Cork Ladies finally get their bad day at office

Cork were due a bad day at the office and yesterday was that day. It was a poor and uncharacteristic display from the Rebels in the fourth round of the Suzuki National League against All-Ireland champions Galway in Donoughmore. In fact they were lucky not to lose by more with a mediocre performance from the Connaught side who notched 15wides in total compared to Corks three. Despite Cork winning the throw in, Galway opened the scoring on the 54second with a point from Philly O’Flaherty. Four minutes later Caoimhe Creedon replied for the Munster girls followed by a free from the boot of Geraldine O’Flynn.

Juliet Murphy & Annette Clarke

Cork
were doing well with Sinead O’Reilly excelling
on the wing however a bunching forward line led
to ball fumbling and a lack of responsibility
to simply put the ball over the bar. Angela Walsh
was the best player on the pitch at full back
and Galway found it hard to penetrate the Achilles
heal of the Cork team. Wearing maroon Niamh Duggan
struck a beauty on the 13 minute to level the
sides but shortly put her side in front with a
point from a free.

O’Flynn was immediately awarded a free at the
other end and sweetly struck the ball over the
crossbar. Norita Kelly did well to hold midfield
and Briege Corkery was causing problems but it
was All-Star Annette Clarke who rallied her troops
just before the half with a long distance point
to put Galway ahead 0-4 0-3 at halftime. Three
minutes into the second a superb point from Valerie
Mulcahy with her right leg put the sides’ level
once again. This was to be the sequence with substitute
Regina Curtain and Mulcahy equalising out points
from Niamh Duggan and on the 42nd minute the game
was level for the third time. Despite great defending
from Angela Walsh and Brid Stack Galway hit a
purple patch with scores from Philly O’Flaherty,
Marie O’Connell and Lorna Joyce and Cork found
themselves trailing by three points.

A comeback from Cork was non existent and a free
from Mulcahy on the 48minute was to be the last
for the home side. Emer Flaherty at centre back
was impressive for Galway as was Lorna Joyce and
Annette Clarke but they will no doubt be disappointed
with the number of wides they kicked. With Kerry
defeating Mayo 1-13 0-5 yesterday Cork remain
at the top of the table with Galway close behind.
Yesterday was a wakeup call and Mayo in the fifth
round in two weeks will be a huge psychological
battle but if they overcome that there should
be no stopping them.

Scorers for Cork: V Mulcahy 0-3 (0-2frees),
G O’Flynn 0-2(frees), C Creedon and R Curtain
0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: N Duggan 0-4 (0-2frees),
P O’Flaherty and A Clarke 0-2 each, H McHugh,
M O’Connell and L Joyce 0-1 each.

CORK: C O’Donoughue, L Power, A Walsh,
B Stack, R Buckley, C Walsh, B Corkery, J Murphy,
N Kelly, G O’Flynn, A O’Connor, S O’Reilly, V
Mulcahy, C Creedon, A Murphy. Subs: R Curtain
for C Creedon (HT), M Kelly for G O’Flynn (39)
and N Keohane for L Power (45).
GALWAY: T Hughes, M Glynn, R Stephens,
R Molloy, A Daly, E Flaherty, A Gilmore, M O’Connell,
A Clarke, E Concannon, N Duggan, G Conneely, H
McHugh, P Flaherty, L Joyce.
Subs: H Carroll for H McHugh (50) and S
Cosgrove for P O’Flaherty.

CORK B 1-4 LIMERICK 2-6
An awesome comeback by Cork in the second half
of yesterdays clash in Kildimo wasn’t enough to
overcome Limerick and qualify for the league playoffs.
It was Dhymna O’ Brien who stole the show in the
first quarter with a total tally of 1-5 before
deservedly receiving a straight red for an off
the ball incident on the 36 minute when she elbowed
Beara’s Vicki Power in the stomach.

The Cork Ladies Junior Team

Although
the backline held well with Blathnaid Wiseman
and Elaine Cotter, offensively Cork couldn’t finish.
Further scores from Limericks Catherine Murphy
saw the visitors aching trail 0-0 2-6 at halftime.
The Rebel’s awoke however in the second with a
goal by substitute Emma Harrington and a brace
of points from captain Annie Walsh and Eleanor
Twohig. It wasn’t to be however and Cork no doubt
will find it frustrating that poor first half
performances overshadow them. With Sligo away
in two weeks the Leesiders will want nothing more
than to redeem themselves.

Scorers for Cork: A Walsh 0-2, E Harrington
1-0, E Twohig and C O’Driscoll 0-1each.
Scorers for Limerick: D O’Brien 1-5 (0-2frees)
and C Murphy 1-1.

CORK: O Murphy, C Murphy, S Buckley, V
Power, AM Walsh, E Cotter, B Wiseman, E O’Connell,
AM Walsh, M Rea, E Twohig, T Lucey, N Hickey,
J Hennessy, C O’Driscoll.
Subs: E Harrington for M Rea (26), M Kennedy
for C Murphy (HT), N Healy for N Hickey (47),
B Forde for E O’Connell (50 inj) and J McCarthy
for C O’Driscoll (57).
LIMERICK: D Carroll, A Neary, E O’Shaughessy,
O Giltinane, C Sheehan, M Nash, MI Casey, M Shire,
E Enright, C Murphy, L Higgins, M Keating, I Prant,
D O’Brien, S O’Connor.

RESULTS
East Cork Junior QF Inch Rovers 1-1 Midleton 5-13

SENIOR LEAGUE FINAL
The senior league final will take place on Sunday
next between All-Ireland senior finalists Donoughmore
and Rockbán. The last time these two sides met
was in the Evening Echo Senior Club Championship
semi finals which Donoughmore were victorious.
The venue is yet to be confirmed.

SECRETARYS INFORMATION EVENING
On Monday next March 7, an informal discussion
forum will be held for all club secretaries in
Murrays, Macroom at 8pm. Whether new to the position
or not this evening will be helpful to all. County
Secretary Sharon O’ Keeffe, Treasurer Mary Power
and PRO Mary White will be there to answer any
questions so feel free to bring along other members
of your club on the night.