Corks path to the final

Ladies Senior Football Final countdown to Cork V Mayo

Croke Park Sunday 23rd September 4pm

Cork’s path to the final. By Fr Liam Kelleher

A few weeks after their first loss in nearly 3 years extending
to over 30 games Cork traveled to Beaufort in Kerry to take on
the Kingdom girls in the first round of the Munster Championship.
The rebelettes still suffering from the backlash of their reverse
to Mayo in the Semi-final of the Suzuki National league were ragged
and disjointed and were extremely fortunate to come away with
a win. There may have been a number of reasons for these lack
luster performances, the chief one being that most of the girls
were deeply in study for vital College exams a few weeks later.
Since then, rejuvenated from a foreign training holiday the rebelettes
have been going from strength to strength.

In the Munster final against Waterford they were back to something
like the form that people have come to expect from them, mind
you they did not have things all their own, with Deise girls who
had also defeated Kerry giving them a good run for their money.

It was then on to the new style Champions league format, new territory
this year. Cork were pleased enough with the draw which pitted
them with champions of 2004 Galway, former kingpins Monaghan and
Roscommon. The crunch game came against Galway in the opening
round and here Cork showed commendable spirit and with a workmanlike
approach, had enough to spare in the end. Next up were Monaghan
and again they were dismissed with relative ease. The final game
with Cork qualified for the quarter finals was a meaningless exercise
and became more meaningless when Roscommon turned up with 13 players,
fear of a hefty fine dictated that an even more meaningless game
took place with little or no good for either Co or for football
Quarter Finals

,which included Kerry, Mayo and Waterford, who were expected to
provide a stern test. Their serious challenge never materialized,
leaving Cork to face Laois without any stiff test.

The Laois challenge lasted less than 15 minutes after they had
missed golden goal chances, Cork punished them with goals and
they never recovered.

So now they face the might of Mayo in the final and what a battle
that promises to be, both counties have won 6 titles between them
in the last 8 years. We look forward in anticipation to a memorable
game.

Munster Championship lst round Cork 3-10 Kerry 1-12 Munster final
Cork 3-7 Waterford 1-6

Round robin All-Ireland series. Cork 2-13 Galway 1-11 Cork 4-11
Monaghan 0-11 Cork 3-21 Roscommon 0-2

Quarter final Cork 3-17 Dublin 1-4

Semi-Final Cork 4-14 Laois 0-6

Did you know

Juliet Murphy is a multitalented sports person. She has played
basketball for Ireland and won National honours with her Club
Donoughmore in Basketball and Ladies Football. This year she won
the All-Ireland road bowling Intermediate Championship in Armagh.
She preaches what she practices as a fitness instructor.

Angela and Ciara Walsh were top class athletes in their younger
days winning several All-Ireland for Cross-country and track and
field with Glenbower AC and were coached by Fr. Liam Kelleher.
Angela as well has won All-Ireland camogie medals with Cork and
is an Irish International Volleyball player. She qualified recently
as a PE teacher and has secured a Post at St Augustine’s College
in Dungarvan. She is well used to the surrounds having won Cross-country
races on the College grounds.

Their Aunt. Ann Leahy won several All-Ireland camogie medals with
Cork

Nollaig Cleary won National Basketball Titles with Glanmire in
the Super League and is a sister of former Cork Great John from
the Castlehaven club. Valerie Mulcahy played soccer for the Irish
universities team and played in the finals of the World Student
games.

Amanda Murphy has 15 All-Ireland medals for Ladies football at
he tender age of 18. She has 2 Feile under 14 All-Ireland medals
with her club Beara and has won 2 Feile Skills competitions. She
also has won National Community Games medals for athletics

Laura McMahon a newcomer on this years team is a sister of Cork
Senior Kevin.

Most unusual occupation Briege Corkery is a Stone mason. Plays
centerfield on the Cork camogie team.