O’Sullivans send Cork into ‘battle of champions’ in fine fettle

CORK manager Ephie Fitzgerald says his Division 1 title holders are relishing the prospect of locking horns with Dublin at Croke Park next Saturday.

The ‘battle of the champions’ will be televised live by eir sport, and both counties are carrying 100pc records.

Cork put Monaghan to the sword yesterday while Dublin earned a hard-fought victory over Westmeath in Mullingar.

Eimear Scally was one of four Rebel forwards to rattle the net, her cheeky chip a highlight.

Doireann O’Sullivan set the tone with a second-minute goal before her sister Ciara and Bríd O’Sullivan bagged two more. Orla Finn hit eight points as Cork ran out 4-14 to 1-7 winners.

Elsewhere in Division 1, there were victories for Dublin and Kerry, while Donegal and Galway shared the spoils.

Sinead Aherne accounted for 1-6 and Carla Rowe bagged the other goal as Dublin won on the road but they were made work for it all the way by a brave Westmeath outfit, before winning 2-10 to 2-5.

Yvonne Bonner was Donegal’s late heroine as she nailed a last-gasp 40-metre free to salvage a 1-13 to 0-16 draw against Galway.

Kerry led from start to finish in Brosna as they beat Mayo 2-14 to 2-6. Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh was among those to catch the eye as she hit 1-5.

All-Ireland intermediate champions and Division 3 title holders Tipperary’s rise through the higher flight continued on Saturday as they made it two wins from two with a 5-14 to 1-5 drubbing of Laois.