Cork ladies footballers return to top tier with a game to spare after beating Clare

Cork 1-12 Clare 0-7 

Cork were promoted back to Division 1 of the Lidl LGFA National League at the Áras Íosagáin grounds in Baile Mhuirne on Sunday.

The Rebels required victory over Clare plus Galway to beat Monaghan to be mathematically certain of an immediate return to the top tier with a game to spare.

Galway did the necessary and, although they struggled at times, Cork shook off Clare to confirm their promotion a year after dropping down.

Qualifying for a Division 2 National League final was the icing on the cake for a Cork team in which Clare O’Shea, Amy McDonagh, Emma Hurley and Abigail Ring were drafted in to the starting lineup.

Joe Carroll’s side were roared on by a big attendance at Naomh Abán’s Áras Íosagáin grounds in the village of Baile Mhuirne close to the Kerry border.

The decision to take one of Cork’s home National League fixtures on the road proved a wise choice as the crowd was treated to an important win.

Having three local players, Amy McDonagh, Lydia McDonagh and Rosie Ní Chorcora on the Cork panel made it an extra-special day for Naomh Abán’s committee.

On the pitch, Clare began with the aid of a strengthening wind but it was Abigial Ring who opened the scoring. Katie Quirke added a free immediately after.

Ailish Considine was Clare’s main attacking threat but missed a free for a visiting team that got numbers behind the ball.

Undettered, Emma Cleary and another Quirke free extended Cork’s advantage, 0-4 to 0-0, at the 10-minute mark.

Laura Conway got the Banner off the mark before Edel McNamara further reduced the deficit. Sarah Murphy was forced into a save as Clare enjoyed a bright spell.

A superb Chloe Moloney effort made it 0-4 to 0-3 on the quarter hour.

A converted Quirke free settled Cork nerves but a Clare side growing in confidence kept pressing and a second McNamara score made it a one-point game.

Katie Quirke wasted a goal opportunity with only goalkeeper Aoife Griffin to beat and Chloe Moloney punished Cork with a levelling free on 22 minutes.

Quirke and Considine exchanged frees before Emma Hurley edged the Rebels back in front.

Hannah Looney’s yellow card temporarily reduced the hosts to 14 players shortly before the break.

Backed by a strong wind in the second period, subs Aoife Healy and Dara Kiniry helped Cork press higher up the pitch.

The tactic worked as Katie Quirke floated over her first from open play.

Chloe Moloney responded with her third point but Aoife Healy quickly restored the Rebels’ two-point advantage.

Abigail Ring had a shot cleared off the goal-line and Laura O’Mahony missed by inches as as an improving Cork returned to their full complement with Looney’s reintroduction.

Sarah Murphy had to make another point-blank stop and needed Laura O’Mahony to split the posts for Cork to make it 0-10 to 0-7 with 9 minutes remaining.

Katie Quirke’s sixth score offered Cork some breathing room before Laura O’Mahony billowed the net to confirm the Rebels’ promotion.

Scorers for Cork: K Quirke 0-7 (0-5 f), L O’Mahony 1-1, A Healy, E Hurley, E Cleary, A Ring 0-1 each.

Clare: C Moloney 0-3 (0-1 f), E McNamara 0-2, A Considine (f), L Conway 0-1 each.

CORK: S Murphy; M Duggan, S Leahy (captain), S Kelly; C O’Shea, S Cronin, R Ní Chorcora; A McDonagh, A O’Mahony; L O’Mahony, E Cleary, E Hurley; A Ring, H Looney, K Quirke.

Subs: A Healy for A McDonagh (ht), D Kiniry for R Corkery (ht), A Corcoran for E Hurley (39), L Hallihan for A Ring (41), L McDonagh for H Looney (54), K Horgan for C O’Shea (58), C Richmond for S Murphy (58).

CLARE: A Griffin; A Keane, G Harvey, R Doohan; E Burke, J Doohan, S Melican; C Harvey (captain), E Hanrahan; L Conway, M Downes, T Collins; E McNamara, A Considine, C Moloney.

Subs: C Dunne for M Downes (41), A O’Loughlinn for L Conway (46), A Slattery for A Considine (inj, 47), L Shanahan for E Hanrahan (53).

Referee: Ger Canny (Mayo).