Brilliant Cork Retain under 14 All-Ireland Blitz

Brilliant Cork Retain under 14 All-Ireland Blitz By Fr.
Liam Kelleher.

The wonderful success story for Cork underage football continues.
On Saturday last in glorious conditions at Mullingar Cork
retained their under 14 All-Ireland blitz title. Forced
to line out without their star player Amanda Murphy, who
picked up an injury when Cork defeated Kerry in the Munster
semi-final the week before, Cork were superb all through
scoring comprehensive victories in all their 5 games.

The long trip to Mullingar necessitated an early start with
the bus leaving Macroom at 5am which meant some girls had
to rise as early as 4am, but the girls made light of this
and remained firmly focussed on the job in hand all day.
In all they played 110 minutes of football and in all that
time they played very impressively with non stop action
right through.

Galway again.

Galway whom Cork defeated in last years blitz decider and
in the under 14 All-Ireland, were the first round opposition
and Cork easily accounted for them on a scoreline of 5-03
to 1—04, they followed with comprehensive victories over
Cavan 1-09 to 1-01 and Meath 2-12 to 0—00. This saw Cork
top their group with maximum points.

Mayo were the opposition in the semi final and again Cork
dominated running out easy winners scoring 4-06 without
a reply from Mayo. Galway again provided the opposition
in the final and Cork had the game virtually wrapped up
at the interval when they led 2-03 to no score. Galway did
improve in the 2nd half and managed to hold Cork to 3 points
and scored one themselves but Cork lifted the trophy and
in doing so gave their confidence a massive boost. They
face Waterford in the Munster under 14 final on Saturday
week and it will take a very good team to stop them on their
march to a 4th All-Ireland title in a row.

Twenty teams took part on Saturday and Cork were about the
only County who had not a sponsors logo on their jersey.
Surely there must now be a rush from companies and firms
to contribute €100 too have a chance to have their name
on one of the most famous jerseys in Ireland, the red of
Cork.

Every single member of the panel played their part in this
superb win and the fact that they had to play without Amanda
made the girls more determined. The forwards were outstanding
all through particularly Rhona Buckley, Jenny Luddy Ciara
O’Sullivan, Capt Aine O’Sullivan who missed the last 2 games
because of injury, Noelle Corkery and Tracy Mullane. Laura
Harington and Linda Barrett worked tirelessly at midfield.
Antoinette O’Connnor coped well with everything that came
her way in goal, while outside her Eiemar O’Donovan, Vicky
Power, Claire O’Leary, Roisin O’Sullivan, Orla O’Sullivan
and Patricia Murphy all played superbly all through in the
backs.

All the other girls on the panel played a vital role, Denise
Murphy, Emma Hanley Orla Crowley, Ellen Ryan, Ciara Murphy,
Emma Murphy, Teresa Crowleym, Orla Deasy, Ann 0’Donovan
and Ciara Hegarty. While Amada Murphy though injured was
there all day supporting and encouraging her team. For the
record Cork scored 14-36 while conceding just 2-06

Cork scorers: Rhona Buckley 7-06, Laura Harrington
1-07, Jenny Luddy 2-05, Ciara O’Sullivan 0-05, Roisin O’Sullivan
0-2, Tracy Mullane 0-05, Orla Crowley 1-02, Noelle Corkery
2-01, Ella Ryan 1-00, Aine O’Sullivan 0-03, Emma Hanley
1-00,

Valley Rovers Impressive winners of Under 12 Semi-Final

Valley Rovers 3-05 St Vals 0-3
Playing a superb brand of football Valley Rovers reached
their first Co A under 12 Final when they scored an impressive
win over St Vals at Sunny Kilmurray on Sunday. Two first
half goals superbly executed was the main difference between
the sides, in a thrill a minute encounter. Valley Rovers
led at the break by 2-2 to 0-1 and while St Vals had a mountain
to climb they never stopped trying to the end.

The first 10 minutes of the 2nd half were scoreless but
a superb 2nd goal from their top forward Orla Lehane sealed
victory, in all Miss Lehane contributed 2-02 but as great
as her contribution was it was surpassed by Maryanne Hawkes
at midfield, she was superb all through with her massive
kicking ability causing all sorts of problems to St Vals.
Aisling Glavin at Fullback was another to impress.

St Vals were well served by Niamh Carroll, Grace O’Mahony
and Elizabeth Cohalan. Valley Rovers have a balanced and
a well drilled team and what a game the County final promises
to be against Beara, who are going for their 6th in a row,
Valley Rovers confidence will be sky high and with a victory
over Beara to their credit in the West Cork decider they
will have no fears.

In the other Semi-Final played last week Beara had to pull
out all the stops to remain in contention for their 6th
in a row. In a thrilling game of football at Ballyvourney
they defeated a gallant Liscarroll team by just a point.

Score Beara 3-05 Liscarroll 3-04

Under 12 C Castlemagner 2-09 Mourneabbey 0-04

Fr. Liam Kelleher PRO 087-8516984 021-4886128