Cleary hails Cork composure as minors capture All-Ireland title

Cork 4-11

Monaghan 1-8

BY DARAGH SMALL

CORK manager John Cleary hailed his side’s composure after they were crowned All-Ireland minor A champions with victory over Monaghan at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park in Tullamore on bank holiday Monday.

Katie Quirke scored 1-7 as last year’s beaten finalists – playing in their sixth straight decider – showed their experience as they took a 2-5 to 0-5 lead into half-time.

‘We were well aware of how Monaghan would set up defensively and how they would play using sweepers and get bodies behind the ball so we need to keep composed, keep at it and not panic. In fairness to our players, they adapted really well to Monaghan’s style,’ Castlehaven man Cleary explained.

‘We worked the ball well, moved it around and I though the composure we showed was excellent. We also felt that Monaghan wouldn’t be able to sustain that type of game for the full 60 minutes and that our bench coming on would give us the fresh legs that we needed, and that’s what happened.’

Cork had avenged their 2018 All-Ireland final defeat in the semi-final against Galway, with Katie Quirke grabbing a deserved goal before the finish and she was again the key player in the final.

Monaghan signalled their intent early and midfielder Aisling McAnespie bounced her shot off Sarah Murphy’s post. But Cork held on and they took a 1-4 to 0-1 lead by the 12th minute.

Jennifer Murphy scored first for Cork in the second minute and that was cancelled out by Hannah Sherlock before the Munster outfit went on the rampage.

Fiona Keating scored a point and Katie Quirke added a free. Then Keating raced through and sent the ball low into the Monaghan net in the tenth minute. When full-back Ellen Baker scored Cork were six points clear and looked to be cruising.

But to their credit Monaghan rallied and they scored the next four points of the half. Sherlock tapped over her second to stop the rot at the end of the first quarter. Áine Loughman and Lauren Garland also found their range, Amy Garland fired over too.

Monaghan only trailed by 1-4 to 0-5 but they were rocked by a 1-1 blitz. Quirke scored a free in the 28th minute and moments later the Cork full-forward drew a few defenders to give Keating the easiest of finishes. It was a massive blow to Monaghan’s chances and it could have got worse if Duffy didn’t save again from Quirke just before the break. Ellie Jack had also missed a chance in front of goal. However, Cork still took a big 2-5 to 0-5 lead into the break. 

Quirke scored her third free right after half-time but Monaghan hit back and it was a crucial goal from Jayne Drury. Lauren Garland scored a rallying point, as Monaghan assumed the ascendency. 

Down the other end Quirke missed a goal chance for Cork but Faye Ahern took her opportunity when she finished off the post in the 46th minute.

Michaela Linden answered that with a point but Quirke scored three late points to ease any worries of a potential fightback as they claimed the Aisling McGing Cup.

Scorers 

Cork: K Quirke 1-7 (4f); F Keating 2-1; F Ahern 1-0; J Murphy, E Baker, A O’Mahony 0-1 each. 

Monaghan: J Drury 1-0; H Sherlock 0-3 (2f); L Garland 0-2; Á Loughman, A Garland, M Linden 0-1 each. 

Cork: S Murphy; R Ní Chorcora, E O’Shea, R Sheehan; C Keane, I Sheehan, E Baker; E Mullins, A O’Mahony; C Dooley, J Murphy, F Ahern; E Jack, K Quirke, F Keating.

Subs: R Fraher for Keane (50), A Twomey for Jack (50), A Keating for Mullins (57), S McCarthy for Ahern (59), K O’Connor for Murphy (67).

Monaghan: C Duffy; C Brennan, M Monaghan, J Duffy; C Ward, A Garland, E Traynor; J Duffy, M Greenan; M Linden, L Garland, Á Loughman; A McAnespie, J Drury, H Sherlock. 

Subs: E Brennan for Loughman (49), L Walsh for Linden (59), S Wilson for Sherlock (62), E McKeown for Greenan (65).

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).