12 January 2005 A review of Cork Ladies football in 2004 Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! 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/ONeills 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 wasnt 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 OFlynn 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 OCallaghan, 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 ONeill 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 OCallaghan 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 OFlynn (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 Marys, Macroom, while in the Junior A St Bridgets, Killarney snatched glory from Beara CS. St Marys, 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 Bridgets, 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 Marys, 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) Share this Article 0 0