Ladies Football News

Monaghan V Cork All Ireland Semi-final 08/09/2012

Monaghan’s hopes of another All Ireland spot the second year running was cruelly dashed by a superior Cork team on Saturday last.

From the word go Cork showed why they have been the best team in the country in the last decade – with over one minute of play gone All star midfielder Juliet Murphy put over the first point for Cork, Monaghan then got on the scores sheet with good work by Ciara Mc Anespie to pick out Caoimhe Mohan who pointed over on the left, in the sixth minute Caoimhe Mohan who was having the better of the early exchanges was fouled and Niamh Kindlon put over the resulting free, it was nip and tuck with both teams at this stage and scores were hard to come by – Cork were rewarded with a free for a foul on Valerie Mulcahey and she put over the resulting free herself, a minute later Monaghan got their chance to put over a free curtsey of Cathriona Mc Connell when centre forward Laura Mc Eneaney was fouled.

Another free for Cork was put over in the 10 minute by Juliet Murphy when a foul was committed on Orlagh Farmer. Laura Mc Eneaney who was been kept out by the solid Cork half back line then pointed from play to put Monaghan in front again. Cork through inspirational player of the match Briege Corkery got level once more, however Monaghan put their noses in front with a free from the boot of Cathriona Mc Connell. Back came Briege Corkery pointing her second and then a blistering spell from the Cork girls in the 21 to the 28^th minute left Monaghan reeling – the first move by the Rhona Ní Bhuachalla,. The latter one of three late changes to the Cork starting line-out, warranted her addition with a cool finish, getting around Linda Martin and slotting the ball into the net. Valerie Mulcahey who was clearly getting the better of the Monaghan full back line pointed three times in succession 2 from play and one from a free.

Ellen Mc Carron was introduced into the Monaghan forward line in the 26^th minute to hopefully bring back some scores but Juliet Murphy pointed one again for Cork while the final say of the half went to Monaghan’s Ciara Mc Anespie who sent over a superb shot coming up to the half time whistle, Cork did have one more chance to further their scores but this free sailed wide of the post

Half time Cork 1-9 Monaghan 0-6

Monaghan opened the second half in a determined fashion, first Ellen Mc Carron pointed, then Niamh Kindlon [who was urging on the Monaghan charges] pointed from a free and then Cathriona Mc Connell followed that up with a point from play to bring the score back to three between the teams. This was as near as Monaghan was allowed to get, Cork were superb all over the pitch and they showed this by driving on in force and Monaghan were caught giving frees away Valerie Mulcahey (1) & Juliet Murphy (1) . Should Cork have put over all that availed of them, Monaghan would have been out of sight by then. Cork then brought on some fresh legs with Laura Mc Mahon introduced into the forward line, Nollaig Cleary pointed for Cork in the 15^th Minute with a well worked ball up the middle of the park. Cathriona Mc Connell then pointed from play and due to Cork overplaying the ball Monaghan was awarded a free which Niamh Kindlon once again sent over the bar. In the 20^th & 21th Minute Cork introduced all star full back Angela Walsh and Orla Finn – the latter making her presence felt immediately in the forward line. Cork were now coming at Monaghan in droves and with their power on the ball Monaghan were forced into fouling to stop them from getting near the goal line – Valerie Mulcahey pointed another free for the lee siders in the 23 minute. Aisling Hutchings was introduced into the midfield to play out the last 7 minutes and this was another good move by Cork. Monaghan did get the ball back up in the forward line where Niamh Kindlon put over another free for Monaghan but the last 5 minutes went to Cork when they reeled of 1-2 from play Orla Finn (1pt) Nollaig Cleary a goal – when a high ball coming in, came back of the crossbar and the latter was at hand to punch it into the back of the Monaghan net, Orla Finn finished off the scoring for Cork with another point to leave the full time score at 2-15 to 12 points. Once Cork got in front in the game Monaghan were kept at bay by sheer power and the lightening speed of the Cork players –

Monaghan’s Aoife Mc Anespie did put in a brave effort throughout the game, attacking the ball at stages, but nothing could have prepared the Monaghan team for the sheer athletism of Cork –

It’s been a long road since the players started out in January and with the Dowd Cup safely in the cabinet for the second year running the team then took on the Bord Gais national league with great prospects, they made it safely into the semi-final and took on the mighty Cork in the final, on the day Monaghan made up for the All Ireland loss of 2011 with a super performance outplaying Cork to win the National League title 2012.

Monaghan then set about their preparations for the championship easing into Ulster with massive wins over Tyrone and Donegal in the Ulster final, the All Ireland Quarter final set up a clash with Division 2 league winners 2012, Mayo, with a 4-15 to 2-14 win in this encounter we awaited the draw for the semi-final, “Cork” of course the team relished this prospect, knowing that after beating them in the league final their chances of overcoming them in the championship were very much improved from 2011 – Monaghan were much fitter and stronger and had the confidence to take on this mighty team or so they thought, but alas this was not enough. Cork has quality written all over them and they were not going to surrender the chance to take part in the All Ireland final of 2012 – so it’s still a step too far for this Monaghan team just yet. No doubt when 2013 looms the team will have time to ponder on the reasons why it was just a bridge to far this year and will be filled with renewed energy for the season of 2013

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Cork: Elaine Harte; Annmarie Walsh, Brid Stack, Deirdre O’Reilly, Briege Corkery(2pt), Rena Buckley, Geraldine O’Flynn, Juliet Murphy(4pt/2fr), Norita Kelly, Orlagh Farmer, Ciara O’Sullivan, Doireann O’Sullivan; N ollaig Cleary(1-1), V Mulcahy(6pt/3fr), R Ní Bhuachalla(1-0). Subs used: Laura McMahon, Orla Finn(2pt), Angela Walsh, Aisling Hutchings, Annie Walsh.

Monaghan: Linda Martin, Grainne McNally, Sharon Courtney, Christina Reilly, Therese McNally, Nicola Fahy, Aoife McAnespie, Amanda Casey, Eileen McElroy, Ciara McAnespie (1pt), Laura McEnaney(1pt), Caoimhe Mohan(2pts), Cathriona McConnell(4pt/2fr), Niamh Kindlon(4pt/frs), Cora Courtney. Sus used: E McCarron(1pt).

Monaghan Ladies 10/09/2012

Results

Minor League

O’Neills 6-20 Monaghan Harps 5-8

Magheracloone Win Scotstown

Emyvale Win Latton

Donaghmoyne 7-11 Truagh 5-12

Aghabog 2-11 Eire Og 2-10

Sean Mc Dermotts 6-11 Aughnamullen 6-7

Inniskeen 4-10 St Brigids 2-5

U16 – Division 1 Final

Monaghan Harps 1-6 Scotstown 6-6