O'Sullivan sisters torment Kinsale

West Cork 4-22

Kinsale 0-9

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

WEST Cork maintained their perfect Group 1 record with a straightforward victory over Kinsale in the Cork ladies’ senior football championship at Brinny on Tuesday evening.

This West Cork derby saw the divisional representatives overcome a Kinsale club side that had previously backboned the Carbery set up until moving up to the senior grade at the start of the season. 

The winners racked up their third consecutive Group 1 victory on the back of Áine and Niamh Terry O’Sullivan’s scoring prowess. But it was another all-round team performance that delivered West Cork’s latest triumph.

‘We are looking to keep our heads down and stay focussed ahead of the upcoming Mourneabbey game,’ commented West Cork selector Anne O’Grady.

‘That (Mourneabbey) will be our sternest test to date. No one is getting carried away with our three wins so far though. We are going to get the girls back together and train as soon as we can, staying focussed for our next game. 

‘We have a tighter panel this year, just in terms of numbers, but every one of them is competing for a spot and it is getting harder and harder to pick a starting team.’

It is early days but All-Ireland intermediate finalists Kinsale’s search for a first senior club victory goes on. Without the services of injured Cork forward Orla Finn, Jenny Murphy, Ellen Murphy and Emma O’Brien toiled hard on their team’s behalf but it wasn’t enough to prevent a second successive championship defeat. 

West Cork settled quickly and built an early three-point lead courtesy of Áine Terry O’Sullivan, Fiona Keating and Lisa Harte scores. Kinsale gained a foothold following a disjointed start and Jenny Murphy got her side on the scoreboard after five minutes.

Their opponent’s reply was devastating as a multi-player hand-passing move ended with Áine Terry O’Sullivan finding the net to make it 1-4 to 0-1 prior to her sister, Niamh Terry, splitting the posts.

Kinsale hit back through Faye Ahern and Sadhbh O’Leary (free) but West Cork continued to press and moved 1-7 to 0-3 in front when Áine Terry O’Sullivan (twice, one free) and Laura O’Mahony found their range.

Cork stars Sadhbh O’Leary and Melissa Duggan’s one-on-one battle was a highlight of an entertaining half which ended with the Carbery side 1-10 to 0-5 ahead.

The second half was dominated by West Cork who moved 13 points clear with Niamh Terry O’Sullivan, Eimear Kiely and Aileen Buckley raising white flags. Sadhbh O’Leary (free) and Aoife Keating responded for Kinsale but a third-quarter surge, highlighted by Áine Terry O’Sullivan and Laura O’Mahony goals, ended the tie as a contest.

Beara’s Áine Terry O’Sullivan rubberstamped a third West Cork ladies’ championship victory by completing her hat-trick shortly before the end.

Scorers 

West Cork: Áine Terry O’Sullivan 3-5 (1f), Niamh Terry O’Sullivan 0-6, Laura O’Mahony 1-2, Fiona Keating 0-3, Eimear Kiely, Aileen Buckley 0-2 each, Alice O’Driscoll, Lisa Harte 0-1 each. 

Kinsale: Sadbh O’Leary 0-4 (4f), Jenny Murphy 0-3, Faye Ahern, Aoife Keating 0-1 each.

West Cork: Martina O’Brien (Clonakilty); Michelle Duggan (Dohenys), Melissa Duggan (Dohenys), Clare O’Shea (Beara); Daire Kiely (Valley Rovers), Siobhan Courtney (Castlehaven), Emer Kiely (Valley Rovers); Áine Hayes (captain, Rosscarbery), Maura O’Brien (Rosscarbery); Áine Terry O’Sullivan (Beara), Alice O’Driscoll (Castlehaven), Laura O’Mahony (O’Donovan Rossa); Lisa Harte (O’Donovan Rossa), Niamh Terry O’Sullivan (Beara), Fiona Keating (Courcey Rovers).

Subs: Sara Hayes (Rosscarbery) for S Courtney (ht), Aoife Whooley (O’Donovan Rossa) for Michelle Duggan (ht), Aileen Buckley (Dohenys) for A O’Driscoll (ht), Lydia Kenny (Clonakilty) for L Harte (49).

Kinsale: Aisling Judge; Emma O’Brien, Tracy McCarthy, Sophie Hurley; Caoimhe O’Callaghan, Aideen Lynch, Dara Tyner; Georgina Buckley, Georgia Gould; Ellen Murphy, Jenny Murphy; Juliette Cronin; Aoife Keating (captain), Sadbh O’Leary, Faye Ahern.

Sub: Grainne Crowley for A Judge (40).

Referee: Justin Murphy (Castletownroche).