Amy O'Connor goal is vital as Cork win Munster camogie championship

Cork 1-16

Waterford 0-14

CORK were crowned Munster senior camogie champions after a hard-fought win over Waterford at Thurles on Sunday afternoon.

Having lost to the Deise in the quarter-final last year the Rebels were determined to get the better of them this time out.

They did defeat Waterford comprehensively in the All-Ireland final but knew it was not going to be as easy this time around, with former Cork minor manager Jerry Wallace now at the helm of the Deise.

Amy O’Connor’s first half goal proved to be a crucial score, with Laura Hayes, Fiona Keating and Meabh Murphy also impressing for the winners.

Waterford opened the scoring in the second minute when Beth Carton pointed from a free and Niamh Rockett added a second to increase their lead.

Amy O’Connor got Cork off the mark from a free after seven minutes as the Rebels started to settle into the game.

Carton scored a superb point from distance to put two between the sides again as Waterford were enjoying the better of the opening exchanges.

Another free from Carton made it 0-4 to 0-1 with 11 minutes gone.

A driving run from Saoirse McCarthy ended with her splitting the posts for Cork’s second score and from the restart Laura Hayes added their third.

With 13 minutes gone Cork were back on level terms when Sorcha McCartan scored and Fiona Keating put them in front a minute later for the first time, 0-5 to 0-4.

Another free from O’Connor made it five in a row for Cork as she put two between the sides.

A brilliant run from Hayes set up O’Connor to find the back of the net, a feat she did three times in the All-Ireland final, to make it 1-6 to 0-4.

Carton pulled a point back for Waterford from a free before Katrina Mackey hit two for Cork to keep them in control.

Carton was on target from another free, before O’Connor got her first point from play, to make it 1-9 to 0-6 with two minutes to half time.

Two more from Carton, one from a free, saw Waterford close the gap late on as the Rebels led by 1-9 to 0-8 at half time.

A free from O’Connor increased Cork’s lead and she added one from play to make it 1-11 to 0-8 after 32 minutes.

Carton, who had scored all of Waterford’s points bar one, added another from a free as she was keeping her side in contention. She was on target again, from a free, to make it 1-11 to 0-10 after 35 minutes.

Carton hit another, this time from play, to put a goal between the sides with 41 minutes gone.

Cork’s lead was down to two after a Hawkeye check confirm Rockett’s shot had gone between the posts.

Cliona Healy pointed for Cork to put three between the sides again and with 15 minutes to go it was all to play for.

Another Carton free put two between them again with O’Connor replying to keep Cork three to the good, with five minutes to go.

Yet again Carton was on target, with Clodagh Finn replying before Orlaith Mullins scored to make it 1-15 to 0-14 with normal time up.

Finn added another as the Rebels finished strongly to secure the title by 1-16 to 0-14.

Scorers for Cork: A O’Connor 1-6 (4f), K Mackey, C Finn 0-2 each, S McCarthy, L Hayes, S McCartan, F Keating, C Healy, O Mullins 0-1 each.

Waterford: B Carton 0-11 (8f), N Rockett 0-3.

CORK: A Lee; M Murphy, M Cahalane, P Mackey; I O’Regan, A Healy, L Hayes: A Thompson, S McCarthy; H Looney, F Keating, S McCartan; A O’Connor, K Mackey, O Cahalane.

Subs: C Healy for H Looney (ht), C O’Sullivan for S McCartan (52), C Finn for O Cahalane (54), O Mullins for K Mackey (57),

WATERFORD: B O’Regan; K Corbett Barry, L Forrest, I Heffernan; T Power, C Carroll, B Bowdren; L Bray, O Hickey; M O’Brien, B Carton, N Rockett; A McNulty, K Lynch, R Walsh.

Subs: A Fitzgerald for A McNulty (34), S Lacey for M O’Brien (54), R Kirwan for B Bowdren (58), A Landers for R Walsh (60).

Referee: Aaron Hogg, Clare.