Cork deny DCU Dubs first time glory in Croke Park

2009 proved to be the Cork senior ladies’ football year… again. Two weeks ago the rebellettes collected the Brendan Martin cup for the 5th successive year after beating a strong, and some would say , unlucky Dublin team. In total, five talented DCU footballers lined out for Dublin in the TG4 All Ireland Ladies Senior Football Final; Cliodhna O’Connor, Amy McGuinness, Emma Travers, Niamh McEvoy, and Lindsey Davey.

Dublin put on a fierce display of courage and determination, and looked like the stronger team for some time in the game.

Dublin have , undoubtedly, one of the strongest backlines in the country, powered by our very own Cliodhna O’Connor, who has tirelessly protected the Dublin net. O’Connor has proved herself one of the top goal keepers in the championship, with a particularly impressive display in the quarter final against Kerry.
The Jackies racked up the first two points of the game, one of which scored by DCU’s Lindsey Davey, a striking gem on the Dublin panel. Cork answered in the fifth minute, with Nollag Cleary sending home a powerful goal, set up by Valerie Mulcahy.

Dublin were not phased, and scores from Aherne, Kelly and another DCU student, Amy McGuinness secured Dublin a one point lead at the closing stages of the first half. McGuinness has had a fantastic year with Dublin. She has proved to be an invaluable player, central to Dublins charge throughout the game, and indeed, the championship.

Half time left Dublin ahead by one point, thanks to Mary Nevin and her second point of the game.
Things were going well for the Sky Blues, and the second half looked promising, the dream of lifting the coveted Brendan Martin cup for the first time was almost realised.

Alas, this was not to be. Cork edged forward ,and within five minutes of the second half scores from Mulcahy and captain Mary O’Connor put the rebellettes in front.

Dublin pressed on, with scores from Lindsay Peat, Aherne, and Siobhan McGrath proving the determination and hunger of this Dublin team.

It was Corks lengthy experience that pulled them through in the end, with Cleary and Mulcahy securing the title for the Leesiders once again.

One cannot deny Cork the accolade, they are a phenomenal team. Eamonn Ryan has propelled them to dizzy heights since his takeover in 2004. However, even Ryan admits that he was ‘relieved to win’, and that he was ‘worried’ at some stages. He stated that Dublin were ‘excellent’ particularly against Monaghan in the semi final.

Unfortunately the Dubs’ third attempt at claiming the ultimate ladies football prize failed, but by God, did they put up a fight!

Match statistics
Wides: Cork 7 (4); Dublin 8 (3).Frees: Cork 24 (12); Dublin 16 (8).Yellow cards: Cork 1 (C O’Sullivan 18); Dublin 0.Red Cards: 0.Attendance: 21,606
Scorers for Cork: V Mulcahy 0-5 (3f), N Cleary 1-1, J Murphy 0-2f, M Kelly 0-1.
Scorers for Dublin: S Aherne 0-3 (1f), M Nevin & A McGuinness 0-2 each, S McGrath, E Kelly, L Davey and L Peat 0-1 each.
CORK: E Harte; R Buckley, A Walsh, G O’Flynn; C O’Sullivan, B Stack, B Corkery; J Murphy, N Kelly; N Cleary, D O’Reilly, A O’Shea; M O’Connor, V Mulcahy, R Ní Bhuachalla.
Subs: L McMahon for O’Shea (39), L Barrett for Ní Bhuachalla (42), M Kelly for O’Connor (50).
DUBLIN: C O’Connor; A Cluxton, N Comyn, M Kavanagh; C Barrett, S Furlong, S McGrath; D Masterson, N McEvoy; M Nevin, A McGuinness, E Kelly; L Davey, S Aherne, L Peat.
Subs: L Kidd for Cluxton (26), N Hurley for Kelly (39), E Travers for Barrett (54), K Flood for McEvoy (56), R Byrne for Nevin (57).