Fiona Nelligan fires late winner as Cork pip Kilkenny to All-Ireland intermediate camogie glory
Cork's Fiona Nelligan scorer of the winning point celebrates after defeating Kilkenny in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland intermediate camogie final at Croke Park. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Heart, guts and determination were the order of the day as Cork captured the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie title after a titanic battle with Kilkenny.
In a game that went right down to the wire a point from sub Fiona Nelligan three minutes into injury time saw Donie Daly’s sides capture the county's fifth title.
And oh how sweet it was.
Playing with the aid of the strong wind in the opening half, Kilkenny went to the dressing rooms trailing by a point 0-7 to 0-6, both sides having been evenly matched through the opening half where Cliona Dooley gave Cork an early lead with the game opening point.
It took Kilkenny six minutes and three wides in a row before they were on the score sheet after six minutes. Three points in a row all from play by Claire Doheny (2) and Caroline Kennedy saw them edge into the lead.
With their defence strong, Cork held their lines and two Lauren Homan pointed frees along with two excellent Niamh O'Regan scores which swung the pendulum back in Cork's favour. However, they were grateful to goalkeeper Ciara Hurley who dealt superbly with two long-range efforts.
Despite battling against the breeze, Cork enjoyed huge possession. Sloppy passing and erratic shooting ensured they couldn’t extend their lead.
Kilkenny's Carlisle Comeford and Hannah Scott levelled matters. And with Lauren Homan and Danielle Morrissey exchanging pointed frees it was stalemate again.
With half-time approaching Cork had a sniff of a goal chance but Cliona Murphy dealt well with a Cliona O'Callaghan effort before Homan edged Cork in front with a free at the end of a half where Donie Daly would have been the happier of the managers.
Morrissey had the sides level on the resumption but from the puck-out Cork hit the front, Olivia McAllen off-loading a superb ball to O'Callaghan who made no mistake finishing to the net.
Kilkenny responded with a Morrissey free and wasting possession again, Cork were struggling as Kilkenny were getting grip with their half-back line, the Cork forwards struggling to make inroads.
Danielle Morrissey pointed a free on 42 minutes to again put one between the sides and four minutes later she turned over possession in the middle of the field and her long-range effort ended in the net to push Kilkenny two points in front.
Cork had it back to a one-point game with a Homan free but Claire Doheny responded to keep Kilkenny two ahead.
Cork needed more from their attack. Winning a free Homan split the posts and when Kilkenny attacked, Cork broke it up. Tara McCarthy drove the ball up field. Cork won the breaking ball as Cliona O'Callaghan levelled from play with two minutes remaining.
Cork pressed and applied huge pressure but two efforts dropped short.
With three minutes of injury time played Fiona Nelligan drove the ball between the post: advantage Cork.
It was now just a matter of defending tenaciously and they sure did. From a puck-out Cork won possession and drove it up field to the sound of the full-time whistle.
Sheer joy and a well-deserved victory for a superb Rebel side.
L Homan 0-6 (0-5 f), C O’ Callaghan 1-1, N O'Regan 0-2, C Dooley, F Nelligan 0-1 each.
D Morrissey 1-4 (0-3 f), C Doheny 0-3, H Scott, C Comerford, C Kennedy 0-1 each.
C Hurley (St Finbarr’s); A Barrett (Aghabullogue), N O'Leary (Brian Dillon’s ), E Flanagan (Aghabullogue); l Doyle (Charleville), O McAllen (Sarsfields), M Ring (Aghabullogue); T McCarthy(Glen Rovers), L Buttimer (Cloughduv); A Cashman (Youghal), L Homan (Brian Dillon’s, c), E Sheehan (Éire Óg); N O'Regan (St Catherine’s), C O'Callaghan (Blackrock), C Dooley (Ballinora).
L Allen (Sarsfields) for L Buttimer (39), E Duignan (Mallow) for E Sheehan (45), F Nelligan for N O'Regan (50), E Curtain for C Dooley (56), K Walsh for A Cashman (58).
C Murphy; N Leahy, R Whelan, J Cass; M Kennedy, S Treacy, H Scott; D Morrissey, L Ronan; C Doheny, C Kennedy, A Cantwell; R Kelly, C Kennedy, C Comerford.
K McCluskey for A Cantwell (43), N Crowley for R Kelly (50), C Langton for C Kennedy (54).
Brian Kearney (Kildare).
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