Cork retain league crown at Dubs expense
were pushing on when Davey and Sinead Ahern had pushed them out to a 2-3 to 1-2 lead by the 32nd minute, but then the turning point surely. Ryan introduced Deirdre O'Reilly into the half-back line and almost immediately, Cork began to take control.
With Roisin Phelan and Rena Buckley beginning to make surging runs Cork would re discover themselves and they kicked the next six points unanswered. They would hold Dublin scoreless for 22 minutes and despite not threatening for a goal, they were content to hold possession and wait for their chances. Mulcahy would add three pointed frees with O'Reilly, Doireann O'Sullivan and Geraldine O'Flynn and getting on the score sheet.
Dublin were still creating chances but they hit six wides in the second period as the Cork rear-guard put them under severe pressure. In the end veterans Ahern and O'Flynn swapped points as Cork held on for another memorable win.
The Rebels have certainly put down a marker in the post Juliet Murphy era that they still are very much the kingpins of the game and while, Monaghan, Dublin and Kerry have certainly closed the gap, Cork still remain the front runners. Thoughts now turn to regaining their Munster title that they lost to Kerry last season and they will open their campaign at home to Kerry on June 28. CORK: M O'Brien, R Phelan, Angela Walsh, B Stack, V Foley, Ann Marie Walsh, G O'Flynn (0-2, 1f), R Buckley, B Corkery, Annie Walsh, C O'Sullivan, O Farmer (10), E Farmer, D O'Sullivan (0-01), V Mulcahy (0-5, 4f) Subs: D O'Reilly (0-01) for Ann Marie Walsh (36), O Finn for O Farmer (40), E Scally for Annie Walsh (40), G Kearney for E Farmer (51), N Kelly for Foley (54) DUBLIN: C O'Connor, S McGrath, S Furlong, R Ruddy; S Goldrick, S Finnegan, C Rowe; D Masterson, S McCaffrey; S Woods, N McEvoy, N Healy, L Davey (0-02), S Aherne (002, 2f), L Peat (2-0) Subs: D Murphy for Woods (45), N Hyland for McEvoy (48), O Leonard for Masterson (55) REFEREE: J Niland (Sligo) IT may just be a routine thing for Liscarroll's Geraldine O'Flynn at this stage but another last minute point to ensure victory is becoming something of a habit.
“You don't really think about those things but you would have to feel for Dublin a little,” she said.
“They have some wonderful young talent coming through and along with some older players they are a great team and we knew we had to give it everything to win today and we are lucky that we did that. It's something that we have being doing all season and hopefully we can continue that now for the rest of it.”
For St Val's player Breige Corkery the victory was made even more special by accepting the cup on behalf of her teammates.
“It's an amazing honour to be captain,” she commented.
“I really cannot thank my club St. Val's enough for the honour by nominating me and it's made even more special by the great players we have in the team. It is a bonus but it is a real team ffort. I think we showed some great spirit today and the strength in depth was there to be seen with the five players that we brought on.”