Ger Manley: Cork coped well with Dublin physicality and small pitch

Cork picked up their second win in the Very Camogie Division 1A League with another impressive display as they defeated Dublin on Saturday.

A good first half, when they had the wind, set them up as they led by 0-13 to 0-2 at half-time.

Dublin did come back at Cork but the Rebels never looked in any danger as they ran out winners by 0-20 to 0-10, with Sorcha McCartan Cork’s outstanding player on the day, scoring eight points.

Manager Ger Manley was happy to make it two from two, but his first thoughts were on players that picked up injuries.

Izzy O’Regan had to go off after eight minutes with a knee injury and Ashling Thompson also had to leave the pitch, not long after coming on, with a head injury.

Of the two Thompson’s appeared to be less serious but only time will tell on both, with O’Regan due to get a scan on her knee this week.

“Izzy hurt her knee there and hopefully it isn’t the dreaded cruciate, we will arrange a scan during the week for her and we’re hoping that she will be ok,” said Manley.

“Ashling got a bad head injury and we have a few more small knocks. 

It was a tough game, tight pitch, but we knew it was going to be like that coming up.

“But I thought it was a very good performance from our players. Give Dublin credit they are putting a huge amount of work and look we are probably a small bit ahead of them.

COPED WELL

“Today at times I thought we were very good, probably could have had a few goals. But if you look at the pitch, it’s very tight and narrow but I thought we coped with it well, as well as their physicality, and the scoreline didn’t flatter us.”

With a number of changes from the Waterford game, and the sub they brought on Manley was happy to get game time into more players as they face tougher challenges in the weeks ahead.

“Yea, that’s what we are trying to do and look it’s pretty hard as they all want to play and I thought we had some very good performance again today.

“Laura (Treacy) came back there when Izzy got injured and made a big difference in the half-back line. They’re all going very well and hopefully we will have a few more back next week.

“The likes of Meabh Cahalane, Katrina Mackey, Amy O’Connor and Cliona Healy, have yet to come back and hopefully we will be able to get some game time into them next week against Kilkenny."