Emma Cleary: Cork ready for very tough test against Waterford with no margin for error 

It’s a busy weekend for the Cork senior ladies football sides as both the A and B teams are in action.

The Senior A side take on Waterford on Sunday at Páirc Ui Rinn, throw-in 2pm, and the Senior B side face Tipperary at Carrigaline on Saturday, also with a 2pm throw-in.

The A side find themselves in a do-or-die game as a loss to Waterford on Sunday would see them out of the Munster championship, with a game to go in the round robin series.

They were shocked last Saturday night when they lost out to Tipperary by 0-11 to 0-9, a game they would have been hot favourites to win.

Having won the league two weeks beforehand, Cork would have been looking to build on that success and would have gone into this tie in confident form.

But huge credit must go to Tipp, who came with a game plan and carried it through from start to finish to frustrate Cork and deservedly win on the day.

Waterford got the better of Kerry in their opening tie and will travel to Leeside knowing a second win would virtually guarantee them a spot in the Munster final, where they lost to the Kingdom last year.

They won’t fear taking on Cork, and their recent record in this championship against the Rebels has been impressive.

They were big winners in this respective tie last season and will be hoping for more of the same on Sunday.

FINE MARGINS

Cork did beat them in their league clash earlier this year, but there was nothing in that game, and it took a late score for them to win.

Joe Carroll’s side will know that a repeat of their showing against Tipp will see them fall to another defeat and end their hopes of reaching the final.

As well as wanting to win the title, it is also important to at the very least progress to the final as it has a bearing on your seeding for the All-Ireland championship after it.

The further you progress in the Munster championship, the higher your seeding and thus increase your chances of not facing some of the top sides in the All-Ireland group stages.

Cork captain Emma Cleary said they didn’t perform against Tipp, but are lucky to be able to have the opportunity to rectify that.

“After the game, I said to the players in the dressing room that we could have been like the camogie side and out of the championship after their loss to Tipperary,” said Emma.

“Thankfully, we are not in that position and have the chance to get back in contention to reach the final on Sunday.

“It won’t be easy against Waterford as they are a very good team, and it’s going to be a tough one to win. It’s a do-or-die game for us and one we simply must win.”

For the B side, they will be looking to build on their impressive win over Kerry last weekend in a game they are expected to win.

But they will be on their guard after the A side’s loss to Tipp last weekend and know they can’t take their opponents for granted.

Last season Cork won their first game, also against Kerry, but then lost their remaining two ties and bowed out of the championship.

Brian Leamy and his side will be determined not to repeat that this year as they play at the home club of their captain, Emma Cooney.

Cooney won among those to impress in their win over Kerry, along with Holly Quirke, who scored 1-6 of their 2-18 tally against the Kingdom.

Siofra Pattwell, Amy McDonagh, Molly Beausang, and Rose Murphy were among others to impress, and if they reproduce their display against Kerry tomorrow, then expect the Rebels to make it two from two as they bid to reach the Munster final later in May.

CORK: C Richmond; M Duggan, D Kiniry, S Kelly; A Corcoran, S McGoldrick, R Corkery; M O'Callaghan, A O'Mahony; R Leahy, G Murphy, E Cleary (capt.); R O'Regan, K Quirke, A O'Sullivan.

WATERFORD: K Gardner; C Murray, L Mulcahy, R Browne; A McGrath, R Casey, K McGrath; E Murray (capt.), E Power; Á O'Neill, K Hogan, K Murray; M Daly, B McMaugh, L McGregor.

CORK Senior B: E O'Sullivan; N Kennedy, E Cooney (capt.), E Tarrant; A O'Sullivan, M Beausang, K O'Donovan; A McDonagh, R Murphy; S Beausang, N Sheehan, A McTaggart; S Pattwell, H Quirke, C Doyle.

TIPPERARY: D Morrissey; E Franklin, L McGrath, M Cronin; A Campion, C O'Connor, H Cleere; A O'Dwyer, S O'Carroll; H Brennan, N O'Donovan, I Carr; L Heffernan, É Hogan, R Daly (capt.).