Cork ladies footballers advance to All-Ireland semi-final after big win over Waterford

Cork 1-17 

Waterford 2-4 

A TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final berth is just reward for an improving Cork following victory over Waterford at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday.

Shane Ronayne’s side will face either Dublin or Galway in the last four of this year’s senior championship. 

A second win in three meetings with their Munster LGFA rivals was attained thanks to a solid defensive effort and third quarter surge.

Leading 0-6 to 1-2 at the interval, Cork kicked an unanswered 1-4, including a Hannah Looney goal, to put the game beyond Waterford’s reach.

The Déise starting fifteen did not include a single Ballymacarbry player but, despite a gutsy team effort, it was the absent Kellyann Hogan’s influence that was missed most.

Emma Murray burst through in the game’s opening attack and split the posts to hand the visitors a positive start. 

The Rebels’ response was immediate with Aoife Healy and Emma Cleary scoring twice in as many minutes.

Cork’s domination of the middle third led to Laura O’Mahony fisting over to make it 0-3 to 0-1 after 5 minutes. 

Waterford remained a threat as evidenced by Sarah Murphy’s point-blank stop to prevent Clodagh Carroll from netting.

Following that missed opportunity, both sides stayed patient in possession. 

It was Cork who looked the more dangerous in the final third as Abbie O’Mahony stretched her side’s advantage. 

The hosts would have been further ahead but for wayward shooting.

That profilgacy would prove costly as Emma Murray doubled her and Waterford’s total. 

Worse was to follow for Cork when Katie Murray was released and the corner-forward found the back of the net to make it 1-2 to 0-4 after 21 minutes.

Máire O’Callaghan grabbed a much-needed Cork point that brought parity to the score. 

Next, Laura O’Mahony setup Rachel Leahy for a goal chance that was smothered by Cora Murray before Emma Cleary edged her team in front at the half-time whistle.

Heavy showers made life difficult at the start of a second half. Eve Power and Lauren McGregor kept the Déise on the front foot but it was Cork who struck next through Laura O’Mahony.

Encouraged by that effort, Laura Cleary and Katie Quirke pushed Cork 0-9 to 1-2 courtesy of excellent scores clear shortly after. 

The same player fired over a rebound after O’Mahony’s shot was saved by Evelyn O’Brien.

Playing with the aid of strengthening wind, the Rebels pinned Waterford back and netted a crucial goal after 45 minutes. 

Substitute Hannah Looney collected a Katie Quirke pass and forced the ball home to make it 1-10 to 1-2.

Eimear Kiely and Clodagh Carroll exchanged scores prior to an Emma Fitzgerald free. 

Katie Quirke (free) kept Cork’s eight-point lead intact before Laura O’Mahony grabbed her third fisted point.

Hannah Power’s late yellow card only added to Waterford’s frustrations. 

Clodagh Carroll scored a late goal amid late flurry of scores but there could be no denying All-Ireland semi-final bound Cork.

Scorers for Cork: H Looney 1-1, E Cleary 0-4, K Quirke (1f), L O’Mahony 0-3 each, A Healy, A O’Mahony, M O’Callaghan, E Kiely, S McGoldrick, L McDonagh (1f) 0-1 each.

Waterford: C Carroll 1-1, K Murray 1-0, E Murray 0-2, E Fitzgerald (1f) 0-1 each.

CORK: S Murphy; M Duggan, S Kelly, S Leahy; A Healy, S Cronin, D Kelly; M O’Callaghan (captain), A O’Mahony; E Cleary, L O’Mahony, A McDonagh; A McAuliffe, K Quirke, R Leahy.

Subs: H Looney for A O’Mahony (40), E Kiely for A McAuliffe (40), S McGoldrick for S Cronin (47), A Ryan for A Healy (47), L McDonagh for K Quirke (53).

WATERFORD: E O’Brien; C Murray, H Power (captain), K McGrath; A Murray, A McNulty, E Murray; E Power, C Carroll; M Comeford, A Fitzgerald, N Power; E Fitzgerald, L McGregor, K Murray.

Subs: C McCarthy for N Power (49), A Waring for K Mullen (51), L O’Shea for L McGregor (55).

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).