West Cork reach final for second year in a row
West Cork 3-13
Éire Óg 1-7
TOM LYONS REPORTS
ÁINE Terry O’Sullivan hit 2-7 as West Cork qualified for the county senior football final for the second year in a row.
The divisional side enjoyed a comprehensive win over gallant Éire Óg in Cloughduv on Wednesday night to set up a repeat of last year’s final against Mourneabbey on Saturday, October 5th at CIT.
‘Very happy with that workout,’ said a pleased West Cork manager Brian McCarthy.
‘We asked the girls to go on the front foot from the start in this game and, in fairness, they did. The second half was messy but we got the goals but John Cleary and Tom Scally are doing great work with Éire Óg and we knew we were in for a good fight here tonight.
‘We know we have a lot of work to do for the final. We scored 3-13 but I’d be looking at what we missed and we did miss a lot of scores. We’re happy to be back in the county final but we know we’re up against the All-Ireland champions.’
West Cork led 1-9 to 0-3 at the break. They led 1-2 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter, Áine Terry O’Sullivan with a tenth minute goal, and two points from Libby Coppinger.
With the strong Niamh Cotter and the lively Melissa Duggan dominating midfield, West Cork controlled the second quarter and points from O’Sullivan, Daire Kiely and Cotter brought their tally to 1-9 by half time. Éire Óg never stopped battling, with Eimear Scally outstanding and pulled two points back before half time.
It was 1-10 to 0-5 at the end of the third quarter with Áine Terry O’Sullivan missing a penalty. The closing five minutes produced more action and excitement than the rest of the game when Libby Coppinger hit the net after a superb West Cork move and O’Sullivan pointed yet another free.
Éire Óg were determined to die with their boots on and substitute, Rebecca Sheehan forced the ball over the goal-line following a Scally free. Scally herself followed with a point, blasted just over the crossbar but O’Sullivan had the last say for West Cork in injury time when she kicked her second goal of the game.
Scorers
West Cork: Áine T O’Sullivan 2-7 (6f); Libby Coppinger 1-2; Daire Kiely, Eimear Kiely, Niamh Cotter, Clare O’Leary 0-1 each.
Éire Óg: Eimear Scally 0-6 (5f); Rebecca Sheehan 1-0; Emma Cleary 0-1.
West Cork: Martina O’Brien (Clonakilty, captain); Siobhán Courtney (Castlehaven), Sarah Hayes (Rosscarbery), Clare O’Shea (Beara); Laura O’Mahony (O’Donovan Rossa), Emma Spillane (Bantry Blues), Cliona Maguire (Rosscarbery); Niamh Cotter (Beara), Melissa Duggan (Dohenys); Eimear Kiely (Valley Rovers), Clare O’Leary (Clonakilty), Daire Kiely (Valley Rovers); Libby Coppinger (St Colum’s), Áine T O’Sullivan (Beara), Fiona Keating (Courcey Rovers).
Subs: Lucy Coakley (Bantry Blues) for C O’Leary (48), Rachel Murphy (Bantry Blues) for E Kiely (53), Eve Murphy (Bantry Blues) for D Kiely (56), Christine O’Sullivan (Beara) for C O’Shea (59).
Éire Óg: Lisa Crowley; Aobha Hickey, Elaine Scally, Meadbh Cahalane; Aisling O’Connell, Isobel Sheehan, Alannah Hickey; Aoife Mac an Bháird, Laura Cleary; Shauna Cronin, Emma Cleary, Grace Collins; Meadbh Kelly, Eimear Scally, Aoife Scally. Subs: Áine Cronin for G Collins (30), Rebecca Sheehan for M Kelly (56).
Referee: Damian Taffe.
