Fitzgerald hails ‘clinical’ Rebelettes after Galway rout

CORK manager Ephie Fitzgerald hailed a “clinical” and “magnificent” attacking display as the TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football champions demolished Galway by 24 points in Saturday’s last-eight encounter at TEG Cusack Park in Mullingar.

The Rebelettes lost to Waterford and Kerry in Munster, and did just about enough to get past Monaghan in the qualifiers, but they opened up with a devastating display to dispatch Connacht champions Galway.

Even without injured 2016 Player of the Year Bríd Stack, Cork produced arguably their best display under Fitzgerald to set up a semi-final with Mayo on September 2.

Galway were buried under a six-goal avalanche and while Cork may have been written off after those provincial defeats and left the threat of relegation hanging over them, reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Fitzgerald purred: “We were very clinical today and I think our forward play was magnificent at times. Obviously, the game was over at half-time — 12 points up with a gale-force wind.

“The only worry was that we might slacken off a little bit and let them back into it, but we didn’t.”

When asked if that display was the best he’s seen from his players during his reign, Fitzgerald responded: “It’s hard to say. In terms of scoring, probably yes. But it’s in their locker. That forward line, it’s probably the first time they’ve played together all year.”

Bríd O’Sullivan came off the bench to decorate a phenomenal Cork display with a 2-1 haul.

But the damage was done in a spell before and after half-time that saw Cork register 3-11 without reply — 2-9 of that approaching the interval.

Cork were 1-1 to 0-7 adrift before they opened up with both barrels to crush the challenge of Galway.

Cork had roared into an early 1-1 to 0-1 lead, Aine O’Sullivan on target with the early goal, but Galway responded well and landed six points without reply.

Galway lost key midfielder Catriona Cormican to injury and the f loodgates opened.

Midfielder Niamh Cotter and Eimear Scally raised green f lags before half-time before Doireann O’Sullivan lobbed Galway goalkeeper Dearbhla Gower, to punish a misdirected kick-out early in the second half.

Deirdre Brennan registered a consolation goal for Galway in the 41st minute, but O’Sullivan netted twice before the finish to add further gloss to the scoreboard.

Galway suffered another huge blow with nine minutes left, when captain Emer Flaherty was yellow-carded — and the outclassed Tribeswomen would finish the game with 14 players.

Fitzgerald added: “I suppose the pressure was off us today in the sense that, with the Monaghan game, we had this relegation thing hanging over us.

“We’re very proud, we didn’t want to be involved in any relegation battles or anything like that, so that was probably more pressure on us. Today they were able to express themselves a bit more.”

That they did – the quest for seven-in-a-row remains on track.