Mixed Fortunes for Cork Teams in Suzuki Ladies NFL

 

Mixed
fortunes for Cork teams in Suzuki Ladies
National Football league

 


CORK 2-18 MONAGHAN 2-3
Once again Cork produced a dazzling display of
team football on Saturday when they overcame Monaghan
in Mountmellick. And once again they had an impressive
tally of 10 players on the score sheet. The Rebels
started the better as Monaghan struggled to come
to terms with the pace of the game and a free
from Valerie Mulcahy minutes from the throw-in
got proceedings under way.

With Laura Power out due to illness, management
had no choice but to juggle the defence and did
so extremely well – All-Star nominee Angela Walsh
moved full back and her sister Ciara slotted in
exceptionally well. Points from Geraldine O’Flynn
and Ashling O’Connor chipped away at the Monaghan
defence and on the 15minute Beara’s Amanda Murphy
finished off an excellent passage of support play,
striking the ball cleanly to the back of the net.
Cork continued to dominate and Briege Corkery
characteristically chased, harassed and side stepped
her opponents, who were relying heavily on Niamh
Kindlon upfront. The forwards capitalised on easy
frees through free taker Valerie Mulcahy and further
points from Amanda Murphy and Caoimhe Creedon
ensured Cork were leading at the half 1-9 0-3.

There wasn’t much Cork could have improved on
but the visitors launched straight into attack
on the 33rd minute with a sublime goal from Mulcahy.
Having received the ball close to the corner she
rounded the Monaghan full back and sweetly lobbed
the ball over the keepers head to the rapturous
cheers of the travelling supporters. Despite suffering
a devastating blow Monaghan continued to attack
with Ciara Mulligan to the fore. Their efforts
were soon rewarded with two goals however Cork
didn’t cease their scoring streak. Sinead O’Reilly,
Juliet Murphy and Caoimhe Creedon made sure the
scoreboard attendant wasn’t cold and the half
back line of Corkery, Walsh and O’ Flynn were
awesome in all efforts. With 10 minutes remaining
Cork put the final nail in the coffin when Dromtariffe’s
Geraldine O’ Flynn executed a magnificent point
from the 40 yard line. With so many players impressing
it will be extremely difficult to pick a side
ahead of next week’s fixture at home with the
Brendan Martin Cup holders Galway. Having defeated
Kerry and Kildare in the previous rounds of the
Suzuki National, the Rebels will be relieved to
know they’ve already qualified for the Division
1 quarter finals on March 27.

Scorers for Cork: V Mulcahy 1-6 (0-3f),
A Murphy 1-2, G O’Flynn and A O’Connor and C Creedon
0-2each, S O’Reilly, J Murphy, M Kelly and E O’Riordan
0-1 each.
CORK: E Harte, E O’ Riordan, A Walsh, B
Stack, C Walsh, G O’ Flynn, N Kelly, J Murphy,
S O’ Reilly, A O’ Connor, D O’ Reilly, V Mulcahy,
C Creedon, A Murphy.
Subs: C O’Donoughue for E Harte (HT), M
Kelly for V Mulcahy (42), N Kelly for D O’Reilly
(45), S O’Callaghan for A O’Connor (36 inj).

MONAGHAN:
K Quigley, D Toal, M Crearkin, C
O’Reilly, U McNally, C McGuiness, J Courtney,
C Brady, C Mulligan, T McNally, K McMann, A Smith,
D Dempsey, J Greenan, B McAnespie.

CORK B 1-8 CAVAN 1-12

Ulster Young Player of the Year Emma Clarke stole
the show on Sunday with a tally of 1-8 in the
Suzuki National League clash between Cork and
Cavan. The distance travelled to Kilcavan undoubtedly
had a bearing on Corks first half performance
as they struggled to settle. They did open the
scoring with a Triona Lucey point but soon afterwards
Cavans Emma Clarke began to cause trouble at corner
forward. Playing against a bitter wind didn’t
help Corks cause but Niamh Hickey and Clodagh
O’Driscoll both managed to point. Defensively
Mairead O’Sullivan stood out between the posts
as did Vicki Power in the full back line. Cavan
added a point just before the break and at the
half way mark led 0-10 0-5. It was certainly a
game of two halves and the Rebels came out all
guns blazing in the second upping the tempo and
delivering fast ball. Slowly but surely Cork were
creeping back into the game with further points
from Hickey and midfielder Elaine Cotter. The
persistence paid off and mid way through the third
quarter half back Blathnaid Wiseman cut through
the water tight Cavan defence and smashed home
an exceptional goal.

They now trailed by a point with four minutes
remaining however the next Cavan attack produced
an exceptional goal by top scorer Emma Clarke
before the final whistle blew and Cork were denied
what would have been their second win of the season.
Round 4 sees them play Limerick next weekend at
home.

Scorers for Cork: N Hickey 0-3, C O’Sullivan
0-2, B Wiseman 1-0, E Cotter, T Lucey, C O’Driscoll
0-1each. CORK: M O’Sullivan, J Hennessy, S Buckley,
V Power, B Wiseman, R Cogan, C O’Sullivan, A Walsh,
E Cotter, T Lucey, AM Walsh, E Harrington, N Hickey,
C O’Driscoll, E Twohig.
Subs: L Moynihan for E Twohig, O Murphy
for M O’Sullivan and E O’Connell for E Harrington
(HT), J Lynam for C O’Driscoll (46) and J McCarthy
for J Lynam (55).
CAVAN: A Duff, C Reilly, L Hanratty, A
Hanratty, S O’Keeffe, J McNally, V Crowe, V Sheridan,
E Reilly, S Cassidy, A Doonan, E Calligan, E Clarke,
D Crowe, C Farrell.

Mary White (PRO, Cork Ladies Football)

 

 

 

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