Munster Ladies Football Plate Final – Mourneabbey (Cork) 7-8 Southern Gaels (Kerry) 1-8

Munster Ladies Plate Final

Five Goal Doireann kills off Southern Challenge

Mourneabbey 7-8 Southern Gaels 1-8

The sheer individual class of Cork senior Doireann O’Sullivan with five goals was the difference as Southern Gaels learned a harsh lesson in the reality of Munster club football when they suffered their worst defeat ever in Munster competitions last Sunday.

The South Kerry girls went into the game as outsiders but with the loss of Inter County star Deirdre Corridan (travelling) and regular corner back Sinead Clifford( Injured), they were to have a mountain to climb. The game as a contest was as good as over by the 13th minute when Doireann O’Sullivan had hit her third goal and with another from Emma Coakley putting the Cork side 4-3 to no score in front.

Southern Gaels open their account on the 16th when Anna Galvin pointed a 30 Metre free and Lisa O’Sullivan added another shortly after. However, this good work was washed away quickly as Mourneabbey hit them for two further goals prior to the break including a penalty, which cost the Kerry side a yellow card as they; day was going from bad to worse. Mourneabbey lead 6-4 to 0-2 at the break.

Southern Gaels did salvage some pride in the second half as Linda Cronin had a brace of good early points as they managed to steadily build the score board and despite being hit for O’Sullivans fifth goal in the 33rd minute they continued to attack at every opportunity. Lisa O’Sullivan was certainly showing the way in the full forward line and was always a real threat. Linda Cronin, Caroline Kelly and Anna Galvin were more prominent in the second half and while Lisa O’Sullivan’s late goal was a consolation it was exceptionally well taken by the only shining light on an otherwise dark day for Southern Gaels.

Mourneabbey may have reduced the gears somewhat in the second half but the wonderful open play of their forwards was a joy to watch as the Cork side gained some consolation after a disappointing early exit in the Cork championship.

Southern Gaels: M Daly, F Keating, C O’Sullivan, O Donovan, C Quinlan, C Kelly, E Kissane, A Galvin 0-2(1F), M O’ Connell, S Fitzgerald, L Cronin 0-2, R Galvin, A Fitzgerald, J O’Connell, L O’Sullivan 1-4(1F)

Subs: E O’Driscoll for R Galvin (H/T), C O’Sullivan for F Keating (37M), S O’Shea for J O’Connell(49M) L Galvin for S Fitzgerald (53M)

Mournabbey: M O’Sullivan, A Walsh, C Stack, E Forde, Miriam O’Callaghan, Maire O’Callaghan, A O’ Sullivan, C O’Sullivan, E Meaney, R O’Sullivan, B O’Sullivan, E Coakley 1-1, L Fitzgerald 1-5 (2F), D O’Sullivan 5-1, N O’Sullivan. Subs L Crowley 0-1 for Miriam O’Callaghan(H/T), R Harrington for A Walsh (45M) J Forde for D O’Sullivan (48M)

Referee K Martin (Waterford)