16 August 2004 The long wait is over as Cork take Munster Senior Title Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! The long wait is over as Cork take TG4 Munster title. Cork 4-13 Kerry 1-9 by Fr. Liam Kelleher Salute the heroines of 2004 these are the girls that finally did it for Cork, incredibly their first Munster senior title since the formation of Cumann Peil na Mban going back all of 30 years. In fact the closest Cork came to victory was 2 years ago when they fell to the Deise girls by 4 points. Thirty years is a long time waiting and when it comes it gives great joy . They say the first one is the most difficult and indeed Cork did it the hard way losing to Kerry in the first round by 6 points then defeating Clare and Waterford, but a team that believed in themselves took the field at Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday and they swept Kerry away in a red tidal wave, particularly in the 2nd half. Amanda Murphy – Click on image to enlarge Kerry after defeating Cork in the league and in the first round of the championship went into this TG4 final game as clear favorites and like last when they upset the applecart and defeated hot favorites they were at the receiving end of Corks hunger. Cork can go on from here and achieve great things and after Sundays awesome display it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that they can go all the way this year. The draw pitted them against Mayo in the quarter final and Mayo have won 4 of the last 5 titles at national level. Julie Murphy Capt receives Cup from Michael Ryan – Click to enlarge Cork have also a score to settle with them having lost to them in the league and in the league final itself. But this Cork team have come on leaps and bounds since the beginning of the year. They have been growing in stature and the victory over 10 times champions Waterford in the Semi final gave them the confidence to go on. Forced to start without Catriona Foley injured playing for Cork in Camogie on Saturday, the selectors dilemma was solved , Aisling O’Connor who scored 2 late points against Waterford was retained and Amada Murphy reverted gain to defense. Regina Curtin picked at full forward was given a roving role and played it to perfection while Geraldine O’Flynn moved back to the halfline and it was the trump card Cork used to good effect when they had Kerry in all sorts of trouble when they were going forward. The Cork Senior team – Click on picture to enlarge Cork carried the game to Kerry form the outset an had their opening 2 points from frees form Geraldine O’Flynn Kerry fought back and when points from Sarah O’Connor and Geraldine O’Shea and a peach of a goal from Kacy O’Driscoll gave Kerry the initiative. And they led on a scoreline of 1-3 to 0-2 after 15 minutes. Then in a purple patch before the break Cork roared into life and points by Valerie Mulcahy and Nollaig Cleary in the 18th and 19th minutes were followed by a cracking goal by Mary O’Connor in the 20th minute Kerry responded with a point from Geraldine O’Shea, Geraldine Flynn leveled matters up again on the 29th minute and just as the clock was running down the last seconds of an exciting opening half Cork struck for the all important goal with Aishling O’Connor at the end of sweeping move to finish to the net. Cork went to the haven of the dressing room on a high. Despite an early Sarah O’Connor point, Cork noted for their 2nd half performances roared back into life Valerie Mulcahy set the ball rolling with a point, points followed from Mary and Aisling O’Connor. The Geraldine O’Flynn later named played of the match scored a spectacular point from all of 45 meters on the run and Cork never looked back. The decisive goal game on the 2oth minute from Valerie Mulcahy and it was exhibition stuff after that. Geraldine rounded off a historic day with a brilliant goal and Cork were home and dry. There were scenes of jubilation as excellent referee Derek Byrne from Limerick blew the final whistle. All Cork players played their part. Elaine Harte was solid in goals the full line of Brid Stack, Niamh Keohane and Laura Power gave the much vaunted Kerry inside trio of All Stars Geraldine O’Shea and Kacy O’ Driscoll and Patrice Dennehy a torrid time and broke up many an attack. The four person half back line of Angela Walsh, Amanda Murphy, Briege Corkery and Geraldine O’Flynn did a magnificent job all through. Capt Juliet Murphy and Rena Buckley got the better of the midfield exchanges and the eager beaver forwards did the rest. Full marks to Eamonn Ryan who came in this year as Coach for getting the mix right, blending the young with the experienced to cement a winning combination. There were further scenes of Jubilation when Muster Vice President Michael Ryan the Waterford supreme who was on the sideline for the last 17 Munster senior finals , presented the cup to Juliet Murphy. Cork scorers: Geraldine O’Flynn 1-5 Valerie Mulcahy 1-3 Aisling O’Connor 1-1 Mary O’Connor 1-1 Nollaig Cleary 0-1 Breige Corkery 0-1 Juliet Murphy 0-1 Cork: Elaine Harte, Niamh Keohane, Brid Stack, Laura Power, Briege Corkery, Angela Walsh, Catriona Foley, Juliette Murphy, Rena Buckley, Nollaig Cleary, Valerie Mulcahy, Geraldine O’Flynn, Mary O’Connor, Regina Curtin, Amanda Murphy. Claire O’Donoghue, Ashling O’Connor, Norita Kelly, Sinead O’Reilly, Mairead Kelly, Hanora Kelleher, Karen O’Sulllivan, Deirdre O’Sullivan, Ciara Walsh. Kerry: Andrea O’Donoghue, Jenny Johnson, Grainne Ni Fhlatharta, Jackie Murnane, Siobhan O’Connor, Katie Gleeson, Neasa Ni Shuileabhain, Caroline Kelly, Edel O’ Connell, Shari Delaney, Sarah O’Connor, Katie Kennelly, Patrice Dennehy, Geraldine O’Shea, Kacey O’Driscoll. Ciara O’Connor, Deirdre Corridon, Catherine Sexton, , Noreen Feeley, Riona Ni Chinneide, Mary Kelly, Jennifer Healy, Jacinta Murphy, Mairead Finnegan, Bernie Cronin, Amanda Brosnan, Grainne O’Malley, Emer Knightly, Sarah Jane Joy. Share this Article 0 0