Cork’s late points blitz sees off Dubs
CAMOGIE
CORK…………………………………………… 1-13
DUBLIN………………………………………… 1-08
By Daire Walsh
A FINAL-QUARTER scoring blitz paid dividends for Cork at Parnell Park yesterday, when they overcame a strong challenge from Dublin in a keenly-contested National Camogie League Division One Group Two encounter.
The game was firmly in the balance when Dublin’s Emma Flanagan brought the sides level on 44 minutes, but courtesy of unanswered scores by Briege Corkery, Katriona Mackey, Orla Cotter (two) and Julia White, it was Cork who ultimately triumphed.
Paudie Murray’s charges were searching for a third consecutive victory following earlier successes over Clare and league champions Kilkenny, but the improving metropolitans had grown in confidence as a result of wins over Derry and the Banner County.
Indeed, the hosts made a bright start to the proceedings courtesy of a second-minute pointed free from influential midfielder Ali Twomey.
Cork quickly levelled matters thanks to a similar effort by St Catherine’s half-forward Cotter, but after a sharp turn, Louise O’Hara found her range to restore Dublin’s slender lead.
The visitors did look lively in possession during the early exchanges, but they found themselves under intense pressure when they searched for scores.
The ever-reliable Cotter did add her second point of the day 13 minutes in, however, and moving past the first-quarter mark, clear-cut opportunities were proving to be few and far between for both sides.
Back-to-back placed ball contributions from Twomey helped Dublin to build some momentum, but the persistent Leesiders responded with points of their own from Mackey and White.
Yet, the All-Ireland champions breathed a huge sigh of relief when Aine Fanning’s close-range strike drifted agonisingly wide of the posts five minutes before the interval, and because of subsequent points by Twomey (free) and corner-forward Aisling Maher, it was Dublin who brought a 0-6 to 0-4 advantage into the second period of play.
In stark contrast to their facile win over the same opposition in last year’s All-Ireland Championship, this tie was proving to be a much sterner test of Cork’s resolve.
Their prospects were boosted just three minutes after the resumption, though, when Dublin netminder Sile Nic Coitir failed to hold on to a long-range Cotter free, which eventually trickled over the line.
This ensured that they had moved into the ascendancy for the first time, but it proved to be short-lived, as Dublin found the back of Amy Lee’s net just a minute later.
Twomey had attempted to restore parity from a 45, only for full-forward Siobhan Kehoe to fire home when the ball broke free close to goal.
The gauntlet was now being thrown to Cork, who needed quick-fire points from the excellent White and midfielder Aisling Thompson to help them settle again.
The tempo of the game had certainly increased as a result of this hectic opening to the half, and although the outstanding Mackey was twice on target from open play, Dublin produced white flag scores of their own through Twomey and Flanagan.
However, the latter turned out to be Dublin’s final score of the action, and with Mackey and White continuing to pose a twin threat, Cork finally entered into a purple patch.
Dual star Corkery and Mackey gave them a bit of leeway, and even though full-forward Amy O’Connor was denied an insurance goal three minutes from time, a final brace from Cotter, in addition to White’s third of the game, secured two vital points for Cork.
Scorers for Cork: Orla Cotter 1-4 (1-4f), Katriona Mackey 0-4, Julie White 0-3, Briege Corkery, Aisling Thompson 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dublin: Ali Twomey 0-5 (5f), Siobhan Kehoe 1-0, Louise O’Hara, Emma Flanagan, Aisling Maher 0-1 each.
CORK: Amy Lee; Lauren Callanan, Laura Tracey, Leanne O’Sullivan; Eimear O’Sullivan, Pam Mackey, Meave Cahalane; Briege Corkery, Aisling Thompson; Orla Cotter, Finola Neville, Julia White; Orla Cronin, Amy O’Connor, Katriona Mackey.
Subs: Hannah Looney for Cronin (50), Katelynn Hickey for White (60).
DUBLIN: Sile Nic Coitir; Catriona Power, Rose Collins, Deirdre Johnstone; Miriam Twomey, Alison Maguire, Aisling Carolan; Ali Twomey, Martha O’Donoghue; Sarah O’Donovan, Aine Fanning, Louise O’Hara; Emma Flanagan, Siobhan Kehoe, Aisling Maher.
Subs: Laura Twomey for Carolan (24), Laoise Quinn for Fanning (h-t), Orlaith Durkan for Kehoe (48), Aoife Bugler for A Twomey, Claire Rigney for O’Donoghue (both 57), Muireann O’Gorman for O’Hara (60).
Referee: John Dolan (Clare).