Brianna Smith goal crucial as Cork ladies footballers beat Dublin in first U20 game

Cork 1-6 (1-0-6) Dublin 0-07 (0-0-7)

Cork got their maiden All-Ireland U20 Ladies Football Championship campaign off to a flyer at Cloughduv on Saturday afternoon.

Competing in the inaugural edition of the new competition, Cork were drawn in a five-team group including Dublin, Mayo, Galway, and Meath. Designed to bridge the gap between minor and senior football, the group winner will then progress to face the winner of the Ulster counterpart in the All-Ireland final on July 11.

Facing a Dublin side who won their opening match with Mayo, Cork knew they would be tested. The first thirty could be described as a tale of two halves. Both sides struggled to play their best stuff and assert much control in the opening twenty minutes, before a raft of scores in the final ten minutes brought the contest to life.

The visitors opened the scoring through Aimee Timothy. Cork responded immediately and in style, with Saoirse Cunningham pulling the strings in midfield and converting two frees.

The game settled into a rhythm. Both teams attacked and had plenty of possession but it lacked bite. It took until the 21st minute for the next score to arrive. Some neat play from the hosts led to a Caoimhe Horgan free, followed by a Hannah Sheehy effort.

Captain Brianna Smith then grabbed the key goal in the 23rd minute: 1-4 to 0-1. Emma Fogarty trimmed the gap but the hosts were in control at half-time.

Dublin came flying out of the traps on the resumption with Saibhín Peyton landing two points. brace in the 36th and 38th minutes. Fogarty then grabbed her second, pointing under pressure.

Cork got their first score of the half immediately after through Horgan.

Entering the closing 10 minutes, Murray added a free before Cunningham grabbed her third point from a 45 in the 53 minute.

Smith forced Dublin goalie Siún Nic Fhinn into a save and then a Fogarty score left two points in it heading into the closing stages.

Piling the pressure on in search of a winning goal, Dublin came close as a speculative effort fell at the feet of Cork number one Andrea Toye.

The Rebels held on and are on the road next, taking on Galway on May 23.

Scorers for Cork: B Smith 1-0, S Cunningham 0-3 (0-2 f, 0-1 45), C Horgan 0-2 (0-1 f), H Sheehy 0-1.

Dublin: E Fogarty 0-3 (0-1 f), S Peyton 0-2, A Timothy 0-1, D Murray 0-1 f.

CORK: A Toye (St Michael’s); O Drummey (Erin’s Own), K Goulding (Rockbán), A Cooper (Áth Fhada); M McRae (Áth Fhada), L Carey (Ilen Rovers), A O’Riordan (Ballinora); S Cunningham (Erin’s Own), M Collins (Ilen Rovers); A Buckley (St Valentine’s), B Smith (Áth Fhada), C Ní Thúama (Naomh Abán); C Horgan (Kinsale), C Fitzgerald (Nemo Rangers), H Sheehy (Castlehaven).

Subs: L O’Sullivan for A O’Riordan (ht), A McKeogh for M McRae (61 inj).

DUBLIN: S Nic Fhinn; C Sone Lenou, A Pollock, A Healy; E O’Dell, S Palmer, R Gaughran; H Murphy, Á McCauley; E Farrelly, K O’Toole, S Peyton; A Timothy, E Fogarty, D Murray.

Subs: R Heavey for E Farrelly (ht), A Smyth for A Timothy (ht), C O’Shea for S Palmer (53), A McGuirk for S Peyton (56), S Kinane Sweeney for A Healy (59).

Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).