Cork 7-18
Tyrone 3-4
Daragh Small reports from Ballinasloe
NIAMH COTTER AND Doireann O’Sullivan led the way as Cork beat Tyrone to bounce back from last weekend’s shock defeat to Armagh and advance to the TG4 All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.
Cork had the issue wrapped up when they led by 3-8 to 1-3 ahead at half-time after goals from Eimear Scally, Eimear Kiely and Cotter. O’Sullivan added two more goals on the resumption as Cork cruised into the final four.
Ephie Fitzgerald’s side were expected to respond after last week’s surprise loss and last year’s runners-up didn’t disappoint at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe.
Tyrone had the aid of a slight breeze in the opening half but Cork, despite shooting seven wides, still found the net three times and pulled clear after Maeve Mallon’s goal had dragged Tyrone back into the game.
Orla Finn settled Cork when she struck first from a free in the fourth minute before a couple of Chloe McCaffrey points gave Tyrone the lead.
Then Scally scored a point and Libby Coppinger exchanged passes with Doireann O’Sullivan who set up Scally to score the first Cork goal.
Cork were 1-2 to 0-2 ahead in the tenth minute and after an Aoibhinn McHugh effort they scored an unanswered 1-3. Doireann O’Sullivan, Cotter and Finn all fired over Shannon Lynch’s crossbar.
And then Kiely’s speculative effort finished in the top corner of the Tyrone net in the 18th minute. Scally had a goal disallowed in the 22nd minute and then Mallon looked to have given Tyrone a real chance when she found the net moments later.
But another 1-3 in quick succession gave Cork a huge cushion at the break. Cotter scored a brilliant individual effort to make it 3-5 to 1-3 in the 31st minute. Cork finished the half off well with points from Doireann and Ciara O’Sullivan, and Finn rounded off the first half scoring.
Cork took a 3-8 to 1-3 lead into the second half and had the breeze to come, and they made their chances pay. Cotter, Finn and Ciara O’Sullivan extended their lead. Doireann O’Sullivan fired the fourth Cork goal after she was assisted by substitute Saoirse Noonan.
Mallon did score her second goal into the empty Cork net but with 20 minutes remaining Finn gave Cork a 4-12 to 2-3 lead. Kiely got forward to add another point before she left the field and Doireann O’Sullivan’s second goal came in the 44th minute.
Cork manager Fitzgerald unloaded more of his impressive substitutes bench and Áine O’Sullivan added 1-1 in the closing stages. Maria Canavan grabbed a consolation goal for Tyrone but Saoirse Noonan cancelled that out.
Scorers for Cork: D O’Sullivan 2-2, N Cotter 1-2, E Scally 1-2, O Finn 0-6 (4f), E Kiely 1-1, Á O’Sullivan 1-1, S Noonan 1-0, C O’Sullivan 0-2, R Ní Bhuachalla 0-1, A Hutchings 0-1.
Scorers for Tyrone: M Mallon 2-0, M Canavan 1-0, C McCaffrey 0-3, A McHugh 0-1.
Cork: M O’Brien; S Kelly, H Looney, E Meaney; A Hutchings, M Duggan, E Kiely; C O’Sullivan, M O’Callaghan; O Farmer, N Cotter, O Finn; L Coppinger, D O’Sullivan, E Scally. Subs: S Noonan for Coppinger (36), A O’Sullivan for Farmer (36), C O’Shea for Kiely (44), R Ní Bhuachalla for D O’Sullivan (50), M Ambrose for Cotter (50).
Tyrone: S Lynch; C Hunter, J Barrett, C Conway; T McLaughlin, S McCarroll, N McGirr; A McHugh, N Woods; E Brennan, M Canavan, EJ Gervin; N O’Neill, M Mallon, C McCaffrey. Subs: D Gallagher for McCarroll (30), C Kelly for Gervin (47), A Daly for McLaughlin (50), S Sheerin for O’Neill (54), A Tuohey for Brennan (58).
Referee: Gerry Carmody (Roscommon).
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Even when on the bench he didn’t get game time. The coach doesn’t like or trust him. Saturday once again showed just how wrong O’connor has been all season
O’Connor is just all wrong for Leinster.
He has a very big chance next season with Leinster during the World Cup, midfield won’t be as competitive so he should get a good run of matches.
Mark if Darcy doesn’t make the World Cup squad, he’ll play 12 with t’eo at 13. Then Madigan and sexton will be back so the midfield won’t be as easy to get into as you may think
That pop pass from O’Brien
Battle between him and Madigan for the 12 jersey next season.
It’s always to easy to see who coaches ‘just like/don’t like’. When Gopperth played badly it was ignored whereas when Madigan played mediocre or even if Reid played well decisions went against them.
It creates such a poisonous culture as some players start to feel entitled to spots and others feel it doesn’t matter how well they play they won’t get picked. Cody and Fergusson were masters at disregarding players identities and judging on match performance alone. MOC is such a stink manager.