Cork ladies footballers relegated from Division 1

Meath 2-14 Cork 1-6

HEARTBREAK for Cork as they are relegated from Division 1 of the Lidl Ladies NFL following their loss to Meath at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon.

The loss confirmed their relegation, no matter what happens in other games as they will now find themselves playing Division 2 football next season.

Despite the loss credit has to go to the players as they went down fighting and gave it everything against Meath.

They battled from start to finish, with captain Maire O’Callaghan leading by example as did others like Melissa Duggan, Ellen Twomey, Sadhbh O’Leary, Amy McDonagh, and Abbie O’Mahony, to name a few.

To be fair all of the Cork players gave it their all but with only one win from their league campaign the inevitable was confirmed after their defeat in their final outing before the Munster championship in a few weeks.

The game was less than a minute old when Meath star Emma Duggan had her side in front. From the kick-out the regained possession and Duggan scored her second to put them 0-2 to no score in front.

Emma Cleary got Cork off the mark from a free after six minutes as the Rebels started to settle into the game.

Meath keeper Robyn Murray made two saves from high balls in, one a free from Cleary, to deny Cork points as it remained 0-2 to 0-1 after 12 minutes.

In a game where both defences were on top it took until the 19th minute for the next score to come, when Shelly Melia set up Megan Thynne to increase Meath’s lead.

Cleary pulled a point back for Cork from another free, before Marion Farrelly replied for the home side.

Cleary had another effort from a free go just wide, but from the restart Cork took the lead.

Sadhbh O’Leary pounced on a short kick-out to intercept the pass and her shot found the corner of the net, to make it 1-2 to 0-4.

Duggan pointed from a free to level it, before a point from distance by Katie O’Driscoll had the Rebels back in front.

Maire O’Callaghan got Cork’s fourth to increase their lead, before Aisling McCabe hit back for Meath as the Rebels led by 1-4 t 0-6 at half-time.

Just two minutes into the second half and Cork were awarded a penalty when Niamh Gallogly brought down Daire Kiely.

Kiely picked herself up to take the penalty but Murray dived to her right to save superbly and deny Cork a second goal.

A Duggan free had the sides level again before Meath went in front.

This time they pounced on a Cork kick-out and Shelly Melia raised a green flag, to make it 1-7 to 1-4.

Duggan increased their lead as Meath were now on top and Cork were finding it difficult to break down their defence.

Eabha O’Donovan pointed for Cork, but Farrelly hit back with two to keep Meath in control as they led 1-10 to 1-5 after 45 minutes.

Duggan hit another, which could as easily have been a goal, only for a magnificent touch by Duggan to push it over the bar.

Another Duggan point made it 1-13 to 1-5, before a goal from Farrelly sealed Cork’s fate as Meath won by 2-14 to 1-7.

Scorers for Meath: E Duggan 0-7 (0-2 f), M Farrelly 1-3, S Melia 1-0, M Thynne, A McCabe, K Newe, A O’Leary 0-1 each.

Cork: S O’Leary 1-1, E Cleary 0-2 f, K O’Driscoll, M O’Callaghan, E O’Donovan (f), S Leahy 0-1 each.

MEATH: R Murray; A Sheridan, M K Lynch, N Troy; K Kealy, L Young, K Newe; M O’Shaughnessy, S Melia; M Thynne, E Moyles, A McCabe; M Farrelly, E Duggan, N Gallogly.

Subs: A Cleary for K Kealy (40), O Gore for E Moyle (53), A Leahy for M Thynne (55), R Casserly for M Farrelly, C Doherty for A McCabe, A O’Leary for E Duggan (60).

CORK: S Murphy; M Duggan, S McGoldrick, E Twomey; L O’Mahony, S Leahy, K O’Driscoll; M O’Callaghan, A O’Mahony; E Cleary, D Kiely, A McDonagh; K Smith, L McDonagh S O’Leary.

Subs: C Richmond for S Murphy, A Healy for S McGoldrick, E O’Donovan for L McDonagh (ht), L Coppinger for A O’Mahony (36), B Smith D Kiely, E Hurley for K Smith (both 42), K Redmond for S O’Leary, A Ryan for E Twomey (both 53), N O’Mahony for L O’Mahony (55), D Kiniry for E Cleary (60).

Referee: Anthony Marron (Monaghan).