New-look Cork off to promising start
Cork 1-19 Waterford 0-12
A NEW look Cork emerged the more efficient side for the best of starts on overcoming Waterford in the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Division 1 camogie league at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
With an obvious eye on giving promising talent an opportunity to blossom, a number of new faces adjusted smartly to a new environment coupled with the return of former captain Aisling Thompson allowed the Rebels control the contest.
Very much an experimental Cork team on duty, long serving goalkeeper Aoife Murray is retired with Orla Cotter domiciled in the USA and Niamh McCarthy off the panel, the likes of Gemma O’Connor, Julia White, Briege Corkery and the Mackey sisters committed to another season didn’t feature on this occasion.
Fielding a side that had enjoyed success at underage and intermediate level, the vast experience of Thompson helped steady her colleagues in addition to sweeping up and distributing effectively.
Played on a perfect surface, the Dan Shanahan managed Waterford outfit opened in promising fashion, All Star Beth Carton delivering a pair of points. Indeed, the Decies went close to a goal, new Cork ‘keeper Amy Lee read the danger and came off her line to erase a potential situation with Orla Hickey bearing down on goal only to be denied.
That burst of opposing pressure presented Cork with an early test of their composure, and in fairness, the response was positive, Cork settled once Orla Cronin split the uprights on the double.
With each passing minute, Cork’s game grew in confidence, their hopes brightened from a massive point from distance by Thompson. The momentum was flowing very much Cork’s way’s now, terrific work from
Linda Collins placed
Saoirse McCarthy
for the game’s only goal.
Indeed, the Rebels might well had added a second, McCarthy attempted to return the provider only for Collins to be denied by a timely tackle. With the sides trading points, clearly Cork possessed a slicker and competent side, stellar performances delivered by Thompson, Cronin, Collins, Laura Hayes and team captain Amy O’Connor helped dominate the key departments.
Points from Cliona Healy, Cronin and Thompson stretched Cork’s grip though Waterford threatened, Niamh Rockett shooting narrowly wide to allow the home side hold a 1-10 to 0-8 advantage at the break.
The general standard of play dropped upon the restart and from a sluggish spell, points from Collins and Cronin were cancelled out by Waterford sharpshooter Carton. Again, the visitors created enough chances but they were betrayed by poor shooting with Caoimhe McGrath failing to find the target from close range with Thompson ideally placed to stop a Carton effort.
That lack of penetration and bite proved a major shortcoming and though at times, Cork were wasteful with possession, they offered the shrewder ball usuage, Chloe Sigerson on target from a long range free before additional scores from Cronin and skipper O’Connor put the icing on the cake for Cork to claim the points on offer.
CORK: A Lee (Na Piarsaigh); L O’Sullivan (Glen Rovers), L Treacy (Killeagh), N O’Callaghan (Sarsfields); H Looney (Killeagh), L Hayes (St Catherines), C Sigerson (Killeagh) 0-1f; L Coppinger (St Colums), A Thompson (Milford) 0-2; A O’Connor (St Vincents) 0-1, O Cronin (Enniskeane) 0-9(0-5f), S McCarthy (Courcey Rovers) 1-0; L Homan (St Vincents) 0-1, L Collins (Courcey Rovers) 0-2, C Healy (Aghabullogue) 0-2 Subs: A O’Neill (St Finbarrs) for L O’Sullivan, 50, E Murphy (Sarsfields) for C Healy, 50, C O’Sullivan (Newcestown) for L Hayes. 60, I O’Regan (Ballygarvan) for A Thompson, 60, H O’Leary (Ballincollig) for L Collins, 60
WATERFORD: B O’Regan; K McMahon, I Heffernan, C Whyte; S Harney, S Curran, L Bray; C McGrath, J McCarthy; C McGlone, F Morrissey, N Rockett 0-1; O Hickey, B Carton 0-10(0-6f, 0-2’45s), A Power Subs:
K Corbett Barry for K McMahon, 33, A Landers for F Morrissey, 40, C Griffin for J McCarthy, 48, C Murphy for O Hickey, 55
REFEREE: R Kelly (Kildare)