Cork intermediate camogie team blow Galway away to top group with five wins from five games played

Cork 3-17

Galway 0-9

A superb performance from Cork in Castle Road on Saturday ensured they finished Group 1 of the Glen Dimplex Intermediate Championship undefeated and advance to the semi-final stage as they eased past a Galway side that needed to win by nine points to grab a semi-final spot.

Galway will now face Kerry in the quarter final next weekend.

The opening half was close with Cork leading by two points, 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.

They were counting themselves lucky as Galway, playing with the aid of the strong wind, squandered several scoring opportunities, most notably 12 minutes in when Chloe Broderick’s pass to Caoimhe Kelly saw Kelly hit the side netting from close range when she should have goaled.

The sides were level at two points apiece after ten minutes.

Lauren Homan and Edel Sheehan giving Cork an early advantage only to be pegged back by Niamh Spellman with two Galway points.

Cliona O’Callaghan and Tara McCarthy restored Cork’s advantage and with Galway playing with a third midfielder, they were picking up a lot of possession.

Niamh Spellman pointed a free to cut the deficit, but two without reply had Cork three points clear after 20 minutes.

Putting a lot of pressure on the Cork defence, Galway hit two points in a row and as the sides swapped further points, Cork were two clear at the half time whistle, 0-7 to 0-5.

Cork were dominant in the second half and added 1-3 to their tally before Galway found a response.

Lauren Homan hit a goal inside 20 seconds of the restart and points form Niamh O’Regan, Laura Doyle and Lauren Homan had Cork seven points in front and Galway in trouble.

With Cork moving the ball fast, Galway were under pressure.

Caoimhe Kelly had a point back for them but again Cork were finding gaps and by the three quarter stage it was 1-14 to 0-8 and Cork never looked in danger of being caught.

As they piled on the pressure the scores came fast and furious.

Eimear Duignan, Katie Walsh, Cliona O’Callaghan all added to the Cork tally.

Chloe Broderick and Caoimhe Kelly had Galway points, but Cork finished it out in style when Katie Walsh with a pin-point pass found Lauren Homan, who kicked the ball to the net for her third goal. 

Eimear Duignan added a point on the full time whistle as Cork advanced with ease to the last four.

Cork manager Donie Daly was pleased with this side’s display and with a two-week break to the semi-final, they can enjoy a well-earned break next week.

Galway will be happy to advance to the quarter final stage next weekend and one got the impression that today they were holding back and we should expect to see several of their regulars who were amongst the substitutes today featuring next week against Kerry as they bid to join Cork in the last four.

Scorers for Cork: L Homan 3-2, E Duignan 0-3, C O’Callaghan , N O’Regan 0-2 each, E Sheehan, T McCarthy, A Cashman, L Buttimer, L Doyle , C Dooley, H O’ Leary, K Walsh 0-1 each.

Galway: C Kelly 0-3 (0-2f’s), N Spellman 0-3 (0-2f’s), A Kelly, C Broderick, C O’Meara 0-1 each.

Cork: C Hurley (St Finbarr’s); A Barrett (Aghabullogue), N O’Leary (Brian Dillon’s), E Flanagan (Aghabullogue); A Cashman (Youghal), O McAllen (Sarsfields), M Ring (Aghabullogue); T McCarthy (Glen Rovers), L Buttimer (Cloughduv); N O’Regan (St Catherine’s), C O’Callaghan (Blackrock), E Sheehan (Eire Og); C Dooley, (Ballinora), E O’Donoghue (Bishopstown), L Homan (Brian Dillon’s).

Subs: E Duignan (Mallow) for T McCarthy(h/t), M de Burca (Charleville) for M Ring (blood sub 40), K Walsh (Glen Rovers) for N O’Regan (44), H O’ Leary (St Finbarr’s) for L Buttimer(48), E Curtin (Blackrock) for C Dooley (52), O Keating (Ballincollig for E Sheehan (58).

Galway: C Hickey; A Keane, E Burke, L Ni Dhonncha; C Lawless, R McPhilbin, Z Rodgers; A Joyce , C O’Meara; N Spellman, A Kelly, C Broderick;

S Flynn, K Madden, C Kelly.

Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare).