Cork stamped their ticket to the TG4 All-Ireland SFC semi-finals at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, exhibiting sterling form against Waterford. Shane Ronayne’s team successfully overpowered their Munster competitors, ensuring their spot in the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals for the ninth time in the past decade.
Despite a prior defeat to Waterford in the National League, they were victorious in the Munster championship and subsequently set the scene for a semi-final face-off with either Dublin or Galway. This was partly due to phenomenal defensive play and a noteworthy third-quarter surge punctuated with a goal by Hannah Looney.
The squad awaits sterner challenges, but the remarkable collective performance established their consistent development. After starting the game without any Ballymacarbry players, Waterford saw Kellyann Hogan, their highest scorer who is currently travelling.
Emma Murray launched the visitors ahead but a formidable Cork refuted it effectively with scores from Aoife Healy, Emma Cleary, Laura O’Mahony, and Abbie O’Mahony taking the score to 0-4 to 0-1. Emma Murray followed with her second point, and then Katie Murray struck a brilliant goal for Waterford.
Cork, despite missing several opportunities, went into the break leading 0-6 to 1-2 following composed scoring by Máire O’Callaghan and Cleary. Cork ultimately secured their victory in the third quarter, going 1-4 without reply.
Further scores from Laura O’Mahony, Cleary and Katie Quirke (two) set up Hannah Looney’s 45-minute goal, which followed a brisk Cork attack. Despite Clodagh Carroll’s last-minute goal for Waterford, Cork leveraged a growing wind to maintain a safe distance from their rivals for the remainder of the quarter-final.
Eimear Kiely and Clodagh Carroll both managed to get a score on the board before Emma Fitzgerald’s successful free shot. Cork’s lead of eight points remained steady with a free shot from Quirke, before Laura O’Mahony notched up her third point.
Hannah Power and O’Callaghan both received yellow cards in the final moments of the game, but it didn’t deter Cork whose final score was a decisive 1-17 to Waterford’s 2-4, this win ensures they approach the second last round with growing momentum.
CORK’s team list included: S Murphy, M Duggan, S Kelly, S Leahy, A Healy (0-1), S Cronin, D Kelly, M O’Callaghan (capt) (0-1), A O’Mahony (0-1), E Cleary (0-4), L O’Mahony (0-3), A McDonagh, A McAuliffe, K Quirke (0-3, 1f) and R Leahy. Subs included H Looney (1-1) and E Kiely (0-1), both brought in at the 40-minute mark to substitute A O’Mahony and A McAuliffe respectively. Other substitutes were S McGoldrick (0-1) for S Cronin, A Ryan for A Healy and L McDonagh (0-1, f), who substituted K Quirke at 53 minutes.
WATERFORD: E O’Brien, C Murray, H Power (capt), K McGrath, A Murray, A McNulty, E Murray (0-2), E Power, C Carroll (1-1), M Comerford, A Fitzgerald, N Power, E Fitzgerald (0-1, f), L McGregor and K Murray (1-0). Substitutions included C McCarthy in for N Power (49 minutes), A Waring substituted K Mullen (51 minutes), and L O’Shea took over from L McGregor (55 minute onwards). The referee was Jonathan Murphy of Carlow.