Finn fires ladies to confidence boosting win over the Sky Blues
At this time of the season, the pitch is sticky and our forward line prefer the top of the ground yet we dug out the win,” he said.
“Short nine of the All Ireland team, not many counties could compete with Dublin at that level and its pleasing to see talent coming through. The trip to Armagh was long, early start, Armagh well up for the contest, twelve girls behind the ball that we found difficult to cope and break down though we tried to the end to claim a return from that game,” said Fitzgerald.
Dublin came with a mission and enjoyed the best of starts and the fillip boost of a goal netted by Lyndsey Davey. With both defences on top, scores became a scarce commodity, Cork relying heavily on Finn from frees culminating on an opportunist goal, the flight of the ball from the 40mtr free deceived the Dublin defence for Cork enjoy a 1-5 to 1-4 advantage at the break.
Apart from conceding a goal to Davies, the Cork defence was especially imposing, so much so that the Dublin attack could never figure how to disrupt them. All Star Marie Ambrose led the resistance and with the support of Roisín Phelan, Eimear Meaney, Melissa Duggan and Shauna Kelly, Cork defended with great discipline.
The arrival of Doireann O’Sullivan added an impact to the Cork attack for the second half. For long stages, it remained nip and tuck, a Ciara O’Sullivan point offset by Dubs Sarah McCaffrey.
The consistent Finn remained ever so accurate to punish indiscretions yet the visitors might had goaled, Denise McKenna’s effort brilliantly diverted over the crossbar by Cork custodian Martina O’Brien.
In general play, Cork held momentum, the experience of Doireann O’Sullivan troubled Dublin, her two points matched by Finn from frees. Dublin searched for a possible reprieve, Olivia Leonard should have done better on an effort that went outside the post.
At the opposite end, Cork might well had risen a green flag only for Dublin ‘keeper Emer Ní Eafa to smother a close range effort. Indeed the game remained up for balance after Carla Rowe’s pointed free left just three between the pair.
And with six minutes of injury time, the Cork defence operated a barrier to thwart a Dublin seeking goal. Indeed the initiative veered towards Cork, the issue put beyond doubt after Dublin’s Ní Eafa conceded a penalty to Grace Kearney that allowed Niamh Cotter expertly dispatched away with aplomb.