ui Rinn, with the home team
the definite underdogs. However they proved
the pundits wrong and lifted the cup, winning
3-11 2-8.

They progressed to the quarter finals playing
London at home and secured a place in the
semi final against Sligo where they underperformed.
Played in Mullingar at 11am the day of the
All-Ireland senior hurling final, it was always
going to be a tough battle and Cork were comprehensively
knocked out.

 

Cork
players Elaine Cotter, Annie Walsh and Blaithnaid
Wiseman, members of the Cork Junior team
who defeated Tipperary in the Munster Final.

 


MINOR:

At Minor level the ultimate was achieved when
Cork defeated Laois 4-17 0-8 in Birr. The
red and white jerseys were in a league of
their own under the management of Charlie
McLaughlin and they were worthy winners for
the second year running. Marie O’Neill from
Watergrasshill notched 1-4 on the day and
as a result was awarded Player of the Match.
Minor
All-Ireland MVP Final Amanda Murphy (Beara,
Cork)

 


UNDERAGE:
The U16 squad also tasted glory when they
denied Donegal a shot at the All-Ireland title
on a score line of 6-11 3-10 with Fr Liam
Kelleher at the helm that has since moved
to Waterford to help guide the senior ladies
to an All-Ireland title. 

Played in Mullingar with a strong breeze the
Rebels were slow to start however Player of
the Match Amanda Murphy caused untold damage
to take honours.

 

All-Ireland
U16 winning Cork Team who defeated Donegal
to take the title.


The U14 panel were under the new leadership of
Martin O’Callaghan and they deprived Kerry lifting
the Munster Cup for the fifth consecutive year.
It was Mayo to face the Cork girls in the All-Ireland
semi-final in Ennis but the Connaught side overcame
them comfortably. However Cork made a comeback
winning the All-Ireland U14 Blitz against Dublin.

AWARDS:
Cork received a whopping five All-Star nominations
in 2004 – Corks first of the new millennium
– captain Juliet Murphy (Donoughmore), Valerie
Mulcahy (Rockbán), Angela Walsh (Inch Rovers),
Rena Buckley (Donoughmore) and Geraldine O’Flynn
(Donoughmore). 

The awards were held in the City West in November
and Bertie Ahern presented All-Star recipients
Valerie Mulcahy (Left Half Forward) and Rena
Buckley (Right Half Back) with their awards.
He also presented Laura Power (Beara) with
Munster Player of the Year for her huge contributions
to Cork Ladies Football at U16, Minor and
Senior level. In November Cork captain Juliet
Murphy received two awards – Munster Player
of the Year and the 96/103FM Sports Person
of the Month.

 

Members
of Rockban Ladies Football Club who represented
Cork at various levels – Elaine Harte, Valerie
Mulcahy, Niamh Keohane, Sile Burns and Mary
White.

 

CLUB
CHAMPIONSHIP:
 

With the All-Ireland senior club champions
at the top of Cork ladies football the Evening
Echo Senior Club Championship was supposedly
an easy one to predict. However Rockchapel
challenged them intensely in the final in
Milstreet and many thought the champions would
be knocked, but the Mid Cork side dug deep
and experience saw them lift the cup for the
ninth successive year.

 

Munster
Senior Club Champions Donoughmore, who proceeded
to the final but who agonisingly lost in
the final 20 seconds by a Ballyboden point.

 


Donoughmore went on to win the Munster title
for the fifth year running against St Pats,
but an agonising loss in the last 20 seconds
of the AIB All-Ireland club final meant Ballybodens,
Dublin were crowned champions. 

Beara overcame the 2003 All-Ireland Junior
champions Gabriel Rangers in the Intermediate
County final and brushed aside Dr Crokes,
Kerry for a Munster final spot against Athea,
Limerick but unfortunately Beara failed to
convert on the day.

A strong Inch Rovers team won the Junior A
county final against Mourneabbey but lost
against eventual winners Abbeydorney, Kerry
in their bid for Munster glory.

 

Members
of Rockban Ladies Football Club who represented
Cork at various levels – Elaine Harte, Valerie
Mulcahy, Niamh Keohane, Sile Burns and Mary
White.


POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS: In the Senior A grade
Colaiste Na Sceilge, Dingle needed extra time
to overcome a gallant St Mary’s, Macroom, while
in the Junior A St Bridget’s, Killarney snatched
glory from Beara CS. St Mary’s, Mallow were dominant
in B winning both the Senior and Junior and added
the Munster senior title with a win over Colaiste
Muire, Ennis however they found IS, Kilorglin
too strong in the Junior Munster final. Schull
defeated Mercy Heights Skibbereen in the Senior
C final but eventually lost to St Bridget’s, Killarney
in the Munster final. Elsewhere Colaiste Na Phiarsaigh
won the Junior C title, Colaiste an Chraoibhin
captured the Senior D and in the First Year Blitz
St Mary’s, Mallow won the A title, Mount St Michael
Ross the B and Loreto, Youghal won C.

THE YEAR 2005 The sky is the limit for Cork Ladies
Football in 2005 so watch this space.

 

CORK
ROLE OF HONOUR 2004 CHAMPIONSHIP
CHAMPIONSHIP
WINNER
RUNNERS
UP
Senior
Donoughmore
Rockchapel
Intermediate
Beara Gabriel
Rangers
Junior
A
Inch
Rovers
Mourneabbey
Junior
B
Liscarroll Ballingeary
Junior
C
Midleton Rosscarbery
U21A Donoughmore
V Rockchapel
U21B Beara Gabriel
Rangers
U21C Rosscarbery Boherbue
Minor
A
St
Vals/ Donoughmore V Beara
MinorB Inch
V Naomh Abán
Minor
C
Watergrasshill Naomh
Fionnbarra
U16
Premier
Beara Mourneabbey
U16A Inch
Rovers
Rockbán
U16B Gabriel
Rangers
Carrigaline
U14A Mourneabbey Valley
Rovers
U14B Naomh
Fionnbarra
Rosscarbery
U14C Glanworth
Rockbán
U14D Kilshannig Gabriel
Rangers
U12A Liscarroll Erins
Own
U12B Rockbán St
Valentines
U12C Kinsale Eire
Og
U12D Bantry Nemo
Rangers
LEAGUE
WINNER RUNNER
UP
Division
1
On
going
Division
2
Kildorrery Liscarroll
Division
3
Ballincollig
V Donoughmore
Division
4
Rosscarbery 

 

 

Midleton

Pictures
by Fr. Liam Kelleher and Mary White.
Mary White (PRO, Cork Ladies Football)

 

 


Sign up to our email newsletter

sponsors

Partners & Supporters

PROVINCES

Counties

BRITAIN

INTERNATIONAL

See all LGFAClubs