Double win for Cork Ladies

CORK
LADIES FOOTBALL CORK 2-10 MAYO 2-9

Cork gave an awesome display of hunger to overcome
National League holders Mayo in Rosnevin yesterday.
The Connaught girls started the better with Cora
Staunton notching 3 points before Cork awoke with
a goal from Ashling O’Connor in the 10th minute.
Yet again Angela Walsh was supreme at full back
and sister Ciara held Staunton for the remainder
of the half. Mayo’s defence illustrated exactly
why the Sin Bin rule was implemented as they had
an embarrassing tally of five yellow cards. Consequently
free taker Geraldine O’ Flynn punished the offenders
and further scores from O’ Connor and Deirdre
O’ Reilly saw them lead 1-5 0-3 at the interval.

Despite Cork opening the scoring with a free from
O’ Flynn, all-star Cora Staunton turned on the
style. Within seven minutes of the restart she
had 1-2 and Cork began to tire. However with over
a quarter remaining Deirdre O’ Reilly received
the ball on the wing from captain Juliet Murphy
and surged through to awe the crowd with a cracking
goal. Mayo began to make a comeback with points
from Staunton and Ciara McDermott and with five
minutes remaining Christina Heffernan levelled
the sides with a goal. The tension was palpable
but substitute Valerie Mulcahy composed herself
to fire over the winning point. Staunton had one
last chance to make it a draw but Cork held out
for what was a historical win. They now play Roscommon
on March 27 in the quarter finals.

Scorers for Cork: G O’Flynn 0-5 (0-4 frees),
D O’Reilly 1-2, A O’Connor 1-2 and V Mulcahy 0-1.

Scorers for Mayo: C Staunton 1-8, C Heffernan
1-0, C McDermott 0-1.
CORK: E Harte, N Keohane, A Walsh, L Power,
B Stack, C Walsh, S O’Reilly, J Murphy, N Kelly,
D O’Reilly, R Curtain, A Murphy, A O’Connor, C
Creedon, G O’Flynn.
Subs: E O’Riordan for N Keohane (43) and
V Mulcahy for R Curtain (51).

CORK B 2-10 SLIGO 1-4

Cork proved the punters wrong with a mouth watering
win over All-Ireland junior finalists Sligo, in
Crusheen yesterday. The Rebels immediately took
the game to their opponents and with scores from
Annie Walsh and Clodagh O’Driscoll found themselves
leading at the half 1-8 0-3. Sligo awoke in the
second realising what was at stake putting the
Cork defence under huge pressure. However Blathnaid
Wiseman and Siobhán Buckley were on fire in the
backline, in what was a superb team performance.
Upfront Joanne Hennessy led by example notching
1-2 while Eleanor Twohig was back to her best
with a cracking goal 10minutes remaining. “We
took the game to them from the very start”, said
captain Annie Walsh. “That was something we lacked
in other games but everyone put in a 100% and
we supported each other throughout. Hopefully
we’ll give that type of performance against Limerick
on the 27 March in the playoffs”. And if Cork
play the way they did anything’s possible.

Scorers for Cork: J Hennessy 1-2, C O’
Driscoll 0-3 (0-2f), A Walsh 0-2 (0-1f), E Twohig
1-0, T Lucey 0-2 and S Power 0-1.
CORK: M O’Sullivan, B Forde, S Buckley,
V Power, A Walsh, R Cogan, B Wiseman, E Cotter,
A Walsh, (C), E Twohig, S Power, T Galvin, J Hennessy,
C O’Driscoll, T Lucey.
Subs: J McCarthy for V Power (23 inj) and
C Hanley for B Wiseman (53 inj).

Mary White (PRO, Cork Ladies Football)