Cork Ladies Football by Fr Liam Kelleher

Cork ladies Football
Suzuki National ladies Football league Quarter Finals.
Cork on the Double By Fr.Liam Kelleher.

On Sunday Cork scored a fine double in the quarter finals of the Suzukui National league. The B team had an emphatic win over Dublin B in Division 3 while the A team held off the tenacious challenge of Armagh. Cork 1-15 Armagh 2-09, Cork went into this game overwhelming favourites, after winning their 5 previous games, while Armagh who struggled to qualify and ply their trade, at Junior level in Ulster, were expected to be easy fodder. In the end Cork were most fortunate to advance after Aramgh had missed a succession of scoring chances when aided by a near gale force wind in the 2nd half.

Cork started off very well and with Briege Corkery who was player of the match in her schools, St Mary’s Macroom win in the Junior All-Ireland the day before, rampant. She scored 2 excllent points. These were followed by 3 from Maria O’Neill and when Amy O’Shea the best forward on view over the hour, hit the net after an electrifying run, Cork looked set to justify the favourites tag with ease.

Then Armagh struck for 2 stunning goals in the space of 2 minutes, they worked the ball from defence and after some brilliant inter passing, they cut open the porus Cork defence to shreds with ease. Cork did recover their composure and with some excellent points from Amy O’Shea one a beauty from the outside of her foot, Cork went into the break leading by 1-10 to 2-01.

All to play for

It was all to play for in the 2nd half with Armagh favoured by the strong elements. Cork started off with renewed determination and playing their best football of, the game, they hit over 3 valuable points and looked relatively safe with 20 minutes to go. Then Armagh took over for the next quarter and slowly but surely, they whittled away at the Rebels lead and with 5 minutes to go it was down to 2 points. Two Juliet Murphy frees restored Corks advantage to 4 points and a late point from Armagh was too late to make Cork fearful. The final whistle came as a relief and all involved knew that Cork were lucky to survive.

Perhaps it was the wake up call the team needed after dominating most of their games. Mary O’Conor reverted to the pivotal role in defence with the absence of Rena Buckey on Camogie duty as was Catriona Foley. She played very well in her new role but the attack lacking physical strength suffered as a result. Despite the goals that beat her Elaine Harte saved her side time and time again in the 2nd half, Karen O’Sullivan and Elaine O’Rirdan had their moments in defence. Norita Kelly and Julie Murphy found it difficult to curb the non stop play of the Armagh midfielders Alma O’Donnell and Shauna O’Hagen.

In attack Marie O’Neill faded after a promising start and it was left to Amy O’Shea to provide the scores after that. Briege Corkery drifterd further and further outfield, that tactic proved its worth in the 2nd half when her limitless energy got Cork out of many a tight corner. Cork will have learned much from the experience, but they must have their full panel available if they are to make the final of the league. They play Kildare away next week-end and already there is difficulty in planning the fixture with Capt Mary O’Connor engaged with the Cork camogie team in the Semi Final of the league on Sunday.

Scorers: Amy O’Shea 1-04, Marie O’Neill 0-04, Julie Murphy 0-03, Briege Corkery, 0-02 Caoimhe Creedon 0-01 Aisling O’Connor 0-1.

Team Elaine Harte, Brid Stack, Edel O’Sullivan, Elaine O’Riordan, Karen O’Sullivan, Mary O’Connor capt, Deirdre O’Reilly, Julie Murphy, Norita Kelly, Jean Lucey, Marie O’Neill, Aisling O’Connor, Caoimhe Creedon, Amy O’Shea, Briege Corkery. Blathnaid Wiseman, Louise Murphy, Tara Galvin, Elaine Cotter, Mairead O’Sullivan. Wendy Walsh.

Armagh: Emma McKeever, Maura Mcardle, Elaine Mallon, Nicola Smith, Julie Wilson, Brona O’Donnell Dervla Toal, Alam O’Donnell, 0-02 Shauna O’Hagen, Rosiem McClelland 0-1 Sharon Duncan, 2-00 Maebh Moriarty, Orla McGleenan, Aileen Matthews 0-3, Caroline O’ Hanlon, Nicola Sloan Mags McAlinden Geraldine Grimley, Maira Donnelly, Catriona Murphy, Aine McAntee Sarah Marley Dervla Murtagh, Marian Maginness, Ailish Murphy.

No problem for B team
Cork B 7-16 Dublin B 0-06

Cork had no difficulty in disposing of a weak Dublin 2nd string in the Div 3 game. The game was virtually over after 2 minutes when Cork against the gale hit the net with goals from Kareina Richards and Niamh Hickey. They led at the short whistle on a score line of 3-06 to 0-06.

The 2nd half saw Cork hit the Dubs with an avalanche of scores to run out convincing winners. Mairead O’Sullivan was solid all through and kept her goal intact. Outside her the entire team were so much on top in every position that it was difficult to evaluate their true worth, so how good this team are remains to be seen, They play Limerick at home in the Semi Final on Sunday. One thing is certain the game will be much closer.

Cork defeated Limerick in an earlier round by a solitary point

Cork Scorers. Niamh Hickey 2-01. Angela Walsh 2-01 Kariena Richards 1-04 Ciara O’Sullivan 1-01 Eimear o’Connell 0-03. Jennifer Walsh 1-01 Mairead Kelly 0-02, Sheila O’Callaghan 0-2 Aisling Barrett 0-1, Triona Lucey 0-1.

Dublin Scorers: Lynsey Kilmurray 0-04, Jenny Weldon 0-01, Helena Reddy 0-01

Team. Mairead O’Sullivan, Fiona Crowley, Norma Kelly, Mairead Kennedy, Eimear Walsh, Rose Cogan, Annie Walsh, Anglea waslh, Aisling Barrett, Eleanor Twohig, Emer O’Connell, Triona Lucey, Ciara O’Sullivan, Niamh Hickey, Kareina Richards, Mairead Kelly, Emer Daly, jennifer Walsh, Liz Ahern, Gearoidin Kearney, Sarah O’Connell, Wendy Walsh, Sheila O’Callaghan, Fiona Healy, Eileen O’Brien.

Junior C Final. Coola Sligo 2-08 Mercy Kilbeggan 1-06

Weekend results. Co Leagues. Kildorrey 4-08 Inch 1-03. Gabriel Rangers 6-07 Skibereen, 0-04. Dohenys 3-07 Macroom 1-03. Mitchelstown 3-17 Fermoy o-04, St Colums 4-12 St Endas1-04

Under 16’s in action.

The Cork under 16 Ladies defend their Munster and All-Ireland crown when they take on Limerck on Friday with Balyclough the likely venue at 6 pm. The game was fixed for Saturday, but with Rena Buckley Margaret Murphy and Emma Dunne on the Cork panel for the Munster Minor under 16 camogie to take on Waterford on Saturday the game was brought forward to Friday.

Good Friday was always a day the GAA did not fix competitive matches and it is a sign of the times and the fixture chaos that this match is on Friday. Last year just an hour after helping Cork win the Munster Minor camogie, 5 girls lined out with the under 16 football in the Munster semi-final. The fact that both teams went on to win the All-Ireland shows the dilemma some players have. Both organisation must sit down at every level and plan their fixtures because sooner or later girls will be forced to make a choice and this does neither sport credit.

Cork winners of the All-Ireland under 14 title for the past 3 years should have too much strength for Limerick.

Fr. LiamKelleher PRO 087-8516984