Heartbreak for Cork ladies footballers in All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway

Galway 2-7 Cork 0-10

Heartbreak for Cork as they lost out to Galway in the TG4 All-Ireland ladies football semi-final at Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore.

A goal just before half-time was the killer blow as it put Galway five points up and Cork were never able to get back on level terms.

It was a game where the elements played their part with Galway playing with the strong wind in the first half and made good use of it to lead by five at half time.

To their credit they made it difficult for the Rebels to create any decent goal chances in the second half when it was at their backs and ultimately that defensive display and the two goals were the difference.

Galway had the first real opportunity to open the scoring, but Roisin Leonard shot wide when she should have scored.

Two minutes in and they were in front when Olivia Divilly scored from a free after Louise Ward was fouled.

Leonard made up for her earlier miss with a superb point to double their advantage as they were making good use of the elements.

Cork were off the mark after seven minutes when Katie Quirke pointed from a free to make it 0-2 to 0-1.

Another free from Quirke had the sides level after 11 minutes and from the restart Cork took the lead.

Emma Cleary intercepted the kickout and played the ball to Ava McAuliffe to shoot.

Her shot went over the bar but the umpires were unsure so after a discussion between them and the referee the point was given.

Galway should have retaken the lead when Leonard was through but she shot wide with the goal at her mercy.

But with 15 minutes played Galway were back in front when Aoife Healy fouled Charlotte Cooney and the referee had no hesitation in awarding them a penalty.

Credit to Leonard she didn’t let her earlier miss put her off as she slotted home to make it 1-2 to 0-3.

A brilliant run from Maire O’Callaghan saw her close in on goal but she was fouled and Quirked slotted over for her third point from a free to put one between the sides.

Another free from Quirke had the sides level after 21 minutes which, considering the wind, Cork would have been happy with at this stage.

Another great point from Leonard put Galway back in front and with half time approaching they got their second goal.

Cooney and Leanne Coen combined to set up Ailbhe Davoren who gave Sarah Murphy no chance of saving as Galway led by 2-3 to 0-5.

Leonard got the last score of the half from another free as the Tribeswomen led by 2-4 to 0-5 at the break.

Despite playing against the wind Galway were the better side early on and should have gone further when Ailish Morrissey was in on goal.

But her effort came back off the crossbar and the danger was cleared. This woke Cork up with Quirke closing the gap with her first point from play to put four between the sides.

Another from Quirke reduced the gap to three as Cork pushed forward in search of scores.

A strange decision for the referee, when he gave Galway a free when it looked like a 50-50 clash, saw Divilly point to make it 2-5 to 0-7 after 42 minutes.

Emma Cleary was on the mark for Cork to put three between the sides again but the Rebels were finding it difficult to reduce the deficit further.

Another free from Leonard stretched Galway’s lead, with Cork missing a number of chances to score.

Cork came close to getting the goal they needed when Laura O’Mahony played the ball across and Sarah Leahy looked like scoring but Shauna Hynes got a touch to deny her and clear the danger.

O’Mahony got a point to put three between the sides with time running out and a late free in from Quirke was cleared as Galway hung on for the win to reach the decider in two weeks.

Scorers for Galway: R Leonard 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-4 f), A Davoren 1-0, O Divilly 0-2 f.

Cork: K Quirke 0-7 (0-4 f), A McAuliffe, E Cleary, L O’Mahony 0-1 each.

GALWAY: D Gower; M Jordan, S Ní Loingsigh, K Geraghty; A Ní Cheallaigh, N Ward, C Cooney; M Glynn, A Davoren; O Divilly, L Ward, N Divilly; A Morrissey, L Coen, R Leonard.

Subs: E Reaney for A Morrissey (46), S Hynes for A Ni Cheallaigh (47), M Walsh for M Glynn, A Trill for R Leonard (both 53).

CORK: S Murphy; M Duggan, S Kelly, S Leahy; A Healy, S Cronin, D Kiely; M O’Callaghan, A O’Mahony; E Cleary, L O’Mahony, A McDonagh; A McAuliffe, K Quirke, R Leahy.

Subs: H Looney for R Leahy (25 inj), E Kiely for A McAuliffe (38), A Ryan for A O’Mahony (46), L McDonagh for A McDonagh (48), S McGoldrick for A Healy (50).

Referee: Kevin Phelan, Laois.