The Rebels secured their 24th Gala All-Ireland senior title on Sunday in headquarters with a fantastic performance overcoming Ann Downey’s Kilkenny on a scoreline of 0-15 to 0-7. Cork were in front by three points at the break, giving the Black and Amber a real chance of a comeback.
However Cork, led by the outstanding Aoife Murray, proved to be unbeatable. Several times the Cork custodian denied Kilkenny. Cork had a real star in Cathriona Foley who was highly dependable at full back making sure Kilkenny could not get the scores that mattered. Cork’s star forward Rachel Moloney scored seven points keeping her side in the lead.
Cork came into this tie as hot favourites — never an easy burden to carry. However despite a searching examination in the opening 30 minutes during which Kilkenny’s Ann Dalton and Aoife Neary were to the fore, the Rebels gradually got on top. Mary O’Connor was solid at centre back and with Gemma O’Connor and Rachel Moloney building up the points Cork kept the Cats to just two scores in the entire second half. Kilkenny worked very hard as a defensive unit, but up front they needed a little bit more firepower to deal with the Rebels. Cork now lie second placed behind Dublin in the pecking order. However Kilkenny are a young team with a great manager and will be a force to be reckoned with in the near future.
Kilkenny: C Ryan; L Fennelly, C Doherty, J Frisby; L Lyng, A Butler, E Aylward; C Dormer (0-1 ), A Dalton (0-1 ); T Muldowney, K Power, E Keane; M Quilty (0-1 ), D Gaule, A Neary (0-5, 4f, 1 45 ). Subs: A Dunphy for Muldowney (17 ); D Delaney for Lyng (37 ); M O'Connor for Quilty (50 ); K Fennelly for Dormer (57 ).
Cork: A Murray; J O'Callaghan, C Foley, Rena Buckley; J Duffy, M O'Connor, S Hayes; B Corkery, O Cotter; E O'Sullivan (0-2 ), G O'Connor (0-3 ), U O'Donoghue (0-1 ); S Burns, E O'Farrell (0-1 ), R Moloney (0-7, 6f ). Subs: K Mackey (0-1 ) for O'Farrell (37 ); E Dillon for O'Donoghue (47 ); A O'Regan for Moloney (57 ); L O'Connell for O'Callaghan (59 ).
Referee: Una Kearney (Armagh ).
