Beth Carton and Niamh Rockett fire Waterford to win over Cork
Millie Condon of Cork clears from Beth Carton of Waterford. Picture: INPHO/James Lawlor
Cork got the defence of their Centra National Camogie League Division 1A title off to a losing start at Azzurri Walsh Park on Saturday.
With only four of the team that started the All-Ireland final last August playing it was a very much a new look Cork side and it was no great surprise to see an experienced Waterford outfit get the better of them.
But credit to Cork they battled to the end with the likes of Libby Coppinger, Ashling Thompson, Millie Condon and Niamh McNabola the pick of them.
Cork now face Antrim next weekend, a game they will be expected to pick up their first win in.
Beth Carton opened the scoring for the home side, with Niamh McNabola replying for Cork.
Another from Carton put Waterford back in front, as they led by 0-2 to 0-1 after five minutes.
A free from Niamh Rockett increased Waterford’s lead as she pointed from long distance, using the wind at their backs to her full advantage.
Abby Flynn increased their lead and with 11 minutes gone Bevan Bowdren added another to see Waterford in front by 0-5 to 0-1.
In the absence of Cork’s regular free takers Keeva McCarthy took over the duties and she pointed to add her side’s second score.
Flynn combined with Carton for the latter to increase Waterford’s lead as the home side were making the most of their chances, to lead by 0-6 to 0-2.
Carton struck another as she was causing the Cork defenced all sorts of problems and she was on target again, to make it 0-8 to 0-2 after 23 minutes.
McCarty pulled a point back from a free, after 27 minutes, which was the last score of the half as Waterford led by 0-8 to 0-3 at the break.
McNabola got the first score of the second half as Cork were now playing with the strong wind.
Another free from McCarthy has the Waterford lead down to three, with 35 minutes played – 0-8 to 0-5.
A minute later and Waterford found the back of the net. Rockett picked up the ball, and it looked like the Cork defence had done enough to stop her.
But from her knees she looped the ball over Amy Lee’s head to score a magnificent goal to make it 1-8 to 0-5.
Carton increased their lead as Cork were finding it hard to get a foothold in the game, no surprise with the number of players missing.
Two subs, Avril Cashman and Isobel Sheehan, combined for the latter to point with Emma Murphy adding another from a free.
Ava McAuliffe, just on as a sub for Cork, pointed with her first touch, with Orla Hickey replying at the other end.
Lorraine Bray added another for the home side, to make it 1-11 to 0-8 with a minute to go.
Caton got her seventh of the afternoon to put seven between the sides as the game entered injury time.
Murphy had a late chance for a goal for Cork, but her effort was well saved by Brianna O’Regan and the danger was cleared.
Murphy got the last score of the tie as the home side ran out winners by 1-12 to 0-9.
B Carton 0-7, N Rockett 1-1 (0-1 f), A Flynn, B Bowdren, O Hickey, L Bray 0-1 each.
K McCarthy 0-3 f, E Murphy (f), N McNabola 0-2 each, I Sheehan, A McAuliffe 0-1 each.
B O’Regan; V Falconer, C Carroll, A McNulty; R Walsh, K Corbett Barry, C Sherlock; L Bray, A Flynn; E O’Neill, B Carton, B Bowdren; N Rockett, L Forrester, R Kirwan.
M Gosti for R Kirwan (37), O Hickey for L Forrester (40), S Lacey for N Rockett (48), A O’Sullivan for C Sherlock (55).
A Lee (Na Piarsaigh); M Murphy (Ballinora), L Coppinger (St Colum’s), A O’Neill (St Finbarr’s); A Fitzgerald (Sarsfields), D O’Brien (Enniskeane), R Harty (Ballyhea); M Condon (Ballinascarthy), A Thompson (Milford); E Murphy (Glen Rovers), C Kingston (Newcestown), K McCarthy (St Finbarr’s); H Ryan (Blackrock), N McNabola (Cloughduv), C O’Callaghan (Blackrock).
A Cashman (Youghal) for C Kingston (ht), A Sheppard (Cloughduv) for C O’Callaghan (37), I Sheehan (Éire Óg) for K McCarthy (40), O Cahalane (St Finbarr’s) for H Ryan (44), O Cremin for (Éire Óg) for A Fitzgerald (46), A McAuliffe (Castlemartyr) for N McNabola (55).
Liz Dempsey, Kilkenny.
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