Jackies edged out by Cork in extra-time

LIDL LADIES NFL DIVISION 1 SEMI-FINAL

CORK 1-18 DUBLIN 2-14 (After extra-time)

Orla Finn starred with 13 points in the sun as Cork knocked reigning Lidl National Football League Division 1 champions Dublin off their perch, and booked their place in the final with victory at Nowlan Park.

In an absorbing game that went from end-to-end and lasted for over 86 minutes, Cork had just enough to secure their second win in as many games over their arch rivals.

Cork manager Ephie Fitzgerald held Doireann O’Sullivan, Eimear Scally and Saoirse Noonan in reserve, while Dublin had to do without the injured Sinead Goldrick.

But it was Orla Finn who shone in the opening half and she scored six frees to move her side into contention before Melissa Duggan blasted a goal.

Finn pointed from a free first and then the reigning TG4 All-Ireland and league champions got up and running, and their first score was goal when Niamh McEvoy finished Noelle Healy’s pass low to the net in the fourth minute.

Finn hit back with a couple of frees either side of Sinéad Aherne’s first point from a free, and two more Finn frees had Cork back in front by the 22^nd minute.

Aherne doubled her tally and then in the 26^th minute she scored the second Dublin goal. McEvoy was through when she was brought down by Eimear Kiely. Aherne kept her cool and converted the penalty into the bottom right corner of Martina O’Brien’s goal.

Finn reduced the arrears again, and in the 31^st minute Duggan struck for a crucial score. Ciara O’Sullivan delivered the killer hand pass and the St Colum’s ace hit the net. Aherne scored just before half-time and the sides were level 2-3 to 1-6 at the break.

Healy scored first on the resumption and Cork took control with four points in a row. Niamh Cotter pointedthe last of those four scores and Cork led by 1-10 to 2-4, only for Dublin to charge back with points from Lauren Magee, McEvoy and Siobhán Killeen.

The teams were level and points from Orlagh Farmer and Ciara O’Sullivan looked to have secured the win. However, McEvoy and a wonderful Nicole Owens point brought the game to extra-time.

Owens was awarded a yellow card before the end while Aine O’Sullivan picked up astraight red card for dissent immediately after she was shown a yellow card for a similar offence.

Dublin held a narrow 2-13 to 1-15 lead at half-time in extra-time. Aherne scored just before the break, but a couple of Finn frees had Cork back in charge in the second half.

Duggan put Cork 1-18 to 2-13 in front with a driving score and Dublin couldn’t peg them back on this occasion.

“The last defeat (regulation league game) wouldn’t have bothered me but today bothered me,” said Dublin manager Mick Bohan.

“But there is nothing between the two teams and we would have known that going into the All-Ireland final last year. A kick of a ball and on another day the kick of the ball could have gone our way.”

Dublin had to do without Sinéad Goldrick who pulled out with a broken hand that she suffered during a tackling drill in training. Bohan says she will be back fit in four to six weeks.

“She is a huge player and has been a warrior for this team for many a year. On a day like today she would have made a huge difference but that’s the nature of sport,” said Bohan.

SCORERS – Cork: O Finn 0-13 (12f), M Duggan 1-1, N Cotter 0-1, C O’Sullivan 0-1, O Farmer 0-1, E Scally 0-1. Dublin: S Aherne 1-4 (1-0 pen, 2f), N McEvoy 1-4 (3f), N Healy 0-1, L Magee 0-1, S Killeen 0-1, N Owens 0-1, N Hetherton 0-1, K Sullivan 0-1.

CORK: M O’Brien; M Duggan, H Looney, C O’Shea; S Kelly, A Hutchings, E Kiely; N Cotter, M O’Callaghan; C O’Sullivan, O Farmer, L O’Mahony; L Coppinger, A O’Sullivan, O Finn. Subs: E Scally for O’Mahony (21), S Noonan for Finn (50), D Kiely for Kelly (53), E Meaney for O’Shea (53), S O’Leary for E Kiely (61), O Finn for A O’Sullivan (60), L O’Mahony for O’Leary (70), S Kelly for Cotter (74), C O’Shea for Duggan (81).

DUBLIN: C Trant; E Rutledge, N Collins, R Ruddy; A Kane, S Finnegan, O Carey; J Dunne, M Byrne; C Rowe, S Aherne, L Davey; N Owens, N McEvoy, N Healy. Subs: L Magee for Rutledge (35), S Killeen for Davey (50), N Hetherton for Dunne (51), S Woods for Rowe (60), K Sullivan for Owens (f-t), N Owens for Healy (70),J Dunne for Magee (78), H O’Neill for Owens (80).

REF: N McCormack (Laois).

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