Six in a row for Cork , but it was close. By fr Liam Kelleher.

Six
in a row for Cork , but it was close. By fr Liam Kelleher.

Cork 4-14 Kerry 6-4.

 

In the true tradition of Cork and Kerry football,
after a thrilling game eat Dr Crokes pitch in Killarney on Wednesday
evening last. Cork emerged victorious but only just, after a titanic
battle with their old rivals. A strong wind blew down the centre
of the pitch and Cork playing with it conceded an early goal they
fought back with points from Rhona Buckley and Claire Keohane. Then
the rebels were rocked back on their heels when Kerry full forward
Emma Counihan found the net twice in a short space of time.

Such was the threat of Counihan who scored 4 goals in all that the
Cork selectors had to take remedial action. Last years Capt. of
the All-Ireland winning under 16 team Vicki Power who was out for
most of the year with a serious knee injury and was pressed into
service. The Beara girl steadied the ship and in a 10 minute spell
Cork fought back with 2-4 without reply, Rhona Buckley top scorer
for Cork on the night added another goal b before the short whistle
and Cork led by 4-8 to 3-1 and the 10 point gap appeared to be a
good cushion facing into the wind.

Other ideas.

Kerry had other ideas far from throwing in the towel they signified
their intentions with a goal within a minute from Miss Counihan.
Kerry bombarded the Cork defence and only some tremendous defending
from Anita Enright later named player of the match and Vicki Power
and few fine saves from Niamh Walsh kept Kerry at bay. Further points
from Kerry punctuated by a point, from a free from Rhona Buckley
was followed by a goal for Kerry from a penalty from the boot of
Edel Murphy. That score

Reduced the deficit to just 2 points with 10 minutes to go and things
looked bleak fro the rebels. Some surging runs from Ciara O’Sullivan
and Ann O’Donovan, who both had terrific games, saw the pressure
relieved a but again Cork had to depend on Miss Buckley frees to
keep them in front. There were 8 agonising minutes of injury time
but Cork enjoyed a new lease of life and dominated that vital period,
Ann O’Donovan gave Cork the insurance point after seeing her goal
bound shot cannon off the crossbar, she reacted well to collect
the rebound and slot over. It was a relieved bunch of players and
mentors who rejoiced at the final whistle. Cork certainly knew they
had been in a game and after having convincing wins over Limerick
when the scored 7 goals in the first 8 minutes of the game and Tipperary,
this Kerry test will stand to them well, as they bid to retain their
title. With

The losing progressing this year. Kerry are far from finished and
no doubt could meet Cork again at a later stage and what a rematch
that would be.

Both sets of players must be complimented on the thrilling game
they served up with non-stop action and ref John Phillips contributed
to the non-stop action with his strong control of the game. Cork
drifted in and out of the game they were brilliant at times and
quite mediocre for periods. The forwards particularly Katie Sheehan
Claire Keohane and Grace Kearney did not

Get as much latitude as they did in previous games and the fluent
movement was stifled by an uncompromising Kerry defence. Kerry when
they appeared to have the game for the taking ran out of steam and
Cork dug really deep to salvage their crown. Again the fine size
crowd were treated to a feast of football. A delighted Capt. Sandra
Conroy collected the cup to a jubilant

Team 

Cork scorers Rhona Buckley 2-5 Claire Koehane 1-1 Merisaa
O’Callaghan, 0p-3 Grace Kearney 0-3 Caoimhe O’Callaghan 1-0 Katie
Sheehan 0–1 Ann O’Donovan 0-1 Kerry Emma Counihan 4-0 Aoife O’Sullivan
0-1 Edel Murphy 1-2 AnneMarie

Healy 1-0 Emma Galvin 0-1

Cork Niamh Walsh, Maureen O Sullivan, Eimear Harrington,
Anita Enright, Sinead O Callaghan, Sile Johnson, Sandra Conroy,
Ciara O Sullivan, Anne O Donovan, Grace Kearney, Katie Sheehan,
Marissa O Callaghan, Eleanor Aherne, Rhona Buckley, Claire Keohane.

Subs: Catriona Murphy, Sinead Carroll, Noirin O Brien,
Claire O Connor, Caroline O Connor, Karen Cotter, Ciara McGrath,
Donna Smyth, Aileen Kearns, Aoife Scally, Sandra Smiddy, Vicki
Power, Elizabeth Cohalan, Niamh O Keeffe, Julie McCarthy

Kerry Deirdre O Sullivan, Emma Galvin, Aoife Lyons, Thelma
O Sullivan, Edel O Carroll, Denise Hallisey, Sinead O Sullivan,
Liz Twomey, Aishling Leonard, Julieanne O Connell, Annmarie Healy,
Amy Foley, Edel Murphy, Eileen Counihan, Aoife O Sullivan

Subs:Danni O Brien, Mary Cronin, Marion O Keeffe, Caoimhe
Young, Fiona Sheehan, Sarah O Shea, Kerri Beckett, Maura Curran,
Louise Ni Muirreartaigh, Karyn Sheehan, Caoimhe Young