Cork 2-8
Galway 0-9
By Anthony Newman
A dramatic finish saw Cork win the Lidl NFL Division 1 title at the TUS Gaelic Grounds Limerick.
Two late goals saw the cup head to Leeside for the first time since 2019, with Quirke getting one of the green flags.
The second was given after a Rachel O’Regan palmed effort was touched over the line by a Galway defender, but to be fair there was little she could do to stop it.
Galway had the first chance of the game when Niamh Divilly played Nicola Ward in on goal, but her short was well saved by Caoimhe Richmond.
Cork had a chance to open their account two minutes in from a Katie Quirke free, but her effort went just wide as she was shooting into a strong wind.
The Rebels came close again to opening the scoring when Abbie O’Mahony sent the ball in towards Leah Hallihan but Riona Quinn intercepted the pass to clear the danger.
Galway, aided by the wind, got the game’s first score eight minutes in when Siobhan Divilly pointed and from the re-start her sister, Niamh, doubled their lead.
Quirke had another chance to score for Cork, but again her effort went just wide, before Emma Cleary got them off the mark.
With 12 minutes played Kate Slevin increased Galway’s lead, before another Divilly sister – this time Olivia – made it 0-4 to 0-1 in the Tribeswomen’s favour.
Eva Noone stretched their lead further to make it 0-5 to 0-1, as Cork were finding it hard to get out of their own half, with the wind being a major factor.
Cork had a chance to reduce the gap but another effort from Quirke went narrowly wide from a tight angle.
The Rebels got their second point 23 minutes in when Melissa Duggan burst forward to set up Aimee Corcoran to score.
Niamh Divilly replied at the other end to see her side lead 0-6 to 0-2 with five minutes to half time.
Slevin pointed in the final minute of the half as Galway were deservedly in front by 0-7 to 0-2 at the break.
Despite playing against the wind Galway got the first score of the second half, with Noone on target again.
The Tribeswomen had a chance to go further ahead, but a last minute interception from Duggan denied them a goal.
Quirke reduced the qap as she split the posts after 38 minutes as Cork were now starting to come into the game more.
Before that they looked like they were in on goal but Áine O’Sullivan was deemed to have overcarried the ball and the referee gave a free out.
Aoife Healy pointed for Cork, after 41 minutes, as they tried to get back in contention, to make it 0-8 to 0-4.
Three minutes later and Cork looked like scoring the goal they needed,
O’Sullivan intercepted a pass, found Quirke and she played Rachel O’Regan in. But as he closed in on goal Leah O’Halloran was quickly off her line to deny her a green flag.
Quirke pointed from a free to put only three between the sides as Cork were enjoying their best spell of the tie.
Nicola Ward increased Galway’s lead to four again with 10 minutes to go.
Five minutes later and the Rebels were back on level terms when they pounced on a Galway defensive mistake, with Quirke finding the back of the net to level it, 1-6 to 0-9.
With two minutes to go Cork took the lead for the first time in unusual circumstances. O’Regan fisted the ball towards goal and had it gone straight to the net it would have been disallowed, But it was touched by Chellene Trill and as she was adjudged to have carried it over the line the goal was given.
Quirke and O’Sullivan added late points to see the Rebels run out winners five points.
Scorers for Cork: K Quirke 1-3 (1f), C Trill 1-0 (og), A O’Sullivan 0-2, E Cleary, A Corcoran, A Healy 0-1 each.
Galway: E Noone, N Divilly, K Slevin 0-2 each, S Divilly, O Divilly, N Ward 0-1 each.
CORK: C Richmond; M Duggan, D Kiniry, S Kelly; A Corcoran, S McGoldrick, R Corkery; A Healy, A O’Mahony; R Leahy, G Murphy, E Cleary; A O’Sullivan, K Quirke, L Hallihan. Subs: M O’Callaghan for G Murphy (ht), R O’Regan for L Hallihan (37), A Ring for E Cleary (55).
GALWAY: L O’Halloran; R Quinn, S Ni Loingsigh, K Geraghty; H Noone, N Ward, B Quinn; N Divilly, S Divily; O Divilly, K Slevin, L Noone; E Noone, L Coen, A Trill. Subs: L Ward for L Noone (42), C Trill for R Quinn (50), A Ni Ruairc for K Geraghty (51), R Leonard for E Noone (55).
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).
Donegal 2-7
Cavan 0-8
By Damien Donohoe
Donegal were crowned Lidl National Football League Division 2 champions after a powerful second-half display saw them overturn a three-point deficit to defeat Cavan in St Tiernach’s Park, Clones.
Playing with the aid of a strong breeze in the opening half, Cavan made an impressive start and looked in control for long periods. Ella Sheridan led the charge, opening the scoring inside the first minute before adding further frees as Cavan built a 0-4 to 0-0 lead by the 22nd minute. Sinéad Greene also chipped in with a fine effort as Cavan dominated possession but struggled to fully capitalise.
Donegal, however, finished the half strongly. Katie Dowds got them up and running with a well-taken point before adding a second soon after, leaving just two between the sides at the break to 0-4 to 0-2.
Cavan stretched their lead early in the second half through another Sheridan free, but Donegal quickly found their rhythm with the wind at their backs. Susanne White converted two frees to close the gap before Ciara McGarvey levelled matters following a slick attacking move.
Donegal were reduced to 14 players when Roisin Rodgers was shown a yellow card seven minutes after the break, but they responded well. The turning point arrived shortly after when Mia Bennett reacted quickest to palm the ball to the net after an initial effort dropped short, giving Donegal a lead they would not relinquish.
Cavan responded through Catherine Dolan, but Donegal pushed on with points from Dowds and substitute Eva Gallagher to open up a four-point cushion. Any hopes of a comeback were ended when Dowds finished clinically for Donegal’s second goal after a clever assist from McGarvey.
Despite a late point from Sheridan and a strong defensive effort, including a fine save from goalkeeper Evelyn Baugh, Cavan couldn’t bridge the gap. Donegal’s clinical finishing and second-half dominance ultimately proved the difference as they claimed the Division 2 title.
Scorers: Donegal: K Dowds 1-3, M Bennett 1-0, S White 0-2f, C McGarvey 0-1, E Gallagher 0-1. Cavan: E Sheridan 0-6 (4f), S Greene 0-1, C Dolan 0-1.
DONEGAL: C Friel; N Carr, E McGinley, S McFeely; T Hegarty, F McManamon, S McFadden; C Brennan, R Rodgers (c); B McLaughlin, K Dowds, N Boyle; S White, M Bennett, C McGarvey. Subs: E Gallagher for C Brennan; U Boyle for M Bennett.
CAVAN: E Baugh; S Kelly, A Kennedy, S Greene; C Charters, D Lynch, Z Fay; M Fitzpatrick, K McCormack; C Dolan, E Sheridan, N Keenaghan; S Lynch, A Sheridan, K M Reilly. Subs: E Brady for Fitzpatrick; L Crowe for D Lynch; C McCaffrey for McCormack; N McCorry for Reilly; C Lynch for Keenaghan.
Referee: A Gallagher (Dublin).
