Rebelettes target three-in-a-row but are wary of Laois
However, that’s not to suggest that they are taking this afternoon’s semi-final against Laois in O’Moore Park for granted. Or that they don’t recognise the serious threat posed by former champions Mayo — who meet surprise packet Tyrone in the other semi-final next Saturday. Earlier this year, Cork lost their chance of a third consecutive League title when Mayo knocked them out at the semi-final stage — ending a remarkable winning sequence in 34 games in both competitions. Since then, they have regained a high level of consistency in the championship, scoring a runaway victory over Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final last week-end.
Team manager Mary Collins agrees that the big winning margin (19 points) surprised them. “We got an early goal and we just drove on from there. We had been expecting Dublin to really put it up to us, but after the goal we were well on top. We played exceptionally well on the day and the feeling is that if we can maintain that kind of form we will beat Laois.’’
The teams met in the quarter-final last year, in Tullamore, when Cork’s experience proved vital in enabling them to win by 1-12 to 0-8. Based on that game and Cork’s recent form, Laois captain Mark Kirwan accepts that they are ‘up against stiff competition. “It’s hard to say if we are better than when we met Cork last year because of a lot of our games have been against Leinster teams. And, we beat these teams again last year. I’d love to think that we have improved.’’
One of the teams they overcame en route to the semi-final was Dublin, but she points out that they didn’t beat them with the ease with which Cork managed last week!
“Games between ourselves and Dublin are usually close. We certainly didn’t give them the hiding that Cork did,” she added.
Cork are not quite sure either what kind of a challenge to expect, according to Mary Collins. “It’s really hard to judge because they didn’t meet Mayo or ourselves. We got a glimpse of their game the last day against Kildare. They seem to be playing better.”
In the meantime, talk of the treble creates a pressure of its own, except that the management feel that the players are mature enough to be able to handle it. “Even if you win just one All-Ireland, every team is out to beat you the following year. We are focusing on the three-in-a-row because a lot of these players will never again get the chance of doing it. But, our main aim is to win the All-Ireland!’’
Their line-out is much the same as last year’s except that Linda Barrett from Donoughmore has been playing at wing-back and Laura McMahon (sister of Cork footballer Kevin McMahon) has come in at centre-forward. Meanwhile, Juliet Murphy, a tower of strength at midfield, continues to captain the side.
Cork qualified by beating Kerry and Waterford in Munster and by overcoming Galway, Roscommon and Monaghan in the new Round Robin series — before toppling Dublin.
The game, timed for 7pm, will be preceded by the first semi-final of the new intermediate championship between Tipperary and Wexford (5.15). Both matches are live on TG4.
E Harte; C Walsh, A Walsh, R Buckley; L Barrett, B Stack, B Corkery; J Murphy, N Kelly; A Murphy, L McMahon, N Cleary; V Mulcahy, M O’Connor, D O’Reilly.
B Deegan; L Hyland, L Muckian, E McEvoy; A Casey, P Fogarty, A Quigley; M Casey, K O Reilly; M Kirwan, N Kirwan, T Lawlor’ G O Connor, M Kirwan, E Fitzpatrick.
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