Cork ladies footballers into league final with a game to spare after hitting Meath for four goals

Cork 4-8 Meath 2-12 

Cork qualified for the Lidl LGFA National League Division 1 final thanks to a hard-earned win over Meath in MTU Cork last Saturday.

Victory over Meath secured Cork's place in this year’s Division 1 National League decider on Saturday, April 11 (venue tbc). It is a terrific achievement for Joe Carroll and his players considering a much-changed senior set-up only gained promotion from Division 2 last year.

Four goals from Katie Quirke (2), Áine Terry O’Sullivan and Aimee Corocran helped Cork see off a Meath team who remain in relegation danger heading into next weekend’s final round of games.

Weather conditions were perfect at throw-in as Cork patiently built an early four-point lead.

Twice Áine Terry O’Sullivan went close to a goal, blazing her first effort over the bar and watching a chipped effort saved by a scrambling Robyn Murray after the goalkeeper’s kick-out went awry.

O’Sullivan added two more points before Aoife Healy slotted over a dominant Cork’s fourth unanswered score.

Emma Duggan’s free settled Meath until Katie Quirke cut in along the end-line and fired into the net after 14 minutes.

1-4 to 0-1 behind, Meath dominated the second quarter. Marian Farrelly and Megan Thynne added quick-fire scores before Áine Terry O’Sullivan was denied a goal by full-back Áine Sheridan. The Leinster side recovered the ball before working a superb Rachel Casserly score.

Aoife Healy responded but the remainder of the half belonged to Meath. Dominating their opponents' kick-outs, the visitors recycled possession from three consecutive restarts and converted through Emma Duggan (two frees) and Rachel Casserly.

Cork may have led 1-5 to 0-7 at the break but fresh impetus was badly needed.

It was the visitors who restarted positively however, Emma Duggan landing her fourth free to level the score.

Just when the game appeared to be slipping from Cork’s grasp, Erin’s Own’s Aimee Corcoran thundered through and found the bottom corner after 36 minutes.

That green flag galvanised the hosts and a terrific Leah Hallahan point stretched Joe Carroll’s side lead. Katie Quirke added a free and Cork enjoyed a 2-7 to 0-8 advantage heading into the final 15 minutes.

Ciara Smyth walloped over a long range effort but Meath were pegged back when Katie Quirke scored again.

Behind 2-8 to 0-9, the Rebels were penalised for a jersey pull in front of their goal with 10 minutes left. Emma Duggan smashed the resulting close-range free into the net to setup a grandstand finish.

The game back in the melting pot, Áine Terry O’Sullivan’s palmed into an empty net to make it 3-8 to 1-9 with 5 minutes remaining.

An Emma Duggan free made it a four-point game before O’Sullivan turned provider and fed Katie Quirke to smash home Cork’s fourth goal.

A late Marion Farrelly goal came too late for Meath but it is Cork who march on to a Division 1 final.

Scorers for Cork: K Quirke 2-2 (0-2 f), Á T O’Sullivan 1-3, A Corocran 1-0, A Healy 0-2, L Hallahan 0-1.

Meath: E Duggan 1-5 (0-5 f), M Farrelly 1-1, M Thynne, R Casserly 0-2 each, C Smyth, Nallogly 0-1 each.

CORK: C Redmond (Glanmire); M (Dohenys), D Kiniry (Lisgoold), S Kelly (Araglen Desmonds Buí); A Corcoran (Erin’s Own), S McGoldrick (Éire Óg), R Corkery (Naomh Abán); A Healy (St Colman’s), A O’Mahony (Glanmire); R Leahy (Aghada), G Ní Mhurchú (Naomh Abán), E Cleary (Éire Óg, captain); Á T O’Sullivan, K Quirke (Bride Rovers), L Hallihan (Bride Rovers).

Subs: C Hughes (St Val’s) for D Kiniry (33), R O’Regan (Carrigaline) for L Hallahan (52), K Redmond (Kinsale) for G Ní Mhurchú (52), S Callanan (Clonakilty) for R Corkery (57), A Ring (Aghada) for Á T O’Sullivan (57), E Hurley for (Ilen Rovers) for R Leahy (60), C McCarthy (St Val’s) for K Quirke (62).

MEATH: R Murray; K Kealy, Á Sheridan, A Farrell; C Lawlor, O Gore, K Bermingham; O Sheehy, M Thynne; M Farrelly, C Smyth, N Gallogly (captain); E Duggan, L Woods, R Casserly.

Subs: M Byrne for L Woods (41), S Murphy for R Casserly (41), M K Lynch for O Gore (42), C Millington for C Lawlor (47), O Finnegan for O Sheehy (47), Ó Smith for A Farrell (51).

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).