Green and Red have All-Ireland hopes crushed by Cork
Rhea Gostick scored two points from play but Mayo ended up second best to a very strong Cork team in Saturday's All-Ireland U14 semi-final in Birr. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Mayo’s journey in the Platinum All-Ireland Championship came to an end after falling to an excellent Cork side in Birr last Saturday afternoon.
The Green and Red fought valiantly until the bitter end but two goals in quick succession before the end of the third quarter put paid to any hopes of a comeback. The Rebels carried the ball well in the second-half against the breeze as Mayo struggled with near wave after wave of Cork attack. Despite conceding five goals, Mayo goalkeeper Aoife Commons put in a tremendous performance, pulling off two big saves in the first-half to keep her side in it at the change of ends – but she was powerless to prevent the onslaught that came their way in the second-half.
“We knew that Cork would be tough. We told the girls we were only four down at the break. We felt with the advantage of the breeze we could push on and create a few chances, but Cork got off to a good start. Then we were playing counterattack football, trying to defend deep and then break out as quick as we could,” said Mayo manager Tom Carney after the game.
“[Cork] were on a mission from Mayo beating them two years ago in the final. They’re a very good team but I cannot be prouder of the team this year. Putting together a team isn’t easy at inter-county level, bringing a group of girls that have never played together before. To achieve what we’ve done, we’ve only had three losses all year, two to Galway and this defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final. To add it all up, they’re a brilliant bunch of girls and we couldn’t be prouder.
“We were against the breeze in the first-half. They came back into it late on. We felt if we brought that into the second-half we could push on. Cork hit us for two goals and we were chasing from there.”
That good start saw Mayo lead 0-2 to 0-0 inside five minutes thanks to points from Robyn Butler and Aoife Morrin. Commons denied Cork their first chance on goal with a brilliant stop to deny Kate O’Connell, but Cork were soon level though the impressive Nell Kinsella, a free, and Fia Comerford.
Mayo responded in style with the first goal of the semi-final on 13 minutes. A ‘Garryowen’ from Saoirse Reynolds dropped into the hands of Rheanna Hoban, and she smashed it past the Cork goalkeeper into the top corner.
Tom Carney’s side would score only two more points in the half, however. After another Kinsella free, Laura O’Mullane netted her first major on 17 minutes after a quick move through the defence. Chloe Stagg drew Mayo level with a point a minute later, but Cork would hit 1-3 without reply in a four-minute period. The half-forward line of Fia Comerford, Nell Kinsella and Kate Collins all pointed before Laura O’Mullane netted her second goal, converting the rebound after Aoife Harte’s goal-bound shot was saved by Commons.
Hoban got the final point of the half to leave Mayo trailing by five at the interval, 2-6 to 1-5, and they were back to within three after singles by Aoife Morrin and Rhea Gostick. However, Mayo would score only one more point from here, which came with a minute of normal time left through Gostick. Cork, in the meantime, had run riot.
Kate O’Connell was denied twice more by Commons, but she finally found a way through for Cork’s third goal on 41 minutes after further heroics by Commons had initially kept the ball out.
Two minutes later, Mayo’s chances looked all but done as substitute Michela Moynihan struck her first major, and Cork’s fourth, two minutes later. Moynihan hit 1-2 in the final ten minutes to put a further gloss on the final scoreline to inflict a painful defeat in the end, but Tom Carney believes these players have a bright future.
“It’s an old sports term that you learn more from your defeats than you do your victories. When you get one game from an All-Ireland final, you want to give the players an opportunity to represent their county in a final. It’s a massive step but in their progression, I hope they use this and go on playing with their clubs for the remainder of the season. We have seven players who will qualify next year and we hope that experience will stand to them.”
Scorers – Cork: Michela Moynihan 2-2 (0-2f), Laura O’Mullane 2-0, Kate O’Connell 1-0, Nell Kinsella 0-3 (2f), Fia Comerford 0-2, Kate Collins 0-1.
Mayo: Rheanne Hoban 1-2, Aoife Morrin and Rhea Gostick 0-2 each, Chloe Stagg 0-1.
Cork: Mark Kate Hannon; Caitriona Ambrose, Aibhlin McCarthy, Tara Browne; Sophie Erangey, Aoife Walsh, Leah Mylod; Anna O’Mullane, Niamh Doyle; Fia Comerford, Nell Kinsella, Kate Collins; Kate O’Connell, Laura O’Mullane, Aoife Harte. Subs: Emily Conlon, Abbie Ní Scannláin, Aisling Kelleher, Grace O’Sullivan, Isabella Brosnan, Isabelle O’Sullivan Lauren O’Mahony, Leona O’Brien, Lucy Howard, Maria Humphreys, Meg Allen, Mia Lawlor, Michela Moynihan, Niamh O’Sullivan, Orlaith Murphy.
Mayo: Aoife Commons; Amelia Duffy, Molly Gallagher, Mia Jennings; Lily Hurst, Clara Kennedy, Isabelle Hanrahan; Robyn Butler, Eve Butler; Ella Connell, Aoife Morrin, Rheanna Hoban; Rhea Gostick, Chloe Stagg, Saoirse Reynolds. Subs: Anna Joye, Clara Kelly, Emma McGing, Erin Walsh, Faye Tierney, Grace Hannick, Grace Mulligan, Holly McElarney, Kate McGing, Kate McNicholl, Maddie Loftus, Molly Sheridan, Róisín Kelly, Saoirse Ruane, Sara McDonnell.
REF: Shane Curley (Galway)
