Cork open defence of title in style

Cork ladies Football By Fr. Liam Kelleher.
Cork open defence of title in style.
Cork 3-17 Limerick 1-03.

Munster and All-Ireland under 16 champions Cork, opened their Championship account in style at Ballyclough on Good Friday evening. A clash with the Munster under 16 Camogie which was also fixed for Saturday, like the football necessitated the change to Friday, which was a pity really with the day that was in it and perhaps the drink culture which seems to be ruining all sports, may have moved ahead of the posse on this one. While out of respect for the day, pubs remained closed, the GAA always regarded it as a closed day for matches and rightly so. A lot of players we precluded from attending their religious services on Friday, because of the time of the game.

Lest anyone think it is a personal observation a number of parents were not happy with the situation. That much said the girls took the field firmly focussed on the task in hand. Limerick dominated the opening 15 minutes and it was obvious that the 2 championship games, they had played stood them in good stead, It was Corks first game and it showed in the opening exchanges. Completely on top at midfield through Shannon Brosnan and Jennifer Liston Limerick played intelligent low ball in to their full forward Sandra O’Connor who scored 2 excellent points and a goal.

A Cork goal came when Margaret Murphy was at the end of an incisive move. Then star back Rena Buckley who was holding a shaky defence together, soloed the length of the field and fired over a magnificent point, an inspiration score and Cork were on their way. Their confidence grew they tightened up at the back, Laura Power and Geraldine O’Flynn came more into it at midfield and the forwards did the rest. Margaret Murphy, Noreen O’Farrell and Laura Harrington and Amanda Murphy all found their range. Then when a long lob from Amanda ended in the net it left Cork leading at the break by 2-09 to 1-03 it signalled the end of the Limerick challenge.

It was all one way traffic in the 2nd half as Cork piled on the agony and indeed if they had taken half their chances their score would have been much bigger in the end. Limerick tried their best but failed to score in the 2nd period. Certainly the strongest line in the field for Cork was the half Back line of Rena, Lisa McSweeney and Ciara Walsh and while it may have taken longer than expected to get on top, this game will have done Cork the world of good and will make them well prepared for the much stronger challenge from Kerry in the final on Saturday next

Cork scorers: Geraldine O’Flynn 1-03 Amanda Murphy 1-02 Laura Harrington 0-04 Limerick Sandra O’Connor 1-02 Elizabeth nash 0-01.
Cork Orla Murphy, Cathy Ann Stack, Emma Dunne, Aine O’Sullivan. Lisa McSweeny, Rena Buckley. Ciara Walsh, Geraldine O’Flynn, Laura Power. Siobhan Forde, Laura Harinngton, Claire Daly. Noreen O’Farrell, Margaret Murphy, Amanda Murphy. Miriam Sheehna, Sarah Healy, Helen Cooney, Amanda Goggin, Michelle Goggin, Tara Buckley, Lisa Hennessy, Stacy Dawson, Louise Coholan, Anita Thompson. Caroline McCarthy, Yvonne Twomey.

Limerick Mary o’ Mahony, Sinead O’ Connor, Roisin Cussen, Ingrid Lavin, Eileen Guiltinane, Deirdre Mccarthy, Shannon Brosnan, Jennifer Liston Anne Marie Curtin, Lisa Molyneaux, Hannah Flynn, Leanne Garvey, Sandra O’ Connor, Elizabeth nash. Katie Sheehy, Marion O’Sullivan, Julie Fox, Catherine Hartnett, Aoife Jenkins, Siobhan Moloiney, Ide O’Shaughnessy. Maria hayes, Elaine O’Dwyer Mairead Creagh, Aoife Hayes Aoife O’Malley.

Kerry 3-10 Waterford 1-06 The 2nd semi Final was played at Fermoy on Saturday and here Kerry saw off the challenge of Waterford. Inspired by Deirdre Corridan they opened a 3-08 to0-00 gap with a gale force wind by halftime. They had to endure some anxious moments before they snuffed out the Waterford challenge. The Deise girls made a huge effort in the 2nd half and scored I-06. Kerry added just 2 points which saw them through to the final showdown with Cork on Saturday and what a game that promises to be

Vals strip Rockban of under 21 title
St Vals 3-16 Rockban 3-07

In a tremendous game of football at Whitechurch on Saturday evening St Vals produced a brilliant 2nd half performance to ge the better of holders Rockban in the Co under 21 A Championship tie. Even the most optimistic of observers from Vals would have found it difficult to see them advance after the scores were deadlocked at the break, Rockban 3-2 to their 11 points. They played with a gale in the opening period and while they created more than 25 scoring chances they kicked wides from scoreable positionss from play and from frees.

Amy O’Shea had a marvellous opening period, every time she got the ball she spelt trouble and by the 4 minute she had planted the ball in the Vals net twice she completed her hat-trick on 20 minutes and added the other 2 points before the break. St Vals scores on the other hand came slowly with Louise Holland firing over 3. Jean Lucey 2 Lisa Foley 2, with Anne Marie Crowely, Briege Corkery, Aine Murphy and Niamh Canty adding one each.

Expected romp.

The expected romp for Rockban favoured by the gale did not materialise after the break. Whatever was said to the Vals girls in the dressing room worked.They came out a transformed team, they worked the ball cleverly up field. After 5 minutes of stalemate Jean Lucey and Louise Holland broke the deadlock and broke Rockban hearts with 2 smashing goals. Rockban responded with 2 points from Amy O’Shea and one form Sile Burns, but that was their swansong.

A much hungrier and fitter Vals dominated the remainder of the game. Super Sub, Emma Coomey added a goal and a point, Jean Lucey 2 points and Briege Corkery and Aine Murphy a point each. Rockban’s only reply was another point from Amy O’Shea who brought her personal tally to 3-05 and Ciara Murphy added another. Rockban’s night of woe was complete when Amy O’Shea severly twisted her knee in injury time and that ruled her out of Cork’s league Semi Final the following day. Vals thoroughly deserved their victory with their 2nd half performance, inspired by Sinead Corkery who moved to the full back line to shore up what was a porus defence in the first half, her display inspired her colleagues who responded magnificently to the challenge.

St Vals Mairead O’Sullivan, Emma Barrett, Katrina Barrett, Denise canty, Calire O’Sullivan, Sinead Corkery, Caroline O’Sullivan, Aine Murphy, Niamh vcanty, Anne Marei Crowely, briege Corkery. Mairead O’Sullivan, ouis Holland, Lisa Foley, Jean Lucey.EllenHealy, Antoinette O’Connor, Maria Down,. Emma Coomey, Nicole Barrett, Eileen Coholan. Louise Coholan, Elaien Coholan.

Rockban. Maria Twomey, Aine Geaney, Sinead Keohane, Margaret Walsh, Catriona Foley, Niamh Keohane, Niamh Ahern, Valerie Mulcahy, Deirdre Foley. Louis Crowley, Sile Burns, Calire Conway, Ciara Murphy Amy O’Shea. Theres Howard. Ealine Casey Honora Mulcahy, Audrey O’Mahiony Denise Murphy Noreen Cashman , Fiona Buckley

Fr.Liam Kelleher PRO 021-4886128 mob 087-8516984
email liamkelleher44 @hotmail.com