CORK will put their unblemished Munster LGFA senior B football championship record on the line away to an unbeaten Clare in Miltown-Malbay this weekend.
Brian Leamy’s side were pushed to the pin of their collars before edging Tipperary 2-7 to 1-9 in Carrigaline on Saturday.
With wins over Kerry and Tipp, Cork senior Bs head to Clare with a 100 percent record. But their opponents have also won their opening two games.
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An in-form Clare blew Kerry away 8-14 to 0-6 and edged Limerick 1-7 to 0-8, both away from home, ahead of the Rebels’ visit.
‘It will be a really tough test for us as this is Clare’s first team,’ Cork senior B manager Brian Leamy told The Southern Star.
‘We play Clare and Limerick’s first teams over the next couple of weeks. Obviously, Clare are a very strong team and they currently play in Division 2 of the national league. They are going a long time and we found it very hard to beat them last year.’
Cork prepared for the first of two difficult road trips by holding off a talented Tipperary.
It was a memorable day for the host club who organised the event. Three of Carrigaline’s inter-county players, Eimear O’Callaghan, Emma Cooney (captain) and Holly Fitzgerald, stood alongside the Cork panel during a minute’s silence for the late Darragh King (of Carrigaline GAA) before throw-in.
Two early goals from Ballinora’s Rose Murphy helped Cork build a 2-4 to 1-3 interval lead. Tipperary stayed close throughout a tight second period and trailed 2-5 to 1-7 before Glanworth’s Holly Quirke landed two late frees.
Tipp were unable to close the gap and lost 2-7 to 1-9 with Murphy (2-2), Quirke (2f), Amy McDonagh (0-2 each) and Cliona Dooley (0-1) on target for the winners.
From a West Cork point of view, Clonakilty’s Niamh Kennedy and Bandon’s Emma Tarrant started in the two corner-back positions. Clon’s Kate O’Donovan began at wing back with her club-mate Siofra Pattwell lining out at corner forward.
Margaret Collins (Dohenys), Aisling Moloney, Ruth Shanley (both Clonakilty) and Ellen Maguire (Castlehaven) were on the bench.
‘As I always say to the players, empty the tank, give everything you can and that’s all we will ever ask of you. ‘This group of players, from numbers 1 to 29, are doing just that,’ Leamy added.
‘Hopefully, that win over Tipperary will drive us on and they will give a good performance against Clare.’
