Aisling McGing cup. All-Ireland Senior B final

One way traffic.

In the earlier rounds of the competition, Cork tended to fade in the 2nd half and mindful of this, the selectors got to work on remedying the situation, they had this done by the Galway semi and they repeated the dose again, with breathtaking efficiency, on Saturday. Katie Sheehan who finished up with a 1–8 total and Player of the match to boot for the 2nd year in a row, led the scoring stakes. The defence were magnificent particularly Martina O’Brien, who proved herself a very high calibre keeper, determined at all costs to keep a clean sheet and this she did, despite being severely tested, on half a dozen occasions, Cathy Ann Stack, Verona O’Drisceoil and Muireann Stack gave nothing away in front of her. Outside her, Cork had Sinead O’Leary, a vastly improved player, Vera Foley who had moved out from the corner and Kathryn Coakley who was surprisingly substituted before the interval, but Manager Peter O’Leary subsequently stated she had damaged a bone in her leg. He also had to plan without her clubmate, Eimear Harrington who starred in the Semi Final, out as well through injury. It was midfield which proved the real powerhouse and engine room of this Cork victory. Eimear O’Connell and Aoife Coughlan, were simply magnificent all through, they controlled their area and set up the forwards, with intelligent defense splitting passes and the forwards did the rest and while Katie Sheehan’s name was up in lights, in the scoring stakes, she got tremendous support from her attacking colleagues. Cork held Dublin scoreless for 29 minutes of the 2nd half and had added on 2-7 to their lst half tally, before Dublin’s far too late response. of two closing points. A delighted Capt Verona Ni Drisceoil, received the coveted cup, on behalf of her ecstatic colleagues and it was her 3rd Celtic cross in a row, a feat accomplished by colleagues Martina O’Brien, Sinead O”Leary Grainne Ni Luasa Eimear O’Connell and Jenny Luddy. Peter was delighted his squad played their best game on the biggest stage which for players and management alike was very pleasing. “The defence had come in for some criticism after the Galway game, but they responded brilliantly on Saturday. In 3 years we have played 19, drew 2 won 17 and have used 71 players all played championship, the most pleasing aspect for me” added Peter. Cork scorers katie Sheehan 1-8 Jenny Luddy 1-1, Graine Lucey 1-0 Eleanor Ahern, Grace Kearney 0-1 Cork Marina O’Brien Clonakilty, Muireann Stack Liscarroll, Cathy Ann Stack Mourneabbey, Vera Foley St Vals. Sinead O’Leary Gabriel Rangers, Kathryn Coakley Mourneabbey, Verona Ni Drisceoil, Gabriel Rangers. Aoife Coughlan Gabriel Rangers, Eimear O’Connell Naomh Aban, Eleanor Ahern Bride Rovers. Jenny Luddy Mallow, Claire O’Mahony St Vals , Grace Kearney Bride Rovers Katie Sheehan Glanworth Eimear Harrington Mourneabbey Patricia Murphy Mourneabbey, Ann O’Donovan Valley Rovers, Mairead Twohig Naomh Aban, Ella Ryan Inch Rovers, Catherine Cooke Nemo Rangers. Grainne Lucey. Naomh Aban Sinead McMahon. Nemo Lisa Foley, St vals Karen Cronin, Nemo, Karen O’Halloran, Mallow Karen Keohane, Corusey Rovers, Clodagh Deasy, Valley Rovers, Eileen Foyle, Bishopstown.

TG4 All-Ireland Quarter final

Cork ruthless in Kildare demolition job.

Cork 4-23 Kildare 0-6

The vast gulf that exists between the top teams, at Senior level, was graphically illustrated at Nowlan Park on Saturday evening last when Cork carried on, where they left off in the Munster Final against Kerry by defeating a spirited, but outclassed Lilywhite outfit. in the TG4 All-Ireland quarter final. Cork will have learned little from this game and it will be of no help to them as they plan their assault against Mayo, who have been the team over the past number of years that have given the rebelettes most to fear. But that’s for next weekend to sort out, back to saturday Mary O’Connor capt set out Cork’s stall early by firing to the net before Kildare could settle they tagged on 12 more points before the break to give them an 11 point cushion and no team in the country could afford to let Cork that much ahead and hope to retrieve the situation. There was no solace or retribution for the Kildare girls in the 2nd half as Cork piled on the pressure to add another 3-11, while hapless Kildare despite some good moves could only muster 2 points. A measure of Cork’s resolve can be gauged from the fact when the game was well and truly over as a contest and Kildare had 2 excellent chances to score morale boosting goals, one chance was snuffed out by a superb Angela Walsh tackle and the other saved brilliantly by the ever alert Elaine Harte, who kept her intense concentration right to the very end. Another bonus for Cork was the form shown by Laura McMahon ruled by a serious knee injury las year, when she was introduced, she scored a scintillating goal as well as 2 points, and proved she has lost none of her verve, and indeed upping the ante in the competition for places for the next game t against Mayo on Saturday next at Nenagh at 6pm. Cork will not be over confident going into this game, Mayo have always proved to be a handful for them and Saturday should be no different. Mayo have proved in recent games that their attack has shaken off the tag, of a one one woman show, in the person of Cora Staunton, for once she was outscored by the other forwards in their latest encounter, but the enigmatic Mayo lassie still remains a huge threat and will give the Cork defence a torrid time. Cork have done well in recant meetings to put the shackles on her and no doubt that the experience now garnered will stand them in good stead. The odds are stacked heavily in Cork’s favour to reach their 5th final in a row and continue the dream of 5 in a row, which has no preoccupation with this most dedicated bunch, who will treat the game as just another championship encounter with the respect for Mayo which they are entitled to. Cork scorers. Valerie Mulcahy 0-7 Deirdre O’Reilly 1-3 Mary O’Connor 1-2 Rhona Buckley 1-0 Juliet Murphy 0-1 Annie Walsh 0-1. Amy O’Shea 0-1 AnnMarie Walsh 0-1 Geraldine O’Flynn 0-1 Nollaig Cleary 0-1

Cork Elaine Harte, Rena Buckley, Angela Walsh, Linda Barrett, Geraldine O’Flynn, Bird Stack, Briege Corkery, Juliet Murphy, Nora Kelly, Rhona Buckley, Mary O’Connor capt, Ciara O’Sullivan, Valerie Mulcahy, Amy O’Shea, Deirdre O’Reilly. Rosin O’Sullivan. Nollaig Clearly, Laura McMahon Louise Cohalan, Aisling Barrett, Mairead Kelly, Annie Walsh Anne Marie Walsh, Carmel McCarthy, Sile O’Callaghan.