Cork defeat Kildare in Suzuki National Football League

CORK 3-14 KILDARE 1-3

A spirited opening by Kildare in the second
round of the Suzuki National league in Glanworth
yesterday wasn’t enough to stifle Cork’s
winning ways. It was a game of two halves
for the Rebels who initially looked sluggish,
finding scores hard to come by but who then
characteristically upped the tempo in the
third quarter. Both sides found conditions
tricky at times with the ball failing to
bounce in certain areas but once these were
exposed the game began to flow more freely.
Despite Cork winning the throw in and hitting
the post within seconds it was the Lilly
White’s who instigated the first score on
the fourth minute with a Tracy Noone free.
Kildare looked the sharper and on a number
of occasions won possession in their own
21 and fast breaked against the oncoming
Cork defence. In these moments Kildare looked
menacing but Rena Buckley, Laura Power and
Ciara Walsh did well to collapse the attacks.

It took eight minutes for Cork to register a score with a Valerie Mulcahy point and once they did so the flood gates opened. Naomh Abán’s Caiomhe Creedon managed to worm her way through the Kildare defence only to be denied by a great block by Ann Hughes.  At right half back Briege Corkery was undoubtedly the best player for Cork who timed her runs forward to perfection and was rewarded with well taken point on the 18minute. Ashling Holton was a rock at centre back, however Norita Kelly dominated at midfield and Kildare began to find it difficult to move the ball forward.

Cork senior captain Juliet Murphy, referee Derek Moloney (Tipperary) and Kildare captain Leah Purcell before last Sundays Suzuki Division 1 National League tie.

On
the 20minute however Stacy Cannon found
herself one on one with keeper Claire O’Donoughue
but an inspiring save deflected the ball
over the bar for a point. A brace of points
followed from Ashling O’Connor, Mairead
Kelly, Juliet Murphy and Amanda Murphy which
ensured Cork would be comfortable at the
break but a lapse in concentration seconds
before the whistle, saw Kildare drive home
an easy goal. They now trailed by only three
points at the half 1-2 0-8.

John Courtney’s side came out all guns blazing
in the second however it wasn’t for long
with a well worked goal by Caoimhe Creedon
five minutes in. A fast free from Briege
Corkery found its way to corner forward
Amanda Murphy who gave the assist to Creedon
and she executed superbly. Rockchapels Sinead
O’Reilly continued to cause trouble on the
left wing and soon after being introduced,
her club mate Regina Curtain launched a
long distance effort which struck the back
of the net. This was the turning point for
Kildare and even the addition of substitutions
was too little to late as Cork became rampant.
Further scores from Nollaig Cleary, Amanda
Murphy and a soccer style goal from Valerie
Mulcahy guaranteed a win for the Leesiders
and the final score read 3-14 1-3.

“It was a physical game for us. We found
our scores were hard to come by at the beginning
but with ten players on the score sheet
we’re very happy”, said Manager Mary Collins.
“We’ve another two points in the bag which
is great”. Last year Cork averaged four
players on the score sheet but so far this
season they’ve notched 17 in two matches
– a testament to their unified offence and
a relief that they’re not over reliant on
certain players to do all the scoring.

 

Monaghan are next in the third round on February 20, a game which Cork will have to travel away for and it will be interesting to see if they can maintain the level of their current performances. Elsewhere, the juniors were scheduled to play Clare yesterday in Ballingeary but it was cancelled due to an unplayable pitch.  Scorers for Cork: C Creedon and V Mulcahy 1-2each, R Curtain 1-0, A Murphy 0-3, S O’Reilly, 0-2, J Murphy, A O’Connor, B Corkery, M Kelly and N Cleary 0-1each. Scorers for Kildare: M O’Brien 1-0, T Noone 0-2frees, S Cannon 0-1. CORK: C O’Donoughue, R Buckley, L Power, B Stack, B Corkery, A Walsh, N Kelly, J Murphy, M Kelly, A O’Connor, S O’Reilly, V Mulcahy, C Creedon, A Murphy. Subs: R Curtain for M Kelly (46), N Cleary for A O’Connor (48), N Kelly for A Walsh (50), S O’Callaghan for A Murphy (57).

Cork senior ladies football team who defeated Kildare last Sunday in the Suzuki National League. (Back Row: Rena Buckley, Norita Kelly, Juliet Murphy, Brid Stack, Angela Walsh, Laura Power. Front: Mairead Kelly, Claire O’Donoughue, Ciara Walsh, Valerie Mulcahy, Caoimhe Creedon, Briege Corkery, Sinead O’Reilly and Amanda Murphy.

KILDARE: C Dolan, M O’Brien, A Huges,
C Gergin, A Lambe, A Holton, M Moolick,
J O’Brien, L Purcell, S Cannonn, N Farley,
E Dillon, S Gilbert, T Noone, J Cunningham.
Subs: G Beehan for L Purcell (47), G Bannon
for A Lambe (53) and A Lawlor for C Bergin
(54). Referee: D Moloney (Tipperary)

Senior Club League
On Saturday coming the Division 1 league
resumes with Naomh Abán at home to Rockbán
in the quarter finals and St Valentines
away to Rockchapel. Following these games
the 2005 Leagues will kick off on the weekend
of March 20.

Fixtures Meeting
The next fixtures meeting will take place
on Thursday 17 February and the chairperson
and secretary from each division are asked
to be present to discuss the U12 and U14
County Championships. For more information
contact Anthony on 086-8346822.

North Cork Divisional News
North Cork is to host the U12 Divisional
Blitz, Mid Cork the U16 Divisional Blitz
and East Cork the U14 Divisional Blitz.
West Cork is to host the U13 Blitz in Brinny
for the coming year.

Mary White (PRO, Cork Ladies Football)