Ladies NFL: Cork comfortable throughout in dominant win over Roscommon
Cork's Libby Coppinger grabbed two goals. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A comfortable victory in the end for Cork, as they cruised beyond Roscommon in their Lidl Ladies NFL Division 2 contest in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday.
Cork were 2-4 to 1-2 in front when the game was stopped for several minutes for the injured Orla O’Neill. The break in play was of aid to the visitors – who were able to regroup after Cork’s early onslaught when the game resumed on the 21-minute mark.
A couple of scores from the ever-present Laura Mannion and inside forward Caoimhe Lennon got the visitors back to within a goal after 26 minutes.
Cork, under pressure – raised a white flag through Ring but Mannion landed a second Roscommon goal as her point attempt dropped short and caught Sarah Murphy unaware, getting the visitors back to within a point.
The Rebels finished strongly, and in the final six minutes of the half put two goals beyond the Rossies, jumping their lead from one to seven.
Emma Cleary and Libby Coppinger were each on target – putting the game out of reach for Roscommon. In truth, Joe Carroll’s side should have pulled away much sooner. They were far better.
Once they did pull ahead, they wouldn’t be caught, as the hosts outscored their opponents 0-11 to 0-4 in the second half.
It was a gallant effort from Roscommon, but they were against a much stronger opposition and allowed the likes of Abbie O’Mahony, Katie Quirke and Coppinger through on goal far too easily.
It was a chaotic start as goals went in at both ends of the pitch inside the first 60 seconds, though only Cork’s stood.
Marie O’Callaghan and Quirke worked the ball in, and as the latter surged forward, she picked out an unmarked Coppinger who palmed it into the net straight from throw in.
Roscommon went up the other end and scored one 30 seconds later, but Caoimhe Lennon’s goal was ruled out.
Abigail Ring pointed for the hosts before Quirke added a free to increase Cork’s lead to five in as many minutes.
Two minutes after Roscommon finally did get the green flag they deserved – with Aisling Hanly burying one from close range, though her action was limited in the opening stages.
Another Cork goal would follow shortly after as the visitors conceded a penalty which was duly converted by Emma Cleary in the eighth minute.
Cork were never able to get too far ahead in the opening period, as Hanly and Lennon proved to be a handful up front while Abby Curran, daughter of Roscommon legend Shane, moved the ball well in the middle third.
A storming second half from Cork proved to be the difference, as the hosts were clinical from frees with Quirke and Ring dominant up front, finishing with 0-6 and 0-4 respectively.
Roscommon could do little to halt the Rebels charge, who are well on course for promotion to Division 1.
E Cleary 2-1 (1-0 pen), K Quirke 0-6 (0-4 f), L Coppinger 2-0, A Ring 0-4, A Corcoran 0-2, L O’Mahony (f), A O’Mahony, R Ní Chorcora, L Hallihan 0-1 each.
L Mannion 1-4 (0-2 f), A Hanly 1-2 (0-2 f), C Lennon, L O’Rourke, M Nolan 0-1 each.
S Murphy; M Duggan, S Kelly, A Ryan; S Leahy, S Cronin, R Ní Chorcora; M O’Callaghan, A O’Mahony; A Corcoran, L O’Mahony, E Cleary; K Quirke, L Coppinger, A Ryan.
S Callanan for Cronin (HT), A McDonagh for Ryan (46), O Roche for Coppinger, E Hurley for Corcoran (both 54), S McGoldrick for Ní Chorcora, K Horgan for Kelly (both 57), L Hallihan for Ring (59), L Cleary for E Cleary (60+1).
H Cummins; R Brady, E Irwin (c), M McKeon; O O’Neill, S Wynne, Ria Lennon; A Curran, N Watson; S McGuinness, L Mannion, L O’Rourke; A Hanly, E Thompson, C Lennon.
N Feeney for O’Neill (20 inj), S Timon for Feeney (34), S Fitzmaurice for McGuinness, Róise Lennon for C Lennon (both 39), A Malone for Watson (42), M Nolan for Hanly (46), M Kelly for Brady (48), L Shanagher for Ria Lennon (54).
Barry Redmond (Wexford)
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