Elizabeth
Bugler scored two of their four goals, Valerie O'Keeffe's
free-taking was excellent but their defence, which held Down
scoreless for the entire second half, earned just as many
plaudits.
It always
looked like a goal-fest from early on, especially as both
sides' left corner-backs were replaced by half-time because
of the brilliance of Eimear O'Farrell (Cork) and Fionnuala
Carr. Down goalkeeper Teresa McGowan pulled off a great save
in the third minute only to be beaten when Marian Jagoe goaled
with the rebound.
Cathy
Mulholland goaled for Down after seven minutes and Mairin
McAleenan added a second within minutes.
But when
their 'keeper McGowan changed her mind about advancing early
to clear a ball at the other end she was caught in no-man's
land and Miriam Deasy put the excellent Farrell through.
The sides
were still level in the 25th minute when, after a huge defensive
scramble in the Down goalmouth, Sarah Donovan handpassed to
Bugler for Cork's third goal and a two-point (3-3 to 2-4)
half-time lead.
In the
second half the Munster women shut up shop defensively, with
Elaine O'Riordan and centre-back Amanda O'Regan especially
outstanding.
Down's
full-back line was so rattled by the likes of Miriam Deacy
and Farrell that they dropped many of their best forwards
back to cover which left them with few options upfront and
O'Regan, especially, was allowed operate as an unmarked sweeper.
PLAYER
OF THE MATCH - Eimear O'Farrell (Cork).
SCORERS
- Cork: E Bugler 2-0, V O'Keeffe 0-5 (2fs, 3'45), E O'Farrell
and M Jagoe 1-0 each. Down: M McAleenan 1-1, C Mulholland
1-0, C McGourty 0-2 (1f), K Gribben 0-1.
CORK -
E Clifford; G Kearney, E O'Riordan, N Goulding; J Browne,
A O'Regan, M Holland; V O'Sullivan, V O'Keeffe (Capt); M O'Connell,
S O'Donovan, E Bugler; E O'Farrell, M Deasy, M Jagoe. Subs:
M Hegarty for Goulding (26 mins), J Duffy for Bugler (52),
G Collins for O'Donovan (64).
DOWN -
T McGowan; C McGovern, M Maginn, A Morgan; D Kelland, P Green,
K Murray; J Braniff (Capt), L McCrickard; F Duff, M McAleenan,
C McGourty; F Carr, C Mulholland, K Gribben. Subs: O Maginn
for Morgan (30 mins), B Gallagher for Duff (49), M McPolin
for Gribben (62), A Fearon for Mulholland (64).
REF -
E Lawlor (Westmeath).
Article
taken from www.unison.ie
