| |||
 | |||
|
Irish Examiner
Cork 4-5 Down 2-4
A POWERFUL defensive display deservedly earned Cork their seventh All-Ireland junior camogie title in Croke Park yesterday by holding a strong Down side scoreless in the second half.
Elizabeth Bugler's 37th minute goal gave them the perfect psychological boost and enabled them to sustain a strong challenge all the way to the final whistle.
Team captain Valerie O'Keeffe from the Kilbrittain-Timoleague club, admitted to a 'brilliant feeling' after having received the trophy from Association President Miriam O'Callaghan. "The girls never gave up and fair play to them, they kept going. We knew from Down's semi-final game that a quick start was vital for us and we managed that," she commented.
Team manager Lillian Zinkant agreed that their defence played a crucial role in the victory, Cork's seventh in the grade and their first in five years.
"Down were a very tough, physical team and they were running at us. But our half-back line battened down the hatches in the second half and went all out for it," she said.
"We held the line across the half-back line and there wasn't much went in.
"It was all about drive and spirit. There was no way they were coming off the field defeated."
Cork opened the scoring with a third minute point from a 45 by team captain Valerie O'Keeffe and it was followed soon afterwards by the first of their goals. It came from left corner-forward Marian Jagoe after the Down goalkeeper Teresa McGowan had brought off a good save from full-forward Miriam Deasy.
However, it didn't take Down long to settle. Full-forward Cathy Mulholland came close to goaling in the seventh minute, but was in better luck as she did score three minutes later when she was unmarked to take a pass.
It quickly became apparent that Cork were up against tough opposition in actuality a senior team because by the 13th minute Down had forged ahead with another goal, this time from centre-forward Marian McAleenan. And, the manner in which they were winning possession out around midfield and at half-back indicated their potential. The forwards, too, showed plenty of pace, with Mulholland and McAleenan linking up well.
However, Cork showed maturity in the way they came to terms with their situation, specifically by tightening up in defence. Here, goalkeeper Eileen Clifford's handling of the ball was outstanding and full-back Elaine O'Riordan settled down to play a fine game after coming under pressure early on. And Cork again began to show promise in attack.
Valerie O'Keeffe, a tireless worker at midfield, put over two frees and they were level by the 16th minute with a goal from Eimear O'Farrell from a move involving Deasy and Jagoe.
Further improvement yielded another goal from Elizabeth Bugler in the 25th minute, after both herself and Sarah O'Donovan had come close to putting the ball in the net just before it. At the break, it was 3-3 to 2-4 for Cork.
Bugler, from the Valley Rovers club, got a second goal in the 37th minute, after gaining possession from a sideline ball from O'Keeffe. When she pointed herself soon afterwards, Cork were two goals in front and looking good.
After that it was largely a question of their half-backs taking over, with Mairead Holland first to dominate on the left flank.
In time, Jennifer Browne took over at right-half and Amanda O'Regan controlled the play in the centre by her astute reading of the play.
Down were a little unfortunate with a few scoring chances and Cathy Mulholland might have had a goal, but with Eileen Clifford inspiring with her dependability in goal, Cork grew steadily in confidence to the stage where they were never going to lose.
Scorers: Cork E. Bugler 2-0; V. O'Keeffe 0-5 (0-4 frees, 0-1 '45); E. O'Farrell and M. Jagoe 1-0 each. Down: M. McAleenan 1-1; C. Mulholland 1-0; C. McGourty 0-2 frees; K. Gribben 0-1.
CORK: E. Clifford; G. Kearney, E. O'Riordan, N. Goulding; J. Browne, A. O'Regan, M. Holland; V. O'Sullivan, V. O'Keeffe (capt.); M. O'Connell, S. O'Donovan, E. Bugler; E. O'Farrell, M. Deasy, M. Jagoe. Subs: M. Hegarty for Goulding (26th minute); J. Duffy for Bugler (51st); G. Collins for O'Donovan (64th).
DOWN: T. McGowan; C. McGovern, M. Maginn, A. Morgan; D. Kelland, P. Green, K. Murray; J. Braniff (capt.), L. McCrickard; F. Duff, M. McAleenan, C. McGourty; F. Carr, C. Mulholland, K. Gribben. Subs: O. Maginn for Morgan (30th); B. Gallagher for Duffy (49th); M. McPolin for Gribben (62nd); A. Fearon for Mulholland (63rd).
Referee: E. Lawlor (Westmeath).
| ||
www.newtownshandrum.com | |||