Cork ladies footballers back on track with win in Waterford

Waterford 0-11 Cork 1-10 

FIVE Katie Quirke points and a Laura O’Mahony goal helped Cork overcome Waterford in the opening round of the 2024 TG4 Munster SFC at Fraher Field, Dungarvan.

Ahead of throw-in, the Déise were eager to capitalise on their National League Division 1 victory over Cork earlier this year. As for the reigning Munster LGFA SFC champions, Shane Ronayne’s charges were desperate for a morale-boosting victory following their Division 1 demotion.

Katie Quirke’s late inclusion - the Bride Rovers forward returning from injury - was a welcome boost for a Cork team that grabbed an early lead via Libby Coppinger.

Kelly Ann Hogan replied with a free that fizzed inches over the Rebels’ crossbar before Cork assumed control.

Emma Cleary landed a long-range effort before a swift Cork move ended with Libby Coppinger rattling an upright.

Laura O’Mahony reacted quickest to the rebound however and netted from close-range to make it 1-2 to 0-1.

Poor Waterford shooting and confident Caoimhe Richmond goalkeeping blighted the hosts chances of mounting a comeback.

Then, another Kelly Ann Hogan placed ball preceded a brace of Katie Quirke frees as Cork stretched their advantage to four heading towards the interval.

Aoife Healy’s excellent defending ensured the visitors changed ends 1-5 to 0-3 ahead after another Quirke free and Emma Murray had notched Waterford’s solitary point from open play.

Áine O’Neill reduced the deficit immediately after the restart but a debated Katie Quirke free quickly restored her side’s 5-point advantage.

Bríd McMaugh came off the bench and instantly split the posts but, once again, the Rebels mustered a response courtesy of Katie Quirke’s fifth converted free.

Kelly Ann Hogan added a free before another excellent McMaugh effort made it 1-7 to 0-7 after 41 minutes.

Máire O’Callaghan got her name on the scoresheet shortly after. A Kate McGrath effort at the opposite end meant there was only a goal in it heading ino the final quarter.

The Rebels upped the intensity and forced Waterford to clear a goalbound effort off their goal-line a minute before Sarah Leahy rattled the Déise’s crossbar.

Sadhbh McGoldrick edged Cork 1-9 to 0-8 clear but Waterford refused to go away as Lauren McGregor made it a 3-point game. Ellen Bolger further reduced Cork’s lead but Lydia McDonagh’s injury-time free confirmed Cork’s 1-10 to 0-11 victory after a late Kelly Ann Hogan free.

Cork will face an equally testing Munster LGFA SFC tie against old rivals Kerry in Brosna next Saturday. On the same weekend, Waterford travel to Tipperary as this year’s provincial senior championship simmers to a boil.

Scorers for Waterford: K A Hogan 0-4 f, B McMaugh 0-2, E Murray, Á O’Neill, K McGrath, L McGregor, E Bolger 0-1 each.

Cork: K Quirke 0-5 f, L O’Mahony 1-0, L Coppinger, E Cleary, M O’Callaghan, S McGoldrick, L McDonagh (f) 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: E O’Brien; H Power, E Power, A Brazil K McGrath, A McNulty, E Murray; A Fitzgerald, K Hogan (c); A O’Neill, C Walsh, C Carroll; M O’Brien, K Murray, L McGregor.

Subs: A Murray for L O’Shea (29), B McMaugh for C Walsh (37), A Brazil for A Fitzgerald (48) E Bolger for M O’Brien (53).

CORK: C Richmond (Glanmire); M Duggan (Dohenys), D Kiniry (Lisgoold), A Ryan (Mourneabbey); S Leahy (Aghada), A Healy (Cloyne), D Kiely (Valley Rovers); M O’Callaghan (c, Mourneabbey), A O’Mahony (Glanmire); E Cleary (Éire Óg), L O’Mahony (O’Donovan Rossa), A McDonagh (Naomh Abán); K O’Driscoll (Clonakilty), L Coppinger (St Colum’s), K Quirke (Bride Rovers).

Subs: R Leahy (Aghada) for L O’Mahony (41), L Hallihan (Bride Rovers) for D Kiely (48), S McGoldrick (Éire Óg) for A O’Mahony (49), K Smith (Aghada) for A McDonagh (50), L McDonagh (Naomh Abán) for K Quirke (56).

Referee: Séamus Mulvihill (Kerry).