Cork ladies footballers lose by 11 points at home to Waterford

Cork 3-7 Waterford 3-18 

Waterford inflicted a second consecutive TG4 Munster LGFA SFC defeat on Cork following a powerful display at Páirc Ui Rinn on Sunday.

The Déise followed up their opening round provincial win over Kerry by taking down the Lidl League Division 1 champions in their own backyard.

Tomás Mac A tSaoir’s side were full value for their victory thanks to Kellyann Hogan, Katie Murray and Clare Walsh’s scoring prowess and a superb all-round team display.

As for Cork, Joe Carroll’s side head to Killarney needing to defeat Kerry to avoid ending their provincial championship without a point.

Heavy showers made for slippery underfoot conditions at throw in. Kellyann Hogan’s long-range attempt was palmed over the crossbar by Cork goalkeeper Caoimhe Richmond to open the scoring.

The home team’s response was instant as a terrific move resulted in Máire O’Callaghan bursting through to fire into the net after 10 minutes.

A converted Katie Quirke free (brought forward 50 metres) handed Cork a 1-1 to 0-1 lead before Waterford got to grips with the occasion and thundered into the game. 

Upping the tempo, Katie Murray set up Clare Walsh for a goal prior to two Kellyann Hogan and two Áine O’Neill efforts pushing the visitors four clear after 10 minutes.

Áine Terry O’Sullivan kicked Cork’s first point from open play just shy of the quarter-hour as Joe Carroll’s side looked to regain a foothold.

A Katie Quirke white flag further reduced the deficit before the full forward turned provider for Leah Hallihan. The latter netted Cork’s second goal from close range after 18 minutes.

The Déise refused to panic however, as consecutive Ruby Browne and Eve Power scores made it 1-8 to 2-3 in the visitors’ favour.

Then, Waterford forced another turnover and Áine O’Neill provided the assist for a superbly finished Katie Murray goal. 

Murray added a point to make it 2-9 to 2-3 at the short whistle.

Murray continued to torment Cork’s defence with a fisted point on the restart. Sadhbh McGoldrick and Rosie Corkery each split the posts but Cork couldn’t prevent Bríd McMaugh and Clare Walsh from edging Waterford 2-12 to 2-5 ahead.

Cork needed a spark and Emma Cleary provided it via a cracking shot into the top corner after 37 minutes. Yet, Kellyann Hogan steadied Waterford nerves with two converted frees to make it 2-14 to 3-5.

The same player put her stamp on proceedings with a thunderbolt into the roof of the net after 44 minutes and extended Waterford’s lead to nine. Hogan (free) added a point prior to Katelyn Gardner denying Áine Terry O’Sullivan a goal at the opposite end.

Quirke (free) kicked a desperately needed Cork score but Lauren McGregor fisted over from a tight angle to maintain the Déise's advantage.

Emma Murray and Kellyann Hogan (free) completed the rout as Waterford took a giant step towards this year’s Munster SFC final.

Scorers for Cork: K Quirke 0-3 (0-2 f), M O’Callaghan, L Hallihan, E Cleary 1-0 each, S McGoldrick 0-2, ÁT O’Sullivan, E Hurley 0-1 each.

Waterford: K Hogan 1-8 (0-4 f), K Murray 1-2, C Walsh 1-1, Á O’Neill 0-2, R Browne, E Power, B McMaugh, L McGregor, E Murray 0-1 each.

CORK: C Richmond; S Callanan, D Kiniry, S Kelly; A Corcoran, M Duggan, R Corkery; S McGoldrick, A O’Mahony; R Leahy, M O’Callaghan, E Cleary (c); L Hallihan, K Quirke, ÁT O’Sullivan.

Subs: K Redmond for A O’Mahony (47), R O’Regan for R Leahy (47), A Ring for M O’Callaghan (47), E Hurley for ÁT O’Sullivan (54), K O’Driscoll for S McGoldrick (57).

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

Subs: C Fennell for M Daly (h-t), L Cusack for R Browne (57), L Ní Harta for E Power (57), A McGrath for K Murray (58), O Kennedy for L Mulcahy (59).

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).