25 July 2006 All-Ireland Minor Final and U-14 Semi-Final Match Report Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! 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 OSullivan 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 ODonovan 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 ODonovan 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 OSullivan 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 backs 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. Corks 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 ODonovan, Louise Cohalan, Claire OLeary, Roisin OSullivan, Laura Power, 0-1 Siobhan Forde, Jenny Luddy, Amanda Murphy, 1-5 Anne ODonovan, Ciara OSullivan, Rhona Buckley, 2-1 Deirdre Cotter, 0-1 Subs Used: Ellen Healy Kathleen OBrien, Geraldine Rea. Galway. Claire Brennan. Marian Hernon, Meadbh Moloney, Laura Gilmore, Lisa OHalloran, 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 14s 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 OCallaghan got Cork off to the perfect start with 2 well worked points. Then Laois took over Cork defended desperately with keeper Aideen Hegarty, Laura OSullivan Capt Denise Cronin and Deirdre ODriscoll doing trojan work as did Sinead OReilly in the centre Laois scored the next 5 points on the trot 2 of them coming from 45s 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. Corks 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 OSullivan, Denise Cronin, Deirdre ODriscoll, Kate Harrington, Sinead OReilly, Aine OLeary, Niamh Crowley, Aoife ODriscoll, Orla Farmer, 1-0 Ciara Sherlock 1-0, Orla Finn Sinead Dilworth, 0-2 Emily OCallaghan, 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 Share this Article 0 0