All-Ireland Minor Final and U-14 Semi-Final Match Report

All-Ireland Minor Final and U-14 Semi-Final Match Report

 

Rhona saves the day for Cork.

Cork 3-8 Galway 2-11. By Fr Liam Kelleher

In a thrilling game of football that had as many twists and turns
as a Hitchcock thriller, Cork and Galway finished level. This was
a game full of drama and incident and a marvellous showpiece for
the game, played at a cracking pace with no quarter asked or given.
Galway after weathering Corks opening 10 minute 2nd half onslaught,
Galway gained the upper hand and led by 2 points 3 minutes into
injury and looked safe, then Roisin O’Sullivan gained possession
transferred to Amanda Murphy who placed the unfazed Rhona Buckley
with the ball and the Ballingeary girl rattled the net. In fairness
it was nothing more than she deserved after coming in for a pretty
torrid time by the Galway defence, who were determined that she
would not repeat the 5 goal salvo that she accomplished in the extra
time win over Dublin in the Semi Final. Ironically most of the injury
was well justified, with

Buckley lying on the deck for over 2 minutes the victim of a crushing
“sandwich” such was the ferocity of the game. That goal
was also redemption for Buckley who missed a penalty early in the
2nd half, as Cork appeared to be getting the upper hand, that penalty
resulted when Amanda Murphy clearly through on goal was tripped
heavily on another occasion that would have certainly merited at
least a yellow card and a period in the sin bin, but such was the
interpretation of the rules on the day by Christy Haughney, that
few complained such was the spirit and pace the game was played
at. Indeed Cork themselves were guilty of few hefty challenges.
The penalty was saved by Claire Brennan who guessed the right way
indeed she had a great afternoon making many fine saves.

Lightning start.

Cork made a lightning start when Rhona Buckley had the ball in the
net after good work by Jenny Luddy after 4 minutes. Amanda Murphy
then got an inch perfect pass from Ann O’Donovan and rout looked
on, but champions die hard. After scoring 2 points the Galway girls
got a slice of luck when the ball hit the upright high up and came
back on the edge of the square, with Aoife Kelly on hand to side
foot home, another followed immediately when Cork needlessly lost
possession and a shot from Michelle Delaney appeared to be going
over for a point, dipped in under the crossbar. It was all Galway
for the next 10 minutes but stout defending from Anita Thompson,
Cathy Ann Stack and Eimear O’Donovan held them out. As the
short whistle approached Amanda and Rhona points brought the rebels
to within a point at the short whistle, 2-6 to 2-5 Cork started
the 2nd half in determined a great run from Ciara O’Sullivan
ended with her equalising attempt going wide. The after a fantastic
passage of play and dare devil blocking by the Galway defence, the
ball was played out to Laura Power who worked tirelessly all

afternoon and she shot over the equaliser.

Went out of game

Then Cork went completely out of the game for a 15 minute spell
passes began to go astray and the inability all afternoon to win
their own kick outs as well as the Galway ones, was their achilles
heal, Galway attacked Cork with pace and precision with Sarah Noone
dominating at the back, but for all their dominance they could stretch
their lead no further than 2 points. Credit the tenacity of the
Cork back’s as well. Galway tended to spread things wide, while
Cork concentrated in channelling most moves down the centre giving
the girls in the corner very little opportunity. Then with time
running out the dramatic sequence of events unfolded with Buckleys
goal that put Cork a point in front. Lesser teams would have crumbled,
but to their credit Galway summoned up one final effort with their
top scored Michelle Delaney coming to their rescue in rescuing a
deserved draw. Cork’s draw was tempered by a serious leg injury
to Louise Cohalan which will almost certainly rule her out of the
replay, but Cork have plenty of talent and while Louise will be
a huge loss no doubt the girls will be more determined to win it
for her. When and where the replay will be held is not known but
it certainly will be worth travelling a long way to see. Well done
to both teams for proving the appreciate audience with such a thrilling
game.

Cork Orla Murphy, Cathy Ann Stack Anita Thompson capt, Emer O’Donovan,
Louise Cohalan, Claire O’Leary, Roisin O’Sullivan, Laura
Power, 0-1 Siobhan Forde, Jenny Luddy, Amanda Murphy, 1-5 Anne O’Donovan,
Ciara O’Sullivan, Rhona Buckley, 2-1 Deirdre Cotter, 0-1

Subs Used: Ellen Healy Kathleen O’Brien, Geraldine Rea.

Galway. Claire Brennan. Marian Hernon, Meadbh Moloney, Laura Gilmore,
Lisa O’Halloran, Sarah Noone, Angela Coleman, Catriona Cormican
Capt, Claire Mollow Niamh Lohan, 0-2 Rachel King, 0-1 Claire Hehir,
Aoife Kelly, 1-1 Michelle Delaney 1-5 Barbara Hannon, Subs used
Sarah Murphy, 0-1 Kara Mullins, Iona Burke.

Minor Semi.

Cork win tough encounter

Cork 2-9 Laois 0-8

Having put Donegal to the sword 5-10 to 1-0, 2 weeks previously
and scoring facile wins in Munster the true mettle of Cork under
14’s was severely tested in a tempestuous encounter in miserable
conditions at Cahir on Saturday. at Cahir. Cork playing g against
the strong wind and heavy mist started the better Emily O”Callaghan
got Cork off to the perfect start with 2 well worked points. Then
Laois took over Cork defended desperately with keeper Aideen Hegarty,
Laura O’Sullivan Capt Denise Cronin and Deirdre O’Driscoll
doing trojan work as did Sinead O’Reilly in the centre Laois
scored the next 5 points on the trot 2 of them coming from 45’s
now taken out of the hand at under 14 level by Sinead Doogue who
caused Cork a lot of problems with her ability to win possession
at midfield. Just before the break Jenny Sheehan took possession
of the ball after a break in play she

was snot allowed to score direct but cleverly found Ciara Sherlock
who found the net for the first defining moment in the game as far
as cork were concerned. Sheehan levelled matters shortly afterwards
and Cork retreated to the sanctuary of the dressing room fortunate
enough to be on level terms with the strong breeze to come. 

Opened the brighter.

Laois opened the brighter in the 2nd half and carried the game
to Cork and indeed should have added to tally, but hey insisted
in trying to hold on to the ball too long allowing the Cork defence
ample time to cover back. Then Sinead Dilworth and Jenny Sheehan
gave Cork a fillip with excellent points, this gave confidence
to the rest of to the forward line whose free scoring exploits
of previous encounters were held firmly in check by a hard tackling
and sometimes over robusaois defence. The 2nd defining moment
that really decided the game came a the three quarter stage, with
the introduction of Lisa Dennehy who quickly fired over a point.
and then Sinead Dilworth found Orla Farmer in space and she found
the corner of the net with a beauty of a strike. Cork’s confidence
grew and Lisa and Jenny added another brace. Laois refused to
throw in the towel but their final of

a comeback was ended when their keeper Ciamh Dollard came upfield
to fire over the bar from the penalty spot. Cork were jubilant
after this difficult and intimidating encounter and no doubt the
hard battle with Laois, will stand them in good stead, when they
take on Dublin, in the All-Ireland final. Laois defeated Dublin
in the Leinster final, but that should not make Cork complacent
by any manner off means Referee Joe Murray handled the game with
his usual competence allowing an intelligent, interpretation of
the advantage rule and did not deserve the measure of censure
he received from the sideline.

Cork: Aideen Hegarty, Laura O’Sullivan, Denise Cronin,
Deirdre O’Driscoll, Kate Harrington, Sinead O’Reilly,
Aine O’Leary, Niamh Crowley, Aoife O’Driscoll, Orla
Farmer, 1-0 Ciara Sherlock 1-0, Orla Finn Sinead Dilworth, 0-2
Emily O’Callaghan, 0-2 Jenny Sheehan. 0-3 Subs Lisa Dennehy,
0-2 Patricia Dunne
Laois: Ciamh Dollard, Clodagh Brennan, Rhona Julian, Joanne

Smith, Amy Kelly, Ellen Healy Capt Louise Bergin, Sinead Doogue,
Alison NcEvoy, Alice Malone, Eimear Delaney, Rachel Conroy, Hannah
Russell, Sarah McEvoy Mary Mulhare Subs used Chloe Ryan and Siobhan
Doyle.

Fr Liam Kelleher 087-8516984