Four goal Cork run riot as they destroy Dublin in camogie championship

Cork 4-22

Dublin 0-5

Cork maintained their 100% record in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie championship after their win over Dublin at Páirc Ui Chaoimh.

This was always a game the Rebels were supposed to win and three first half goals, two from Amy O’Connor, ensured there wasn’t going to be an upset.

Right from the start Cork were in control with their half-back line controlling the game and setting up attack after attack for their forwards. Such was the dominance of Cork that Dublin failed to score from play for the entire game.

This was another impressive display from the Rebels as they are getting better and better with every game. Defensively they are rock solid as they lay down the foundation for the forwards to run riot.

Before the ball was thrown in there was a minutes silence in memory of Glen Rovers teenager player, Sarah Kate O’Meara, who sadly passed away in recent days.

As well as being an accomplished camogie player she was also a talented runner.

Ashling Maher opened the scoring for Dublin from a free in the first minute, with Fiona Keating replying for Cork.

With four minutes gone the Rebels took the lead when Katrina Mackey set up O’Connor to do what she does best, raise a green flag.

From the restart Saoirse McCarthy added a point as Cork led by 1-2 to 0-1 after four minutes.

O’Connor added a point from a free and she was involved in setting up Cliona Healy for Cork’s fourth point.

Keating added another before Cork got their second goal.

O’Connor and Healy combined to set up Katrina Mackey and she rounded the keeper to make it 2-5 to 0-1 with 13 minutes gone.

Another free, this time from Aoife McKearney, saw Dublin get their second point as they were finding it difficult to break down the Cork defence.

Another Maher free made it 2-6 to 0-3 with 20 minutes gone, before Healy was on target again to keep Cork well ahead.

O’Connor pointed another free as this game was well over as a contest even at this early stage.

That was further compounded in the last five minutes of the first half as Cork hit 1-5 without reply before the break.

Two from Healy and three points from O’Connor made it 2-11 to 0-3 just before the half time whistle and with the last shot of the half O’Connor got her second, and Cork’s third goal as they were well in control at this stage, 3-11 to 0-3.

Two early points, from Keating and Sorcha McCartan, kept the scoreboard ticking over for Cork as they continued to dominate all over the pitch.

O’Connor added another from a free as Cork led by 3-14 to 0-3 after 40 minutes.

Sinead Nolan, not long on as a sub, got Dublin’s fourth point from another free as they had yet to score from play.

O’Connor, also from a free, replied for Cork to make it 3-15 to 0-4 after 45 minutes.

Niamh Comerford pointed from a 45 for Dublin as we hit the 50 minute mark with Dublin yet to score from play.

Laura Hayes and Ashling Thompson were among the point scorers, along with a goal from Ciara O’Sullivan, as Cork finished strongly, like they started, to run out comprehensive winners.

They now face Galway next Saturday in their final group game and a win will guarantee Cork go straight to the semi-finals.

Scorers for Cork: A O’Connor 2-7 (5f, 45), K Mackey 1-5 (4f), C O’Sullivan 1-0, F Keating, C Healy 0-3 each, S McCarthy, A Thompson, L Hayes, S McCartan 0-1 each.

Dublin: A Maher 0-2 (2f), A McKearney, S Nolan, 0-1 each (all frees), N Comerford 0-1 (45).

CORK: A Lee; M Murphy, N O’Callaghan, P Mackey; H Looney, L Treacy, L Hayes; A Thompson, A Healy; S McCarthy, F Keating, C Healy; A O’Connor, K Mackey, S McCartan.

Subs: C Finn for S McCartan, C O’Sullivan for S McCarthy, G Cahalane for L Tracey (all 40), R Harty for A Healy (46), O Cahalane for A O’Connor (51).

DUBLIN: A Gorman; A Ryan, E O’Byrne, L Sharkey; C Gannon, K Finnegan, A McKearney; A Rafter, N Gannon; A Heffernan, E Jamieson-Murphy, G O’Shea; H O’Dea, A Maher, A Gannon.

Subs: E Flanagan for A Maher (37), S Nolan for A McKearney (39), N Comerford for G O’Shea (40).

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan, Limerick.