All the latest news from the Cork Ladies

Cork 3-17 Dublin 1-4.

Cork made a firm statement of their intent on this years TG4 Senior
championship, when they decimated Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter
final at Wexford on Saturday last. Dublin had seen a revival of
their fortunes in the past few months and they were expected to
trouble Cork, but that scenario never materialised as the Cork
girls playing attractive attacking football never gave them a
chance.

Incredibly they are now just 2 steps away from their 3 in a row
ambitions and for Rena Buckley, Angela Walsh, Briege Corkery,
Mary O’Connor, Regina Curtin, and Catriona Foley, a huge slice
of history awaits. They have helped the camogie team reach the
final and they too are going for three in a row. It is incredible
to think that those 6 girls can maintain such a high level of
commitment in their search for the glory of making the double
treble.

Once again Angela Walsh, Rena Buckley and Briege Corkery were
the mainstay of the Cork defence. Norita Kelly and Juliet Murphy
were again at their imperial best in the middle of the park while
all the forwards made their presence felt throughout the hour.
With Caoimhe Creedon still out with injury Cork lost the services
of Geraldine O’Flynn after an injury in the 6th minute, but such
is the strength of the bench that they were able to call on the
services of Amanda Murphy free from the shackles of her Leaving
Cert endeavours. Amanda proud holder of 15 All-Ireland Championship
medals at the tender age of 18, took her chances well and staked
her claim to a starting berth in the Semi-final against Laois.

The main scoring threat came from corner forwards Valerie Mulcahy
and Deirdre O’Reilly who has been a revelation since she moved
inside. Between them they notched 2-10, Valerie’s goal in the
10th minute setting the scene, and with Deirdre 6 points Cork
had a commanding 1-11 to 0-2 interval lead.

There was no let up for Cork in the 2nd period as they tagged
on scores with a regularly monotony although playing into a strong
breeze. Valerie Mulcahy netted her 2nd goal in the 5th minute
and this was followed by one, from Amanda Murphy 5 minutes later
who had earlier slotted over a point, but in truth the game had
ended as a contest long before the half time whistle. Dublin did
score a consolation goal from Sinead Aherne but in truth the Dubs
were no match for the flying rebels.

Cork scorers. Valerie Mulcahy 2-3 Deirdre O’Reilly 0-7 Amanda
Murphy. 1-2. Briege Corkery 0-1, Laura McMahon 0-2, Mairead Kelly.
0-2

Cork: Elaine Harte, Ciara Walsh, Angela Walsh, Rena Buckley. Briege
Corkery, Brid Stack, Linda Barrett. Norita Kelly. Juliet Murphy.Nollaig
Cleary, Laura McMahon, Geraldine O’Flynn, Valerie Mulcahy, Mary
O’Connor, Deirdre O’Reilly. Subs used Amanda Murphy, Mairead Kelly,
Sinead O’Reilly, Catriona Foley, Rhona Buckley

On Saturday evening in Portlaoise Cork renew rivalry with Laois
in the Semi Final. Last year at the same stage the Cork defence
held the much vaunted Laois attack in a vice like grip and were
never troubled in an emphatic victory. Cork will be expected to
do the same again on this occasion. Laois will have other ideas
and they must have learned from last years experience. This year
their forwards especially Tracy Lawlor and the Kirwin sisters
have been on song. Cork look to have improved from last year and
will be a tough nut to crack. It will come as a major surprise
if they do not advance, but at this stage of the championship
nothing must be taken for granted.

The other Semi-final pits Mayo and Tyrone and what a scenario
it would be if the rebels should meet their league conquerors
in the final.

Under 16’s get out of jail

Cork 2-10 Kerry 1-12.

Have defeated the Kingdom girls 7-8 to 2-10 in the Munster final
everything pointed to a repeat for Cork in this All-Ireland semi-final
played at Killorglin on Sunday last. But a different Kerry team
turned up and they really stood up and rattled Cork right to the
end. Buoyed by a shock win over All-Ireland favourites Dublin
the previous week-end while Cork got a walkover from Leitrim,
the Kerry girls took the game to Cork from the outset. They set
out their stall as early as the 5th minute when Aoife Dillane
Rattled the net, and a series of long range points mostly from
the mercurial Louise Ni Mhuirecheartaigh known as the female “
Gooch” The Kingdom girls raced into a 1-7 to 0-2 lead by the 20th
minute as Cork looked all at sea. The Cork points came from frees
from Yvonne Cahill. In the remaining 10 minutes Cork did improve
and by the short whilst had reduced the deficit to 5 points 1-8
to 0-6.

The 2nd half provided a thriller for the sparse attendance and
Cork who had introduced Orla Finn just before the break, reaped
the benefit of the move. Orla an International athlete had a phenomenal
work rate send over a confidence boosting point. Then it was the
turn of Maureen O’Sullivan to repeat her Munster final heroics.
She was moved to midfield where Kerry were totally dominant in
the first period, not only did she give Cork an edge she came
forward to net a vital goal. Cork were back in contention but
Kerry did not wilt they fought tooth and nail for every ball.
Cork looked to have gained the upper hand with points from Aoife
Scally Orla Finn and a superb effort from Claire Keohane who work
her way from deep in defence to fire over an inspirational point.
Kerry dug deep and levelled again as time ran out, The Cork defence
made a few basic errors and Kerry punished them with 2 points,
which seemed to have secured them victory. In the 5th minute of
injury time Orla Finn latched on to a through ball inside the
Kerry defence and was grounded in the square. Yvonne Cahill coolly
stepped up to the plate and planted the ball in the corner of
the net, to Cork’s delight and Kerry’s despair.

Apart from one long range free Yvonne was unerring in her free
taking from the ground scoring 1-5 in all. She had returned the
day before after playing for the Irish under 15 Soccer team against
Germany Denmark and Russia. In fact she scored the winning goal
against Russia. Cork’s keeper and Capt Caoimhe O’Callaghan coped
well with her duties and outside her the O’Connor twins Claire
and Caroline with Niamh O’Keefe made most impact. Up front Cork
were very limited on the day and did not get the same space as
they did in the Munster Final.

They can go on now and face the decider on the 15th of September
against Donegal with reasonable confidence. They will be on a
revenge mission, having lost out to the Donegal girls in the Semi-final
of the under 14, 2 years ago 3-11 to 3-10. Cork now with a much
changed team will be well motivated as they appear in the 4th
consecutive under 16 final. Referee Richie O’Connor did Cork few
favours on the day, being especially fussy and penalised Cork
on a number of occasions by moving the ball forward and this yielded
Kerry a few points. The redeeming feature was that he did make
the right call for the penalty.

Cork scorers Yvonne Cahill 1-5 Maureen O’Sullivan 1-0. Orla Finn0-2
Aoife Scally 0-2 Claire Keohane 0-1

Cork: Caoimhe O’Callaghan Claire O’Connor, Niamh O’Keefe, Maureen
O’Sullivan. Caroline O’Connor, Sinead O’Reilly, Beulah McManus,
Julie McCarthy, Aine O’Leary, , Aoife Scally, Marie O’Donovan,
Leanne Kearney, Ciara Sherlock, Yvonne Cahill, Claire Keohane,
Orlaith Farmer Niamh O’Regan, Donna Smyth, Orla Finn, Jessica
O’Shea, Joanne O’Brien, Kate Harrington, Sarah Harrington, Ciara
Harrington, Deirdre O’Driscoll, Patricia Dunne, Niamh Crowley,
Sinead O’Neill, Denise Cronin

Summer camps. The School of excellence summer camps conti8nue
to attract fine numbers and clubs who organise them are ensuring
a higher level of skill and commitment for their players. The
final week. Mallow 27-31st August 10am -1pm. Mitchelstown 2pm-5pm.
Participants can sign on, on the day or Ring Charlie McLaughlin
for info at 087-2807966