CORK EFFORT PLEASES FITZ

TG4 All- Ireland Football Championship

CORK manager Ephie Fitzgerald was thrilled to see his side’s battling qualities as they claimed the bragging rights against Munster rivals Kerry.

A draw against Cavan will be enough to send the Rebels into the semis as Group 1 winners after Saoirse Noonan’s ( above) early goal and a captain’s performance from Doireann O’sullivan gave them a 1- 14 to 0- 14 win.

Fitzgerald said: “What I was delighted about was the battling quality of the girls, even though the football wasn’t a fluent as we’d like it to be.”

RESULTS: Monaghan 0- 17 Tipperary 2- 10; Mayo 4- 17 Tyrone 0- 4; Cork 1- 14 Kerry 0- 14; Dublin 0- 17 Waterford 1- 10

points accumulated by Rebecca Hennelly from two converted sideline pucks in that second quarter were hugely significant.

“It’s a serious skill and from both sides of the field as well. They were four points we really needed. She’s able to take them. She scored a goal in the county final as well from a line ball.

“We needed to get to a semi- final. It would be a long journey down to Cork next Saturday evening if we lost today, only a six- day turnaround.

“So it was really important, to get straight through to the semi- final and avoid Kilkenny.

“Cork aren’t gone. We know

The second quarter- final will involve Waterford and Tipperary after Beth Carton scored 1- 14 in the Deise’s 2- 17 to 0- 10 victory over Westmeath at Cusack Park to secure runner- up spot in Group 2 behind Kilkenny, who accounted for Limerick by 2- 16 to 0- 8 at UPMC Nowlan Park.

Though Pamela Greville kept the hosts in contention in the third quarter, goals by Carton and Niamh Rockett settled the affair.

Second half goals from Aoife Doyle and Denise Gaule allowed Kilkenny to pull away from Limerick, who brought plenty of grit but could not match the Noresiders’ firepower.