Dublin 2-8

Cork 1-6

DAIRE WALSH REPORTS

WHILE Cork suffered their first defeat in Division 1 of the Lidl National Football League, the context is important: the Rebels had already guaranteed their spot in the Division 1 final with a game to spare.

So, while the Rebels didn’t want to lose their final group game away to a Dublin team that needed a result in their efforts to avoid relegation, it doesn’t detract from what has already been an excellent league for Cork.

Rosie Corkery feels they can learn a lot from the game as they prepare to face Galway in the final on April 11th at the Gaelic Grounds, in what will be a repeat of last year’s Division 2 final won by the Connacht champions.

‘We weren’t shy about the fact we wanted to keep the unbeaten record, but it didn’t work out for us today,’ Corkery said.

‘In the first half we were a bit flat-footed, we had a long journey up this morning. We improved as the game went on, so there are learnings and there are a few positives to take from the game as well today.

‘We’re really looking forward to the league final. At the start of the year, people thought we’d be in the bottom two of the league. Looking forward to a league final now and a chance to get some silverware into Cork. Focused on that for the next few weeks.’

Despite goals from Michelle Davoren and Annabelle Timothy guiding Dublin towards a five-point triumph over Cork, they still suffered relegation from Division 1.

Carla Rowe edged them into an early lead with a fine point off the outside of her right boot. The in-form Katie Quirke responded at the opposite end for Cork with a successful free, before the home side bagged the opening goal of the game as Davoren got the better of Leeside netminder Caoimhe Redmond with a looping shot on six minutes.

The hosts were searching for just their second victory of this year’s top-tier and raised another green flag when Timothy cut inside from the left in the 12th minute to fire a clinical shot to the back of the Cork net.

While the visitors eventually added to their tally with a well-worked point from half-back Sadbh McGoldrick just shy of the first-quarter mark, Dublin created significant daylight with unanswered scores courtesy of Timothy, Jodi Egan, Davoren and Rowe. Although Cork subsequently interrupted this scoring sequence with a brace of Quirke points, Dublin nevertheless brought a convincing 2-5 to 0-4 buffer into the interval.

In a low-scoring second half, Cork were persistent in their attacking play, and finally grabbed the maiden score of the second period when Katie Quirke coolly slotted a penalty past Shiels on the stroke of 50 minutes.

Dublin settled back into the contest with additional points from Rowe (free) and Egan, but even though Annabelle Timothy put the seal on their win after Abigail Ring and Quirke had registered scores for Cork, results elsewhere meant the Dubs will be playing in Division 2 next season. For Joe Carroll’s team, the focus is now on the league final.

Scorers 

Dublin: A Timothy 1-2; M Davoren 1-1; C Rowe 0-3 (1f); J Egan 0-2.

Cork: K Quirke 1-4 (1-0 pen, 3f); S McGoldrick, A Ring 0-1 each.

Dublin: A Shiels; N Crowley, H Leahy, K Donaghy; E Gribben, H McGinnis, N Donlon; R Hartnett, O Nolan; L Grendon, C Rowe, A Timothy; J Egan, N Hetherton, M Davoren.

Subs: S McIntyre for Gribben (36), C Coffey for Donaghy (49), A Nyhan for Nolan (55), R McDonnell for Davoren (62).

Cork: C Richmond; M Duggan, D Kiniry, S Kelly; C Hughes, S McGoldrick, R Corkery; A Healy, A O’Mahony; R Leahy, K Redmond, E Cleary; A O’Sullivan, K Quirke, L Hallihan.

Subs: A Corcoran for Hughes, M O’Callaghan for Redmond (both ht), G Murphy for Leahy, S Callanan for Kelly (both 49), A Ring for Hallihan (52), E Hurley for Cleary (55).

Referee: M Farrelly (Cavan).