Champions Cork finish strong against Dublin to return to All-Ireland minor final

Cork 2-15 Dublin 1-11 

Defending champions Cork are back in the ZuCar All-Ireland U18 A Championship final following victory over Dublin at Moyne Templetuohy GAA grounds in Tipperary.

In a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland minor decider, won 3-11 to 3-2 by Cork, the Rebels defeated their Leinster rivals for the second year in a row. That outcome has setup a meeting with Roscommon, following their win over Down in Thursday’s other last four encounter, on July 25.

Cork were delighted at the final whistle and rightly so. That’s because Kieran O’Shea’s side had to overcome stifling temperatures and a dogged opponent. Poor first-half shooting threatened to blight the Rebels’ attempts at overcoming Dublin again until a late Lauren O’Connor goal sealed victory.

Sarah O’Connor, Autumn Devereaux, Lauren Finnegan and Róisín Ní Liatháin all impressed but Cork’s standout performer was captain Laura Walsh. Dublin made a game of it until the third quarter but an inability to prevent Cork from winning primary possession around the middle third scuppered any hopes of an upset.

Phoebe Mackin would prove Dublin’s most potent attacking threat and opened the scoring inside the first minute. Cork’s response was instant with Lauren Finnegan billowing the net prior to a Laura Walsh free making it 1-2 to 0-1.

Cliona Ní Mhocháin, Sarah O’Connor and Ava Coughlan’s dominance of the middle third provided the Rebels forwards with plenty of ammunition.

Caoimhe O’Donnell, Autumn Devereaux and Lauren Finnegan obliged to make it 1-4 to 0-1 as Cork threatened to run riot.

Alas, six consecutive wides and a failure to score for 11 minutes allowed Dublin back into the game. The Leinster side punished their opponent’s profligacy when Phoebe Mackin found the net at the end of a flowing move.

A rampant Dublin continued to attack as Molly Bourke and Mackin frees preceded a Laoise Murtagh point to level the score 1-4 apeice.

Cork settled and remained patient in possession to finish the half strongly. Two Walsh frees and two Devereaux scores made it 1-8 to 1-4. Another Mackin free left a goal between the teams at half time.

Laura Walsh’s fourth converted free extended Cork’s lead to five at the beginning of the second period. Keeva O’Donovan and Sarah O’Connor swapped points before Cork goalkeeper Róisín Duggan produced an excellent save.

Róisín Ní Liatháin had a terrific game and extended Cork’s advantage, 1-11 to 1-6, courtesy of a fine individual score.

Laura Walsh’s influence grew as the half progressed and two points from the Mourneabbey forward made it a seven-point game with 13 minutes to go.

A Molly Bourke point temporarily stopped the Dublin rot before Cork put the result beyond doubt. Laura Walsh was at the heart of a move that ended with the Corkcaptin providing the assist for Lauren O’Connor to palm to the net.

2-13 to 1-6 behind with less than ten minutes remaining, Molly Bourke and Phoebe Mackin led a brief Dublin fightback.

Dublin defender Layla-Mai O’Neill’s yellow card arrived before late Finnegan and Walsh efforts sent Cork into a second consecutive All-Ireland U18 A final. Roscommon will prove tough opposition but, on this form, Cork have every chance of claiming back-to-back All-Ireland titles.

Scorers for Cork: L Walsh 0-7 (0-6 f), L Finnegan 1-2, L O’Connor 1-0, A Devereaux 0-3, C O’Donnell, S O’Connor, R Ní Liatháin 0-1 each.

Dublin: P Mackin 1-4 (0-2 f), M Bourke 0-5 (0-3 f), L Murtagh 0-1, K O’Donovan 0-1.

CORK: R Duggan (Clonakilty); A Kelleher (Kinsale), A Collins (Nemo Rangers), M Barrett (Erin’s Own); É Walsh (Mourneabbey), A Coughlan (Aghada), C O’Donnell (Kinsale); C Ní Mhocháin (Naomh Abán), S O’Connor (Ballincollig); L Finnegan (Mourneabbey), L Walsh (Mourneabbey, c), E Connolly (Castlehaven); A Devereaux (Youghal), L O’Connor (Inch Rovers), R Ní Liatháin (Naomh Abán).

Sub: A Treacy for L O’Connor (51).

DUBLIN: A Malone; E Fitzgerald, K Madden, C Brady; K Hanly, S Ó Donovan, K O’Donovan; E Stuart, S McDonnell (c); L Murtagh, E Reen, Á Mulligan; O Kehoe, M Bourke, P Macken.

Subs: L Gargan for E Reen (18), L-M McNeill for E Stuart (40), A Cahill for K Hanly (48), Z Flood for E Reen (48), R K Kallo for L Murtagh (51).

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).