19 December 2005 CORK LADIES FOOTBALL - OVERVIEW 2005 Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! CORK LADIES FOOTBALL – OVERVIEW 2005 Amidst the sea of red facing a breathless Juliet Murphy on the Hogan stand on October 2, young eyes blinked at new found heroines and their elders shed tears of joy. The feeling was overwhelming when Murphy’s eyes fixed on the heavens above as Brendan Martin was hoisted above her head. What a moment. What a year. Two All-Ireland titles (senior and U16), one division 1 national league title, winning back to back Munster titles at every level (senior, junior, minor, U16 and U14), 10 All-Star nominations, 5 All-Star recipients, Munster player of the year (Sinead O’Reilly), Munster young player of the year (Amanda Murphy), Vodafone player of the year and Texeco sports award (Valerie Mulcahy). A dazzling curriculum vitae to say the least. Galway were tipped by the pundits to retain their All-Ireland crown. Experience on the big stage, they said, would stand in their favour. Cork prepared as they would any other game, apart from a trip to Croaker two weeks beforehand to watch the camogie girls do the business. The idea was to extinguish any anxieties and it worked. It was a dream start. With 25seconds gone the Rebels’ were on the scoreboard but the Tribeswomen settled and led at the half 0-4 0-3. An incredible second half, team performance paved the way for victory and Cork ladies football changed forever.Valerie Mulcahy earned player of the match with a total of 1-5 (1-0pen, 0-3frees) while dual players Mary O’Connor, Angela Walsh, CatrionaFoley, Briege Corkery and Rena Buckley made history. Had it not being for the captain’s point on the 19 second against Mayo in the semi-final, the Rebels’ dream would have ceased to be. Despite trailing 0-5 1-5 at half time, it was their worst performance in the championship. Midfielder Norita Kelly was exceptional but the player of the match went to Mayo’s Claire Egan and Cork progressed on a score-line of 0-13 1-9. But it was the quarter-final against Meath that became the rock that Cork stood on for what was to come. With two goals in the opening five minutes for the Royals – it was a rude awakening. Regina Curtain (0-5) and Briege Corkery (0-3) were the driving force for Cork’s come back, winning 2-19 3-10 and the latter deservedly receiving player of the match. The Munster final was disappointing from an entertainment point of view with the Kingdom lacking fire in their bellies and it was a day Nollaig Cleary came on as a substitute and notched 1-4 to secure a place in the starting fifteen. The cup returned to the Banks for the second time (2-15 1-8) and midfielder Juliet Murphy received the player of the match accolade. The Suzuki national league final tie against Galway was set for Roscommon in late April and understandably so the supporters from the south were enraged at the venue selection. On the day however a waterlogged pitch gave rise to a replay in the Gaelic Grounds,Limerick and it was this victory that instilled the belief, the ultimate was achievable. Leading, 1-6 0-4 at the half, Cork exploded in the second and lifted their first division 1 national league trophy (2-13 0-6) with player of the match going to Valerie Mulcahy (2-2). The junior side competed well all season and retained their Munster crown in a thrilling Munster final showdown against Tipperary in Killarney. Trailing by as much as seven points in the second following a hat-trick from the Banner captain, in as many minutes into the second half, Cork looked dead and buried. However substitute Emma Harrington defied all odds and notched two ten minutes remaining. Captain Annie Walsh was inspirational in the drive and was awarded player of the match for her efforts. The quarter final was agonising however, losing by a solitary point to Fermanagh in Portlaoise. Despite the best efforts of Niamh Hickey (0-5), Susan Power and Tara Galvin, the Leesiders had the chances to secure an equaliser with six minutes remaining on the clock but failed to do so. The juniors were again unlucky not to remain in the division 2A league, losing out on the tightest of margins with three losses and two wins – victory over Clare and Sligo but defeats to Wexford, Limerick and Cavan. The minor side recorded their third successive provincial victory over neighbours Kerry in Killorglin (2-13 0-6) having denied Clare and Waterford a final spot. With captain Emma Coomey at the helm and player of the match Ciara Walsh, the Kingdom had no answers. And so to the All-Ireland semi final against Donegal in Tuam. A day the minors will want to forget. The northerners had their homework done and deserved their half-time lead (0-5 0-6). The turning point was the sending off of Amanda Murphy on the 35minute and Donegal capitalised, notching 2-2 without response. The Rebels’ battled to redeem themselves but it was too little too late (0-15 2-11). The U16s were superb all season and were worthy winners the All-Ireland crown against Dublin. Having overcome Waterford, Kerry and Monaghan it was the Leinster champions who posed the toughest opposition. Again it was a crunching tie with Cork trailing 0-5 2-5 at the midway mark. Deirdre Cotter (2-4) and Amanda Murphy (2-3) led the way in the second while skipper Vicki Power was dynamite at full back. With five minutes on the clock, Dublin were three points in tow but the Rebels’ hung on to win their fifth All-Ireland title (4-13 2-11). The player of the match going to Dublin’s Lyndsy Davey. The U14s won an impressive sixth successive Munster title over neighbours Kerry in Charleville (4-9 2-7). The Kingdom couldn’t deal with the Cork forward-line and trailed 2-4 1-5 at the interval. Captain and player of the match Niamh O’Keeffe was sublime at full back, rallying the troops to glory. It was Donegal next in the All-Ireland semi-final and it was a cruel day. The northerners led 1-7 1-4 midway through but the Munster champions weren’t going out without at fight. In what was one of the best underage games in a number of years, the sides were level 3-10 on the stroke of full time. But with injury time remaining, Donegal kicked over a free on the 63 minute to progress. On the club front, Donoughmore won their tenth successive county title over Rockchapel and sixth successive provincial title over Ballymacarbery (Waterford). Following a sensational draw at home to reigning All-Ireland champions, Ballybodens/St Endas 1-10 2-7), the mid Cork side travelled to Dublin, only to lose out (0-7 0-9). Ballybodens went on to retain their All-Ireland crown and in doing so former Cork junior captain, Susan White became the first ladies footballer in the country to hold senior, intermediate and junior All-Ireland club medals. Mourneabbey won their first ever Munster junior trophy, defeating Laune Rangers (Kerry), 5-11 1-11 before denying Oran (Roscommon) and Tara (London) to meet Athgarvan (Kildare) in the final. Mourneabbey becoming first time junior champions (2-11 2-7) with midfielder Sile O’Callaghan securing MVP. While on the intermediate front Gabriel Rangers lost out to last years junior champions, Abbeydorney (Kerry) in the Munster semi-final stage who progessed to win the championship out right. All in all it was a hugely successful year for Cork ladies football and one that will be remembered in years to come for the inaugural welcoming of Brendan Martin. Roll on 2006. All-Star recipients: Angela Walsh, Briege Corkery, Juliet Murphy, Deirdre O’Reilly and Valerie Mulcahy. All-Star nominees: Elaine Harte, Rena Buckley, Angela Walsh, Ciara Walsh, Briege Corkery, Juliet Murphy, Norita Kelly, Amanda Murphy, Deirdre O’Reilly and Valerie Mulcahy. Munster Player of the Year: Sinead O’Reilly Munster Young Player of the Year: Amanda Murphy Vodafone Player of the Year: Valerie Mulcahy Texeco Sports Award: Valerie Mulcahy All-Ireland final MVP: Valerie Mulcahy All-Ireland QF MVP: Briege Corkery Munster Final MVP: Juliet Murphy National League Final MVP: Valerie Mulcahy Munster Senior Club Champions: Donoughmore Munster Junior Club Champions: Mourneabbey TG4 SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP Cork 2-14 Kerry 2-7, Killorglin Cork 0-16 Waterford 1-8, Pairc Ui Rinn Cork 5-28 Clare 1-3, Donoughmore Munster Final: Cork 2-15 Kerry 1-8, Killarney All-Ireland QF: Cork 2-19 Meath 3-10, Portlaoise All-Ireland SF: Cork 0-13 Mayo 1-9, Portlaoise All-Ireland Final: Cork 1-11 Galway 0-8, Croke Park SUZUKI NATIONAL LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 Cork 5-9 Kerry 2-5, Rathcool Cork 3-14 Kildare 1-3, Glanworth Cork 2-18 Monaghan 2-3, Mountmellick Cork 0-8 Galway 0-11, Donoughmore Cork 2-10 Mayo 2-9, Rosnevin Cork 5-13 Roscommon 0-7, Mountmellick Cork 6-11 Waterford 2-6, Dungarvan Cork 2-13 Galway 0-6, Gaelic Grounds TG4 JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP Cork 2-24 Kerry B 1-5, Killorglin Cork 2-10 Limerick 2-9, Ballincollig Cork 2-13 Waterford 1-8, Pairc Ui Rinn Cork 3-10 Tipperary 3-10, Ardfinnan Munster Final: Cork 2-13 Tipperary 3-7, Killarney All-Ireland Quarter Final: Cork 1-9 Fermanagh 2-7, Portlaoise DIVISION 2A LEAGUE Cork Wexford Cork 0-14 Clare 0-3, Milltown-Malbay Cork 1-8 Cavan 1-12, Kilcaven Cork 1-4 Limerick 2-6, Kildimo Cork 2-10 Sligo 1-4, Crusheen MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP Cork 6-19 Clare 0-1, Rathkeale Cork 4-15 Waterford 0-2, Rathcormac Munster Final: Cork 2-24 Kerry 3-8, Killorglin All-Ireland Minor SF: Cork 0-15 Donegal 2-11, Tuam U16 CHAMPIONSHIP Cork 5-16 Waterford 1-3 Munster Final: Cork 3-16 Kerry 3-3, Ballincollig All-Ireland SF: Cork 3-11 Monaghan 1-8, Portarlington All-Ireland Final Cork 4-13 Dublin 1-11, Cashel U14 CHAMPIONSHIP Cork 7-19 Tipperary 3-0, Cahir Cork 6-11 Waterford 1-3, Glanworth Cork 2-12 Clare 2-2, Dromina Cork 4-9 Kerry 2-7, Charleville Cork 3-10 Donegal 3-11, Mullingar AIB SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP Munster SF: Donoughmore (Cork) 2-19 St Pats (Kerry) 4-10, Ballydesmond Munster Final: Donoughmore (Cork) 5-8 Ballymacarbery (Waterford) 1-8, Ardfinnan AIB Senior All-Ireland club championship SF: Donoughmore (Cork) 1-10 Ballybodens 2-7, Donoughmore AIB Senior All-Ireland club championship SF replay: Donoughore (Cork) 0-7 Ballybodens 0-9, Ballybodens AIB JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP Munster Junior Club Final: Mourneabbey (Cork) 5-11 Laune Rangers (Kerry) 1-11, Rathmore All-Ireland QF: Mourneabbey (Cork) 6-15 Oran (Roscommon) 1-3, Oran All-Ireland SF: Mourneabbey (Cork) 4-23 Taras (London) 1-3, Charleville All-Ireland Final: Mourneabbey (Cork) 2-11 Athgarvan (Kildare) 2-7, Cashel Share this Article 0 0