Katie Quirke grabs draw for Cork ladies footballers against Kildare

Cork 1-10 Kildare 2-7 

Katie Quirke’s injury-time free earned Cork a draw from the jaws of defeat at home to Kildare in the opening round of this year’s Lidl National Football League Division 1.

MTU Cork played host to the Rebels’ season opener and Division 1 return with the added caveat of a slate of new rules being trialled during this year’s National League.

Yet it was Kildare, thanks to 2-2 from the electric Aoife Murnane, who deservedly led by three points with less than 10 minutes to go.

Cork roused themselves however, and levelled thanks to a Katie Quirke free and two Abigail Ring efforts. Jessica Harney (free) restored Kildare’s advantage, and it took Quirke’s fifth converted free, four minutes into injury-time, to salvage a draw.

It was a terrific game, enhanced by the new rules, but one in which both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.

This was a much-changed Cork lineup from last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final exit to Dublin. A winter of transition had seen Aoife Healy, Libby Coppinger, Hannah Looney, Sarah Leahy and Shauna Cronin step away although Healy is available until she heads off to Australia.

The same was true of Kildare who retained their Division 1 status by virtue of defeating Tyrone, Meath and Dublin last year. The Lilies travelled south without stalwarts Claire Sullivan, Ellen Dowling, Róisín Byrne and Grace Clifford who are no are no longer involved.

Kildare lost full-forward Lara Curran to injury inside the first minute. The Leinster side quickly recovered, adapting better to the new rules, and moving two points clear thanks to Aoife Murnane’s quick-fire brace.

A nervous Cork scored with their first shot on target, a Katie Quirke free after 11 minutes.

Their opponents, dominating possession and forcing multiple turnovers, would have been further ahead but for six first half wides.

Mayah Doyle edged the visitors in front before Katie Quirke (a free brought forward to the 13-metre line because a defender didn’t retreat) and Grace Ní Mhurchú levelled the score after 20 minutes. Aoife Rattigan restored Kildare’s advantage prior to the Lillies’ goalkeeper Rachel Fenin denying Leah Hallihan a certain goal.

Next, Cork were punished for not having three players in their opponent’s half. Alannah Prizeman gratefully converted the resulting free.

The first half ended in a welter of excitement as Melissa Duggan netted to move Cork unexpectedly 1-3 to 0-5 ahead after 30 minutes.

Yet, it was Kildare who would change ends in front. A turnover and breakaway ended with Aoife Murnane bursting clear to billow the net.

A low scoring third quarter saw the sides draw level once again, 1-6 apiece, as Emma Cleary, Leah Hallihan and Katie Quirke (free) found their range. Alannah Prizemann converted a 13-metre free.

Both goalkeepers, Caoime Richmond and Rachel Fennin, produced superb point-blank stops to keep the score unchanged until the 50th minute.

That was when Aoife Murnane left three Cork defenders in her wake and fired into the net to make it 2-6 to 1-6.

Cork rallied through Quirke and Abigail Ring (twice) levelling the score for a third time, 1-9 to 2-6.

It was anyone’s game as the clock ticked past 60 minutes. Alannah Prizeman’s free looked to have won it for Kildare but Katie Quirke had the final say, converting an injury-time free to secure Cork a draw.

Scorers for Cork: K Quirke 0-5 f, M Duggan 1-0, A Ring 0-2, G Ní Mhurchú, E Cleary, L Hallihan 0-1 each.

Kildare: A Murnane 2-2, A Prizemann 0-2 f, M Doyle, A Rattigan, J Harney 0-1 each.

CORK: C Richmond (Glanmire); M Duggan (Dohenys), D Kiniry (Lisgoold), K Horgan (Knocknagree); A Corcoran (Erin’s Own), S McGoldrick (Éire Óg), R Corkery (Naomh Abán); A Healy (St Colmans), A O’Mahony (Glanmire); R Leahy (Aghada), G Ní Mhurchú (Naomh Abán), E Cleary (Éire Óg, c); R O'Regan (Carrigaline), K Quirke (Bride Rovers), L Hallihan (Bride Rovers).

Subs: Á Terry O’Sullivan (Beara) for R O’Regan (42), K Redmond (Kinsale) for A O’Mahony (50), A Ring (Aghada) for L Hallihan (50), E Hurley (Ilen Rovers) for R Leahy (57), C Hughes (St Val’s) for R Corkery (58).

KILDARE: R Fennin; E Wheeler, R Sargent, M Doherty; H McLoughlin, L Shaw, L Lenehan (captain); N Murphy, G Wheeler; M Doyle, C Wheeler, A Rattigan; A Murnane, L Curran, A Prizeman.

Subs: J Harney for L Curran (2, inj), M Aspell for M Doyle (37), M McDonagh for G Wheeler (52), R Forde for A Rattigan (46), A Mahon for J Harney (57), A Cahill for A Prizemann (58).

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).