Cork make it two from two in senior camogie championship

Down 1-7 Cork 4-21

Cork made it two from two in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship after their win over Down at Páirc Esler in Newry.

The defending champions were hot favourites to win this game and it made the long journey home that little bit sweeter to secure the points and move on to next week’s clash with Clare.

Ahead of the game manager Ger Manley made five changes to the team that started against Wexford, with Grainne Cahalane, Hayley Ryan, Cliona Healy, Clodagh Finn and Emma Murphy all starting.

By half time this game was over as a contest as Cork led by 2-13 to 1-5, with Katriona Mackey and Fiona Keating getting their goals.

Two more in the second half from Sorcha McCartan and Clare Mullins saw Cork run out worthy winners and make the long journey home that little bit shorter with the points secured.

Mackey was one of a number of impressive performances for the Rebels as she finished with 1-8, with McCartan and Keating also impressing in attack.

Defensively Laura Hayes led the line, with Grainne Cahalane impressing on her championship debut for the Rebels. Others who showed they are more than capable of doing a job for Cork include the likes of Emma Murphy, Hayley Ryan, and Clare Mullins when she came on.

Afterwards, Cork manager, Ger Manley, was delighted with the win and the chance to give a few more players games, with the likes of Millie Condon, Rachel Harty, Clare, and Orlaith Mullins all coming on.

“It was important to win, coming up we didn’t know what they would be about and we treated them with the respect they deserved,” said Ger.

“We had a really good performance and got a couple of good goals in the first half that set us up for the win. In fairness, their keeper made a couple of good saves in that half as well and we could have had a few more.

“But our touch at times could have been better in front of goal. We scored 2-13 in the first half which was a great return against the wind and I couldn’t have asked for much more really.

“Two more in the second half set us up nicely for the win and that was the most important thing, to pick up the points and make it two from two.

“Games like this are important as it gave us the opportunity to make a few changes and get game time into players that we need to do. We have Clare now next week and we will probably make a few more changes for that one as well.

“You can’t beat games and some players played very well today. Laura Hayes was outstanding, Grainne Cahalane did well as did Emma Murphy in midfield.

“The forwards did well, with others like Rachel Harty coming on who all played their part. So it was a good win and it sets us up now nicely for another tough away game against Clare next Saturday,” concluded Ger.

Scorers for Cork: K Mackey 1-8, S McCartan 1-2, F Keating 1-1, C Mullins 1-0, C Finn 0-3, C Healy, E Murphy, R Harty 0-2 each, H Ryan 0-1.

DOWN: A Sherry; O McCusker, D Coleman, E Fitzpatrick; C McGilligan, B Fitzpatrick, R Smith; I O’Hare, C Cowan; S Sands, C Fitzsimmons, D Magee; S McGrath, A McDowell, C Byrne.

CORK: A Lee; G Cahalane, P Mackey, N O’Callaghan; I O’Regan, A Healy, L Hayes; A Thompson, E Murphy; K Mackey, F Keating, C Healy; H Ryan, S McCartan, C Finn.

Subs: H Looney, O Mullins, M Condon, R Harty and C Mullins.

Referee: Justin Heffernan, Wexford.