Cork 3-8
Mayo 1-10
By Stuart Tynan
GOALS in each half from Katie Quirke sent Cork into the All-Ireland quarter-finals as they held off a late Mayo fightback in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar.
The Rebels got off to the perfect start when Máire O’Callaghan ran through the heart of the Mayo defence and fired into the net just seconds after the throw-in.
With a strong wind at their backs, Mayo’s go-to sharpshooter Sinead Walsh struck over two frees before Hannah Looney fisted over Cork’s first point after evading the Mayo defence on the end line.
Cork's Sarah Leahy of Cork in action against Sinéad Walsh of Mayo. (Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile)
Mayo were back level by the end of the first quarter thanks to a third Walsh free and a splendid point from play by substitute Ava McDonnell, who came on in the fourth minute for the injured Erin Murray.
Sherin El Massry nudged Mayo ahead before Looney restored parity and Cork went back in front after Katie Quirke’s point attempt from 20 metres out sailed over the head of Julia Gawalkiewicz and into the net on 21 minutes.
Quirke, a free, and Ava McDonnell traded scores before Mayo were denied a goal themselves after a short Cork kickout was intercepted by Clodagh Keane. The full-forward fed Walsh but Cork goalkeeper Sarah Murphy got back to block, before the game was heavily delayed after Shauna Kelly suffered a serious injury after being caught by the Cork goalkeeper when Murphy blocked Walsh’s effort.
Leading 2-3 to 0-6 at half-time, Cork kept Mayo at arms’ length in the third quarter as a point from Aoife Geraghty and two Walsh frees were matched by a trio of Aine O’Sullivan points.
Cork appeared home and hosed after Quirke’s second goal on 52 minutes but Mayo were back to within three after substitute Annie Gough found the net. Mayo thought they had levelled it, with a draw enough to send them through at Cork’s expense, when Clodagh Keane got on the end of Gough’s pass a minute later but it was ruled out for a square ball.
Laura O’Mahony’s point made sure of Cork’s passage to the last eight late on, while Mayo play Leitrim in the relegation play-off in two weeks’ time.
Scorers – Cork: K Quirke 2-1 (0-1f), M O’Callaghan 1-0, A O’Sullivan 0-3, H Looney 0-2, L O’Mahony 0-2. Mayo: S Walsh 0-6 (5f), A Gough 1-0, A McDonnell 0-2, A Geraghty 0-1, S El Massry 0-1.
Cork: S Murphy; S Kelly, S Leahy, M Duggan; A Corcoran, S Cronin, R Corkery; M O’Callaghan, A Healy; A O’Mahony, L O’Mahony, K Horgan; A O’Sullivan, H Looney, K Quirke. Subs: E Cleary for Kelly (25-inj), A Ring for Corkery (45), S McGoldrick for Horgan (50), L Hallihan for A O’Mahony (53).
Mayo: J Gawalkiewicz; L Wallace, N O’Malley, C Durkin; D Caldwell, E Brennan S El Massry; H Reape, S Lally; L Hanley, S Walsh, A Geraghty; E Murray, C Keane, K Sullivan. Subs: A McDonnell for Murray (4-inj), A Gough for Sullivan (42), C Whyte for Hanley (50), B Hession for Brennan (52).
Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).
