Cork 2-8

Galway 0-9

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

‘WE’RE back!’ shouted the celebrating Cork footballers when posing with the Division 1 trophy after winning a dramatic Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 final.

The resilient Rebels came from six points down to defeat Galway at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Saturday.

A first national league title since 2019 was just reward for Joe Carroll’s side who never gave up and finished strongly to claim the trophy.

But it was Galway who looked destined for victory for long stretches of this closely-fought Division 1 final. A Cork team guilty of kicking ten wides were in trouble until a fourth quarter surge delivered two goals – one an own goal – and finally got over the line.

Cork's Katie Quirke holds off Galwayy's Brónagh Quinn. (Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile)

‘Ah sure look, we are back for this evening anyway!’ quipped Cork senior manager Joe Carroll to The Southern Star.

‘I’m sure that Tipperary, Kerry and Waterford won’t be long trying to knock us off our perch in the Munster championship.

‘Look, it’s great to get a trophy because for these players in particular it was important for a lot of them. They’re very young and it gives them a bit of relief.

‘We didn’t play that particularly well, especially in the first half, when we were playing against the breeze. We were trying to run the ball a lot. Whereas the second half, it opened up a bit and it suited us and we were able to kick the ball a little bit more and that helped.’

The winners had heroes all over the pitch, not least player of the match Melissa Duggan. The Dohenys dynamo, Dara Kiniry and Shauna Kelly gave nothing away in Cork’s full-back line. The Rebels’ half-back line was equally impressive with Aimee Corcoran prominent throughout.

Up front, despite kicking five wides, Katie Quirke finished with 1-3 while Beara’s Áine Terry O’Sullivan rolled back the years with a terrific performance and two crucial scores.

Abbie O'Mahony, Grace Murphy and Caoimhe Moore celebrate Cork's win. (Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile)

Ahead of throw-in, the fact Cork and Galway gained promotion from Division 2 only to contest a league final for a second consecutive year spoke volumes about the combined talent on display.

A strong wind was a factor in both halves. Galway made better use of the elements in the opening 30 minutes and led 0-7 to 0-2 at the interval.

Dominating possession and territory, Galway stifled Cork’s efforts to break from defence. The Divilly sisters, Siobhán, Olivia and Niamh (two), along with Eva Noone and Kate Slevin (two) scored for the Connacht side. Emma Cleary and Aimee Corcoran were Cork’s only scorers in a difficult first half.

Eva Noone extended the leaders’ advantage immediately after the restart.

Cork improved as the half progressed however, Katie Quirke finally getting off the mark and Aoife Healy adding another point to make 0-8 to 0-4 with quarter of an hour remaining.

Next, Leah O’Halloran denied Rachel O’Regan a certain goal. Cork kept pressing and a Quirke free left just a goal between the teams. Remaining patient, Galway worked the ball to Nicola Ward who scored to make it 0-9 to 0-5.

Cork captain Emma Cleary lifts the cup. (Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile)

Áine Terry O’Sullivan’s scored a superb point before Cork stunned their opponents. Pouncing on a Galway defensive mistake, Katie Quirke’s well-finished goal levelled the game, 1-6 to 0-9, with five minutes to go.

Three minutes later, Cork took the lead for the first time in unusual circumstances. O’Regan fisted the ball towards goal and had it gone straight to the net it would have been disallowed. But it was touched by Chellene Trill and as she was adjudged to have carried it over the line the goal was given.

Cork top scorer Quirke added a point before Áine Terry O’Sullivan rifled over the match-clinching score.

So, where do Cork go from here? This year’s Munster LGFA Championship will be a battle from start to finish. But with a national league trophy secured, this squad of players has every right to look forward to the summer with fresh optimism.

OUR STAR: Dohenys’ Melissa Duggan was superb for Cork throughout, forced several turnovers and cleared a certain Galway goal off her goal-line.

Scorers

Cork: K Quirke 1-3 (1f); C Trill 1-0 (own goal); Á T O’Sullivan 0-2; E Cleary, A Corcoran, A Healy 0-1 each.

Galway: E Noone, N Divilly, K Slevin 0-2 each; S Divilly, O Divilly, N Ward 0-1 each.

Cork: C Richmond (Glanmire); M Duggan (Dohenys), D Kiniry (Lisgoold), S Kelly (Araglen Desmonds Buí); A Corcoran (Erin’s Own), S McGoldrick (Éire Óg), R Corkery (Naomh Abán); A Healy (Cloyne), A O’Mahony (Glanmire); R Leahy (Aghada), G Murphy (Naomh Abán), E Cleary (Éire Óg, captain); Á T O’Sullivan (Beara), K Quirke (Bride Rovers), L Hallihan (Bride Rovers).

Subs: M O’Callaghan (Mourneabbey) for G Murphy (ht), R O’Regan (Carrigaline) for L Hallihan (37), A Ring (Aghada) for E Cleary (54).

Galway: L O’Halloran; R Quinn, S Ní Loingsigh, K Geraghty (captain); H Noone, N Ward, B Quinn; N Divilly, S Divilly; O Divilly, K Slevin, L Noone; E Noone, L Coen, A Trill.

Subs: L Ward for L Noone (42), C Trill for B Quinn (50), A Ní Ruairc for K Geraghty (51), R Leonard for E Noone (54).

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).