By Anthony Newman
Cork 5-18
Kerry 1-5
Cork won the Munster Ladies Football Minor A championship following their win over Kerry at Mallow on Saturday.
At half time the sides were level and it looked like being a close affair. But Cork took over in the second half and were far too strong for the defending champions.
In that half they outscored Kerry to 4-13 to no score, thanks to some superb forward play, but also an outstanding defensive effort as well.
Both teams had some top-class displays, with Allie Tobin and Rachel Breen marshalling Cork’s defence and up front Laura Walsh, Kate Carey and Eabha O’Donovan were outstanding.
Cork took the lead in the second minute when Carey pointed, after some good work from Ava McAuliffe.
Muireann Teahan had Kerry back on level terms when she scored from a free after seven minutes, as the game took time to settle.
Cork had a number of chances to add to their tally but great tackles from Seodhla Colleran and Mikala Mulvihill denied them scores.
With 11 minutes gone they were in front when Walsh scored with Carey adding another, to make it 0-3 to 0-1.
A free from Walsh increased Cork’s lead, before the same player got the game’s opening goal.
O’Donovan and Carey combined to put her through, to see Cork lead by 1-5 to 0-1 after 15 minutes.
Teahan got her, and Kerry’s second point a minute later, but Cork were dominating at this stage.
Kerry were back in contention after 22 minutes when a mistake by the Cork defence let Teahan in to find the back of the net.
She added a point from a free following the restart to make it 1-5 to 1-3, after 24 minutes.
Lori O’Connor put a point between the sides and in the 30th minute Priya O’Donovan scored to make it 1-5 apiece.
Cork had the last chance of the half as a free from Walsh dropped short but Kerry’s keeper, Anne O’Shaughnessy was awake to the danger and cleared to see it level at the break.
Two minutes into the second half and Cork were back in front when O’Donovan scored. A minute later and Cork had their second goal as they latched on to a loose Kerry pass to see Walsh make it 2-6 to 1-5.
Walsh added a point from the restart as Cork started the better of the two sides after the break.
Kerry were dealt another blow in the 37th minute when Mary Kate Smith was sin-binned for a high tackle on Orlaith Drummey.
Cork made them pay with Rachel Breen breaking down the pitch to set up O’Donovan for their third goal with Walsh adding a point from a free.
O’Donovan added another point, before Carey burst past several defenders to score Cork’s fourth goal with 45 minutes gone.
O’Donovan added two points as Cork by now had scored 2-5 with Smith off the pitch.
Two from Walsh pushed Cork further ahead and by the time we reached the 55th minute they were 4-17 to 1-5 in front.
They added another goal through Ella Burns to run out deserving winners on the day and win the title back from the Kingdom.
Scorers for Cork: L Walsh 2-7 (3f), E O’Donovan 1-6, K Carey 1-3, E Burns 1-0, S O’Connor, A Leahy 0-1 each.
Kerry: M Teahan 1-3 (2f), L O’Connor, P O’Donovan 0-1 each.
CORK: A Toye; O Drummey, A Tobin, A O’Sullivan; R Breen, M McRae, E Walsh; S Cunningham, J Foskin; S O’Connor, L Walsh, A McAuliffe; E O’Donovan, K Carey, A Leahy.
Subs: A Sheehan for A Leahy (41), M Barrett for A O’Sullivan (51), G Young for O Drummey (52), E Burns for S O’Connor (54), M O’Callaghan for R Breen (55).
KERRY: A O’Shaughnessy; S Colleran, M Mulvihill, R Daly; J Lee O’Connor, L O’Sullivan, S Randles; A O’Donoghue, L O’Connor; K Riordan M Teahan, P O’Donovan; L O’Connor, M K Smith, H Nic Gearailt.
Subs: R Cahill for S Colleran, D Healy for S Randles (both 45), S Palmer for P O’Donovan (47), S Harkin for R Daly (52), A McCarthy for H Nic Gearailt (53).
Referee: David Grogan, Tipperary.
