Carroll: It's heart breaking as late Dublin goals end All-Ireland dream

Manager Joe Carroll hailed his Cork side’s performance despite a heart breaking one-point defeat to reigning champions Dublin in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship quarter-final, insisting there is a bright future ahead for the Rebels.

Cork looked set to book their place in the semi-finals after producing one of their finest displays of the season, only for Dublin to strike for two goals in the space of a minute late on and snatch a dramatic 3-11 to 2-13 victory.

The result was a cruel blow for a Cork side that had led by five points inside the closing stages and had matched, and often surpassed, the defending champions for long periods.

“It’s heart breaking,” Carroll admitted afterwards.

“Outstanding effort. Great football played, great scores kicked, but it didn’t work out in the end and that’s the way it happens sometimes.

“I thought in the first 15 minutes of the second half in particular we were by far the better team and played the best football we played in my term of office. There are huge bright prospects in Cork ladies football and I’m sure their day will come.”

While Dublin eventually found a way through, Carroll was full of praise for a number of his players, highlighting the influence of several experienced performers and emerging stars.

“There was a lot of them playing well,” he said.

“Maire O’Callaghan was rolling back the years in the middle of the field. Melissa Duggan played very well and the forwards caused problems too. Leah Hallihan had a great game before she picked up an injury.

“There’s a lot to be proud of but it’s hugely disappointing when you get that close and don’t get the win.”

A major talking point came midway through the second half when Cork had a goal ruled out in controversial circumstances.

Carroll felt the decision was difficult to understand, particularly as Cork were subsequently awarded a free.

“The big turning point was the goal that was disallowed,” he said.

“At that stage we would have gone fairly substantially ahead and it would have been a massive blow to Dublin.

“We still don’t understand why it was ruled out. If the goal is disallowed because you fouled the ball, then how do you get a free in afterwards? There’s a contradiction there.

“There were a few other decisions as well that we would question, but that’s not the reason we lost. We’re just hugely disappointed for the players.”

Despite that setback, Cork appeared to have one foot in the last four when substitute Abigail Ring found the net to open up a five-point advantage with less than 10 minutes remaining.

“It was a decent lead,” Carroll reflected.

“When they got the first goal I think we maybe panicked slightly. We probably should have slowed things down more and held possession better.

“It’s easy to be wise after the event, but we took on a few chances when maybe we should have looked after the ball.

“The two goals were unfortunate, but these things happen. With the way the game is now, a five-point lead isn’t really a five-point lead anymore. Scores can come very quickly.”

While devastated by the manner of the defeat, Carroll believes there is plenty for Cork to build on after a campaign that also included Lidl National Football League success.

Having overseen a period of transition following the departure of several established players, the manager pointed to an exciting conveyor belt of young talent coming through the county.

“Overall, you’d still conclude with a positive note,” he said.

“We won a national league title and that’s not a bad return.

“Last year’s minors won an All-Ireland and a lot of those girls weren’t available to us this year because of Leaving Cert commitments. A lot of them will come into contention next season.

“This year’s minors are in an All-Ireland semi-final as well. If you can get four or five players out of those groups coming through every year, Cork football will be back where it should be.

“The future is looking very bright.”