Joe Carroll: Waterford favourities but Cork ladies footballers ready for 'real test'

Cork’s 3-13 to 0-11 win over Tipperary has set up a mouthwatering clash in the TG4 Munster LGFA SFC away to Waterford this Sunday.

 A straightforward shootout means whoever emerges victorious will face All-Ireland champions Kerry in this year’s provincial decider.

Last Sunday, Cork overcame Tipp by 11 points while Waterford ran Kerry close, losing by a single point.

Cork manager Joe Carroll is well aware of the challenge that faces his Cork panel after a deserved victory over Tipp in Fethard.

“It’s a Munster semi-final, no doubt about it,” Carroll commented. We already know that Waterford are one of the top teams in the country at this stage. Look, they finished third in the Division 1 league.

“We were playing Division 2, beaten in the Division 2 final, so Waterford are probably going into that game as favourites. 

Going down there, so we still have a lot of work to do to come up to that level.” 

Carroll has come across some of Waterford’s best players in his UCC coaching role and, clearly, holds them in the highest regard.

“It is going to be a real test for our players. Some of those Waterford players are in UCC with me like Áine O’Neill, Bríd McMaugh and, one of the top forwards in the country in my estimation, Kellyann Hogan. Waterford have some absolutely fabulous players.

“It is going to take a bigger performance than we gave today against Tipperary to beat them. Look, hopefully, we can produce that next weekend.” 

Last Sunday’s victory in Fethard was a timely boost for a Cork team that had come up short in their previous two outings against Galway and Kerry. Building on a 1-7 to 0-5 interval lead, two additional goals and a clean sheet ensured the Rebels have something to play for in Waterford next weekend.

“Obviously, we needed the victory over Tipperary to stay in it,” Carroll said.

“I think the performance was very important. In particular, in the second half, I think we pushed on which we have not done in other recent matches. We controlled the game a bit more.

“We are still making a lot of mistakes but hopefully we get them sorted as we go from game to game.

FIERCE

“I thought we defended well. Aishling Moloney is a big ask for any defence to try and mark her. She is a fierce footballer. She is a big, strong girl. They changed tactics, putting it in long to her in the second half which we dealt well with that.

“Look, I think our defence played well. Our goalie made a few fierce saves and I think we took our scores when they were needed up front.” 

Cork will need a similarly disciplined defensive effort against Waterford to have any chance of overcoming one of the in-form counties in this year’s National League Division 1 and Munster SFC.