TITLE NEVILLE IN DOUBT FOR FINOLA & CO

INTERMEDIATE FINAL

1-13 0-9 CORK star Finola Neville was grinning from ear after finally claiming the Intermediate All-ireland crown having falling at the final hurdle twice, 12 months ago after a replay.

They made no mistake this time, Caitriona

Collins shooting 1-6 and minor star Saoirse Mccarthy four points from play against a Down side who were excellent in the first half but had fallen seven points in arrears when ace forward Sara-louise Carr was harshly sent off for a second yellow card in the 50th minute.

Cork were sharper for longer though and deserved the honours.

“Unbelievable” said Neville, who set up

Collins’ crucial 40th minute goal. “I was just saying to the girls, ‘Is this after happening? Is it real?’ We’ve been fighting for this, to get over the line and get up the steps of the Hogan Stand for so long and it’s just unbelievable. It’s a great feeling.”

“The hunger is there. We knew coming back each year, we were there or thereabouts. We were unlucky over the last few years but we knew we had the players.”

Down manager

Martina

Rooney was proud of her side but

Cork Down

unhappy with some of referee John Dermody’s calls.

“There are no words right now” said Rooney. “We were going well in fits and starts. We seemed to get things a lot tougher than the opposition. They were getting maybe frees a lot easier than we were.

“As for the sending off… It’ll be interesting to see that again. I don’t think either one of them were yellow cards not to mind the second one – I thought it was a free for us. A yellow card offence, most definitely not.

“We never gave up. I’m incredibly proud of the girls. I couldn’t ask any more of them. Not all fairytales have happy endings.”

Down began brilliantly with early points from Carr and Saoirse Sands, and the brilliant Niamh Mallon, but failed to score in the second quarter as Cork took control.