Controversy off the field, but on the pitch Cork were able to produce a comprehensive 2-17 to 0-13 victory over Galway in Sunday's All Ireland Senior Ladies Football semi-final.
In a game that was moved from Parnell Park on the morning of the game due to an unplayable pitch at the venue, Cork took charge with goals from Melissa Duggan and Ciara O'Sullivan inside the first 18 minutes. Galway, unable to warm-up after the late venue move, will see those opening minutes as crucial in Cork's win, and despite some bright moments from Tracey Leonard and Mairead Seoighe, they could not find a way back.
So no second successive final for Tim Rabitt's side as they left Croke Park understandably feeling aggrieved that they were not able to put their best foot forward for this most important match of the season.
Although Tracey Leonard kicked Galway into an early lead, Orla Finn got off the mark for Cork after five minutes before a goal from wingback Duggan set Cork on their way after seven minutes.
Cork moved 2-3 to 0-2 ahead after Ciara O' Sullivan rounded Lisa Murphy for their second goal in the 18th minute before Mairead Seoighe kicked a couple of long-range points each side of another Finn free. When Leonard tagged on a free for Galway, Cork still held a 2-5 to 0-4 half-time advantage.
Goal scorer O'Sullivan stretched Cork's lead after the restart, but substitute Andrea Trill, Leonard and Seoighe kept Galway in touch. However, they never managed to get any closer than six points to Cork in that second half.
Although Olivia Divilly also got on the scoreboard for Galway, the loss of Sinead Burke to the sin bin stalled Galway's comeback as Cork sailed into what would become a controversial final.
Cork: O Finn 0-9 (8f ), C O'Sullivan 1-2, M Duggan 1-1, A O'Sullivan 0-1, E Kiely 0-1, D O'Sullivan 0-1, S O'Leary 0-1, M O'Callaghan 0-1. Galway: T Leonard 0-6 (5f ), M Seoighe 0-3, A Trill 0-2, O Divilly 0-1, A Morrissey 0-1.
Cork: M O'Brien; E Meaney, R Phelan, S Kelly; M Duggan, A Hutchings, E O'Shea; M O'Callaghan, H Looney; E Kiely, C O'Sullivan, O Finn; A O'Sullivan, D O'Sullivan, S Noonan. Subs: L Coppinger for A O'Sullivan (42 ), D Kiely for E Kiely (50 ), S O'Leary for Noonan (55 ), O Farmer for D O'Sullivan (56 ), M Cahalane for Duggan (58 ).
Galway: L Murphy; S Gormally, S Lynch, S Burke; L Coen, C Cooney, N Ward; A Davoren, L Ward; O Divilly, M Glynn, L Noone; M Seoighe, T Leonard, L Hannon. Subs: S Molloy for Gormally (h-t ), A Trill for Davoren (h-t ), S Fahy for Coen (44 ), A Morrissey for Hannon (48 ), A McDonogh for Seoighe (51 ).
Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry ).
