O’Sullivan finds range as Cork have final say

tHE majestic long-range shooting of doireann o’Sullivan – plus goals from orla Finn and sub Saoirse noonan – saw Cork back into the tg4 senior all-ireland final after a year’s absence, at the expense of donegal at dr Hyde Park.

a first-half goal from Finn put Cork in control, and despite a geraldine McLaughlin-inspired comeback, donegal could never get close enough to the Munster champions with former minor star noonan’s sixth goal of the championship off the bench wrapping up the win.

there was a couple of late changes from donegal manager Maxi Curran and he sprung Kate Keaney and olive McCafferty from the bench, handing the duo defensive roles in front of their full-back line.

What that meant was that donegal played with three forwards: Karen guthrie, Yvonne Bonner and geraldine McLaughlin, but the trio were often left isolated up front.

Faced with an ultra-defensive set-up, Cork full-back roisin Phelan and Emma Spillane spent a lot of the opening half on the front foot as they launched attack after attack for Ephie Fitzgerald’s side.

there was more intensity to donegal’s play after the break but a couple of frees from supersub noonan kept them two scores clear in the final quarter - and doireann o’Sullivan landed the insurance late on.