Munster TG4 Ladies Senior Football Final – Cork 2-15 Kerry 0-11

Cork 2-15 Kerry 0-12

CORK made it eight Munster senior ladies football titles in a row as they saw off the challenge of Kerry in front of a crowd in excess of 1,200 at Dr Crokes GAA Grounds in Killarney on Saturday afternoon.

Never being forced to play to their optimum, Eamonn Ryan’s side did more than enough, the lack of a real cutting edge in attack hampering Kerry.

Despite playing against the wind in the first half and suffering the loss of Mairéad Kelly for 10 minutes to a yellow card, Cork were still well on top in the first half, which featured a long hold-up due to an injury suffered by Kerry’s Breda Lane.

While Kerry went ahead through a Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh free early on, they would only add two more, failing to score from play.

With Valerie Mulcahy excellent from frees and Annie Walsh and Juliet Murphy bossing midfield, Cork soon got on top and had moved 0-3 to 0-1 ahead by the time of Lane’s injury, which necessitated her removal from the field by ambulance.

When play restarted, the Rebels augmented their advantage as Mulcahy pointed another free before Annie Walsh sent a great pass into Rhona Ní Bhuachalla’s hands and she produced a fine finish.

By half-time it was 1-7 to 0-3, and within 40 seconds Mulcahy had added another goal, rounding off a good move involving Ní Bhuachalla and Cleary.

Kerry persisted with their tactic of bringing a player deep to provide extra coverage in the middle, but this only allowed Angela Walsh and Bríd Stack at the heart of the Cork defence to sweep with ease, despite Kerry subs Sarah Houlihan and Patrice Dennehy providing a bit more impetus for them.

Wing-back Áíne Sheehan was another who shone for Cork going forward, and they continued to open up the Kerry defence, only outstanding saves from netminder Edel Murphy keeping out efforts from Amy O’Shea, Ní Bhuachalla and Nollaig Cleary.

Cleary and Mulcahy both had good scores as the end neared, Houlihan’s frees keeping Kerry in touch but even when they did get behind the Cork defence, goalkeeper Elaine Harte couldn’t be beaten, ensuring Cork retained the title.

Scorers – Cork: V Mulcahy 1-7 (0-4f), R Ní Bhuachalla 1-2, J Murphy 0-2f, A O’Shea 0-2, N Cleary, O Farmer 0-1 each.

Kerry: L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-5f, S Houlihan 0-3f, L Galvin 0-2, P Dennehy, L Cronin 0-1 each.

CORK: E Harte; AM Walsh, Angela Walsh, D O’Reilly; A Sheehan, B Stack, G O’Flynn; Annie Walsh, J Murphy; N Cleary, M Kelly, G Kearney; V Mulcahy, R Ní Bhuachalla, A O’Shea.

Subs: L MacMahon for Kearney (45), O Farmer for Ní BHuachalla (49), R Buckley for Annie Walsh (53), N Kelly for M Kelly (57).

KERRY: E Murphy; B Lane, A Leonard, A Lyons; C Kelly, A Desmond, G Crowley; L Cronin, B Breen; M O’Donoghue, D Corridan, L Galvin; S Corkery, L Scanlon, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh.

Subs: D Hallissey for Lane (11, injured), SJ Joy for Crowley (30), S Houlihan for O’Donoghue, L O’Sullivan for Desmond (both half-time), P Dennehy for Corkery (41).

Referee: M Duffy (Tipperary)

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