Cork turn on the style against Dublin to claim minor ladies football All-Ireland 

Cork 3-11 Dublin 3-2

Kate Carey finished with an impressive tally of 2-3 at Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park in Birr on Saturday as Cork ladies footballers comprehensively defeated Dublin to claim their 13th ZuCar All-Ireland U18 A crown.

With the Ilen Rovers ace dovetailing to good effect with the likes of Eabha O’Donovan and Laura Walsh, Cork held a commanding 3-5 to 0-2 advantage at half-time in the Offaly venue. Although Dublin matched their opponents by finding the net on three occasions in the second half, the Leesiders were able to keep the Jackies at bay and ultimately emerge with nine points to spare in the end.

O’Donovan amassed an outstanding haul of 2-5 when O’Donovan Rossa secured an All-Ireland junior club championship title with a showpiece victory over Claremorris in 2023 and she got the ball rolling in this game courtesy of a third-minute point from play. This was supplemented by a Sarah O’Connor effort moments later, before Cork subsequently rattled the net for the first time in the 11th minute.

After cutting inside from the right, the inspirational Carey found herself one-on-one with Kalia Behan and proceeded to drill the ball beyond the reach of the Dublin netminder. 

Midfielder Johanna Foskin followed up almost immediately with a fine point and this ensured the Leesiders were 1-3 to 0-0 in front by the first-quarter mark. Even though Dublin eventually opened their account with a point from Niadh Mooney, Cork reinforced their authority with a quickfire brace from the increasingly-prominent Carey.

Their Leinster counterparts added a second point through centre-fielder Lile Tully on 27 minutes, but Kieran O’Shea’s charges would end the opening period with a spectacular flourish. Follow O’Donovan’s superb palmed finish over the advancing Behan for Cork’s second goal of the game, the elusive Carey added another green flag score in clinical style to propel the Leesiders towards an emphatic 12-point interval cushion.

Dublin needed a strong start to the second half in order to give themselves a fighting chance at forging a dramatic comeback and Declan Patton’s outfit were desperately unlucky to see two opportunities at goal rebounding off the crossbar shortly after the restart.

Yet Cork continued to possess a potent attacking threat and their lead was stretched to 15 points when Laura Walsh, Carey and O’Donovan (free) all found the range in a six-minute spell.

However, Dublin display admirable perseverance throughout the second period and the Leinster champions cut significantly into their deficit when the influential Molly Bourke fired home two goals in as many minutes inside the finalquarter.

Nevertheless, Cork were still in a strong position to collect the silverware on offer and with Walsh finding the target either side of a well-worked point from Aoibhe Sheehan, the outcome was placed beyond doubt long before Rebecca McEvoy secured a consolation goal for Dublin in the final minute of the action.

Scorers for Cork: Kate Carey 2-3, Eabha O’Donovan 1-2 (0-1 f), Laura Walsh 0-3 (0-1 f), Johanna Foskin, Sarah O’Connor, Aoibhe Sheehan 0-1 each.

Dublin: Molly Bourke 2-0, Rebecca McEvoy 1-0, Lile Tully, Niadh Mooney 0-1 each.

CORK: Andrea Toye; Orlaith Drummey, Allie Tobin, Aisling O’Sullivan; Rachel Breen, Maisie McRae, Éimear Walsh; Saoirse Cunningham, Johanna Foskin; Sarah O’Connor, Laura Walsh, Ava McAuliffe; Éabha O’Donovan, Kate Carey, Aoibhe Sheehan.

Subs: Gemma Young for Foskin (50), Ella Burns for Sheehan (52), Caoimhe Horgan for McAuliffe (55), Aisling Leahy for Carey, Saorla Ni Laoire for O’Sullivan (both 60).

DUBLIN: Kalia Behan; Katie Hayes, Tara Walsh, Abaigh Pollock; Charlene Sone Lenou, Hannah Murphy, Keeva O’Donovan; Sophie McDonnell, Líle Tully; Laoise Murtagh, Molly Bourke, Charlie Murphy; Ellie Reen, Zara Flood, Gemma Connolly.

Subs: Kirsten Mooney for Walsh, Roisin Kirby for Murphy, Rebecca McEvoy for Flood (all half-time), Catarina Almeida for McDonnell (42), Ellie Reen for O’Donovan (47).

Referee: Gavin Finnegan (Down).