Munster Senior Ladies Football Championship Final 2010

Cork got the start that Clare had wished for and when referee Sean Joy awarded a dubious penalty in the opening minute, four time All Star winner Valerie Mulcahy tapped home Cork’s opening score, her first of four goals, from a rebound following Emma O’Driscolls block. She followed up with a pointed 21m free in the fourth after Lorraine Kelly had collected a short O’Driscoll kick out inside her own 21.

Eimear Considine who started at corner forward had Clare’s opening score from play and Niamh O’Dea in her first championship season at senior level kicked a fine point from a free before Cork centre forward Ciara O’Sullivan pointed at ease having soloed through the Clare defence. Dual star Mary O’Connor pointed from play before player of the match Mulcahy shot low to the net for her second goal with under nine minutes played. O’Dea who was always dangerous at full forward kicked her second pointed free following a foul on Aine Kelly to leave Cork ahead 2-3 to 0-3.

A worrying factor from a Clare point of view was their inability to win or break ball at midfield or in their own half back line and as a result the Clare full back line were under constant pressure. When Clare did manage to get the ball up to their forwards they caused plenty of problems for the Cork defence with the full forward line of Aine Kelly, Niamh O’Dea in particular and Eimear Considine playing well.

Cork stretched their lead when Nollaig Cleary was on hand to palm home Cork’s third goal following a mix up in the Clare defence. By the eighteenth Cork had added further points from Cleary and a Juliet Murphy free while wedged in between was a Niamh O’Dea pointed free for Clare following another foul on Aine Kelly, Further points from a Valerie Mulcahy free and from corner forward Mary O’Connor saw Cork move twelve points clear with over 10 minutes still to play in the opening half.

A good Clare move was very well finished to the net by Aine Kelly and sixteen year old Niamh O’Dea added a point from play. Mulcahy pointed again while Aine Kelly replied for the Banner county before disaster struck for Clare when a poor hand pass from Marie Considine was intercepted and ended up with a third Mulcahy goal. Shortly before half time a close in free was quickly taken by Mulcahy and her effort from the ground went all the way across from the right hand side to the top left corner of the Clare net. When the half time whistle sounded the 5 in a row All Ireland champions led 5-8 to 1-6.

One wondered what could the Clare management say or do to lift their charges for the second half against such an experienced team that were so much in contol. When the second half commenced Marie Considine was at mid field with Louise Henchy at centre forward. Niamh Keane and Eimear Considine on the wings while Sinead Eustace went to full back in a direct swap with Lorraine Kelly. In fairness to Clare they knuckled down and a pointed free from Niamh O’Dea in the fourth followed by an excellently taken penalty from Louise Henchy gave them a little hope before Sarah Hoey came in to the team for Lorraine Kelly with nine minutes played.

Prior to this Cork centre forward Ciara O’Sullivan was fortunate to receive just a yellow card (sin bin) following her foul on Louise Henchy while Henchy was on the ground. Clare began to win ball around midfield with Marie Considine and Fiona Lafferty now doing much better in this sector. Clare had further points from Lafferty and Niamh Keane while Eimear Considine was unlucky to have her well worked attempt at goal excellantly smothered by Elaine Harte in the Cork goals a score which Clare badly needed. Sinead Eustace was also having a good game on Mulcahy. The rebelettes added five points during the half, two from half time substitute Annie Walsh, one from a Valerie Mulcahy free and one each from Laura MacMahon and Nolliag Cleary. Grace Lynch joined the fold in the 17th and did her best for Clare’s cause while the remainder of the match was stop-start with both sides introducing their full compliment of subs.

Overall it was another fine performance from Cork, a teams so used of playing together, a panel that has achieved so much success since 05 at senior level which includes 5 All Ireland’s, 4 Div 1 National Leagues, 4 Minor All Ireland’s since 03 and 5 U 16 All Ireland’s since 02 as well as six U 14s since 2000 (all at A level). It’s hard at this stage to see anyone stopping this Cork machine with the injured Amy O’Shea, outstanding full back Angela Walsh and possibly Briege Corkery yet to join the panel.

Clare can only learn from Saturdays match and now await the draw for the qualifiers in which they will play one of the winners of the the first round qualifiers.

Meanwhile Clare’s attention for next weekend turns to the County Minor side who will play Mayo on Saturday in the All Ireland A shield semi final at Mountbellew, Co. Galway at 3p.m.

Cork

Elaine Harte, Aisling Barrett, Rena Buckley capt., Linda Barrett, Geraldine O’Flynn, Brid Stack, Deirdre O’Reilly, Juliet Murphy 0-1f, Norita Kelly, Nollaig Cleary 1-2, Ciara O’Sullivan 0-1, Mairead Kelly, Mary O’Connor 0-2, Valerie Mulcahy 4-4, (1-3f) Rhona Buckley. Subs; Annie Walsh 0-2 for N. Kelly (half time), Laura MacMahon (0-1) for M. Kelly, Caoimhe Creedon for M. O’Connor (48), Anne Marie Walsh for B. Stack, Grace Kearney for R. Buckley.

Clare

Emma O’Driscoll (Banner Ladies), Sinead Eustace (Coolmeen) capt., Lorraine Kelly (Fergus Rovers), Laurie Ryan (Banner Ladies), Michelle Delaney (Banner Ladies), Sinead Kelly (West Clare Gaels), Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Fiona Lafferty (St. Josephs – Miltown) 0-1, Louise Henchy (Banner Ladies) 1-0 pen., Marie Considine (Liscannor), Niamh Keane (Banner Ladies) 0-1, Rachel Lenihan (Crusheen) Aine Kelly (Fergus Rovers) 1-1, Niamh O’Dea (Banner Ladies) 0-5 (0-3f), Eimear Considine (Kilmihil) 0-1

Subs: Sarah Hoey for L. Kelly (49), Grace Lynch (Coolmeen) for R. Lenihan (67), Carmel Considine (Liscannor) for L. Ryan (52), Ailish Considine (Kilmihil) for A. Kelly (57), Colette Corry (Shannon Gaels) for F. Lafferty (59)

Referee: Sean Joy (Kerry)