Corkery’s class fires Rebelettes to final

NOT WITH STANDING the magnificent Briege Corkery, the other key reason why holders Cork won through to meet Kilkenny in the Gala All-Ireland senior camogie decider was simply that as a unit, they responded so effectively to a below par first-half display.

At half-time in Saturday’s semi-final in Nowlan Park, their prospects of making it to the final looked decidedly shaky when they trailed by two points after having enjoyed the advantage of the wind. But, drawing inspiration from a 40th minute goal from midfielder Corkery – and further boosted minutes later by a second from Emer O’Farrell which was made by outstanding substitute Julia White – they outplayed a Wexford side which had beaten them in the 2007 final.

“I don’t think we played well in the first half and we knew that ourselves in the dressing room,” said Cork manager Denise Cronin – the winning captain 14 years ago when Cork last met Kilkenny in a final. “We spoke about what we needed to do in each position and the players all worked harder in the second half.”