Two goals in two minutes cost Cork ladies footballers Munster final place to Waterford
Disappointment for Cork players Leah Hallihan and Rosie Corkery after the defeat to Waterford. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Heartbreak for Cork as they last out to Waterford in their TG4 Munster Senior Football Championship clash at Dungarvan GAA Club on Sunday.
But there can be little argument the better team won on the day as the home side dominated play for long stretches.
The sides were level at half-time and it looked like it was going to be a close game, but two Waterford goals, in two minutes swung the game in their favour and from there they never looked back.
It now means that Cork will be seeded third in the draw for the All-Ireland series which is going to make it difficult for them to get out of their group as your final placing in the Munster championship has a say in this draw.
Lauren McGregor and Karen McGrath got the green flags or Waterford, coming just after Aoife Healy had scored one for Cork, and from here to the finish the Rebels never looked like recovering.
The Déise took the lead in the second minute when Aine O’Neill scored, with Chloe Fennell adding a second as the home side were dominating the early exchanges.
They thought they had a goal when McGregor scored but it was ruled out for overcarrying.
Katie Quirke got Cork’s first score, after 13 minutes, from a free, before Kellyann Hogan replied at the other end.
Two more from Quirke, both frees, saw the sides level after 20 minutes, a position Cork would have been happy with at that point. Emma Murray put Waterford back ahead, with another Quirke free levelling it again.
A point from Libby Coppinger put Cork in front for the first time, before Fennell’s second had them level again.
A great run from Aoife Healy put Cork back in front with three minutes to half-time, but a late free from Hogan had the sides level at the break, 0-6 each.
Emma Murray put Waterford back in front, before Emma Cleary had the sides level again. It looked like the game was swinging in Cork’s favour when Quirke set up Healy for Cork’s goal, to make it 1-7 to 0-7.
But Waterford broke straight down the pitch with Lauren McGregor getting their first goal.
Two minutes later they had their second, with McGregor setting up Karen McGrath to score. Hogan added a point, to make it 2-8 to 1-7 as Waterford had one foot in the final.
With 53 minutes gone, Waterford got their third goal, with McGregor scoring again as they were now well in control.
Cleary pointed for Cork but late scores from O’Neill and Katie Murray secured the win for Waterford as they now face Kerry in the final on May 25 at Mallow.
L McGregor 2-1, K McGrath 1-0, K Hogan (0-1 f), C Fennell 0-3 each, A O’Neill, E Murray 0-2 each, K Murray 0-1.
A Healy 1-1, K Quirke 0-4 f, E Cleary 0-2, L Coppinger, L Hallihan 0-1.
K Gardiner; R Casey, E Power, A Murray; C Murray, K McGrath,
L Ni Harta; K Hogan, H Power; A O'Neill, K Murray, E Murray; L McGregor, C Walsh, C Fennell.
L O’Shea for L Ní Harta (48), A Power for C Fennell (60).
S Murphy; D Kiniry, S Kelly, M Duggan; E O’Shea, S Cronin, R Corkery; M O’Callaghan, A Healy; K Horgan, L O’Mahony, E Cleary; A O’Sullivan, L Coppinger, K Quirke.
A Ryan for K Horgan (h-t), L Hallihan for L Coppinger (40), H Looney for R Corkery (41), A Ring for L O’Mahony (48), S McGoldrick for M O’Callaghan (54).
Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).
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