Cork Co Under 21 Final By Fr. Liam Kelleher.

Cork Co Under 21 Final By Fr. Liam Kelleher.

St Vals 1-12 Imokilly 1-12

In a thrill a minute, Cork Under 21 final a draw was about a fair result at the end of an hours pulsating football. The game was played at Castletown Kenneigh on Monday evening and despite the recent inclement weather the pitch was in good shape. This was a real advertisement for the game, as 2 totally committed teams fought for their lives to bring the cup home.

Imokilly the divisional side, made up of Clubs in the East Cork division, playing with a strong wind threatened to put the game out of reach before halftime when they raced to a 1-06 lead without a reply, by the 20th minute. St Vals who had played a tough semi Final against Rockchapel on Saturday evening, were off the pace and struggled big time and their cause, was not helped when their full forward Lisa Foley had to retire with injury, after 10 minutes. The main Imokilly tormentors in attack were the Midleton trio, Kareina Richards who scored 1-04, her goal coming in the 17th minute, Ciara O’ Sullivan who hit over 3 points and Claire Fenton a point. That left them leading at the break on a scoreline of 1-08 to 0-02.

Surprisingly the more more vaunted East Cork attackers Watergrasshill teamates and Cork Players Noreen O’Farrell and Maria O’Neill were well policed in that first half . Indeed the St Vals points did not come until the 22nd and 26th minutes from Louise Holland and Briege Corkery. The Imokilly dominance stemmed from midfield where Angela Walsh was in sublime form and she received great assistance from Emma White. Their keeper Niamh Kirke and backs particularly Gearoidin Kearney, Ciara Walsh and Annie Walsh coped well with the St Vals raiders.

Different story.

The 2nd half was a different story. St Vals stung to the core and mindful of an ever bigger comeback against holders Rockban in the first round were not going to capitulate easily. Briege Corkery was the proverbial Will o’ the Wisp, she roamed the field seeking possession and covered acres of ground, she hit a point within a minute, but that was more than cancelled out by points from Anne Marie Walsh and Maria O’Neill. Then came the vital score, and it was that girl Briege again, she was at the end of a move she started well outfield and sent an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net in the 7th minute . That goal created a buzz and lifted the Mid Cork girls to greater heights. Suddenly the composure of Imokilly went and they looked ragged.

Sinead Corkery and Emma Barrett got on top in the fullback line. Outside them Katrina Barrett and Claire 0’Sullivan thundered into the game. Aine Murphy and Niamh Canty won more possession at midfield Jean Lucey well shackled by Ciara Walsh, began to make her surging runs effective and Vals cut down the deficit point by point. When they introduced 15 year old Emma Coomey she added that extra dimension to the attack, that was missing and scored 2 very valuable points. Louise Holland added 2 Briege another and another came from Capt Aine Murphy, Kariena Richards replied with 2 points from frees for Imokilly but it was all Vals, in the last 10 minutes and while they missed several good scoring opportunities and they finally drew level with the last kick of the game. It was no more than they deserved for their wholehearted 2nd half performance. But Imokilly will be “Kicking” themselves for fading out of a game they looked in control of. The one good thing is, we can look forward to the replay in July after the exams are over with huge antticipation.

Imokilly: Niamh Kirk, Ciara Walsh, Gearoidin Kearney, Arlene O’Callaghan, Mera O’Connor, Orlaith McSweeny, Annie Walsh capt. Emma White Angela Walsh, Ciara O’Sullivan, 0-03 Anne Marie Walsh,0-01 Maria O’Neill, 0-01 Claire Fenton,0-01 Kareina Richards, 1-06 Noreen O’Farrell. Subs Leanne Ahern Fiona Santry, Sarah Wall, Ciara O’Leary, Brdget Forde, Laura Crowley, Mairead O’Leary, Maria O’Brien, Amy McCarthy, Imelda Dorgan, Gillian Dennehy. Caroline O’Keefe, Deirdre Breen, Catherine Garde AnnMarie Collins

St Vals: Mairead O’Sullivan, Emma Barrett , Sinead Corkery, Denise Canty, Nicole Barrett, Katrina Barrett, Claire 0’Sullivan, Aine Murphy Capt, 0-01, Niamh Canty. Briege Corkery, 1-04 Mariead O’Sullivan,0-01 Ann Marie Crowley, Louise Holland 0-04 Lisa Foley Jean Lucey 0-01 Subs Claire O’Mahony, Antoinette O’Connor, Maria Downes, Louise Coholan, Emma Coomey, 0-02 Emma Dunne Ellen Healy, Claire Coholan Elaine Coholan.

Fr Liam Kelleher PRO 087-8516984