Murphy eager to play down talk of Cork five-in-a-row

THE two counties that have dominated ladies football at senior level this decade come face to face in Nenagh for the first of the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Mayo were the benchmark until Cork made the breakthrough in 2005, becoming the dominant force since, with success at underage level underlining the strength of the game in the county. A 4-23 to 0-6 demolition of Kildare last weekend suggests they’re hot favourites to retain the title, however midfielder Juliet Murphy insists there is no complacency in the camp.

Mention the prospect of five-in-a-row, and she responds: “it has never even been brought up. It’s been about every game and trying to put on a performance. That’s something Eamonn (Ryan) has instilled in us – about going out every day and try to perform to your best. We are at a semi-final, so we want to give our best performance.”

Cora Staunton is no stranger to Cork and to big championship games. One of the game’s most recognisable talents – Staunton only one of three members remaining from the Mayo panel which won in 1999. In contrast, she points out that the Cork team has changed very little since they won the first of their four titles in 2005 (after putting the westerners out in the quarter-final).

“The core of their team is there all the time,’’ says Staunton, agreeing that their phenomenal under-age success has been a key factor. “They are producing All-Ireland winning teams at every level from U14 up and every year, two or three new players come into the panel. We have lost a lot of the old ones and we haven’t been competing at under-age.’’

For her part, Murphy says that the coaching of Ryan (a former Cork senior football manager and successful with a number of clubs in both hurling and football) is the crucial element of their continued success.

“The belief he has instilled in us as individuals is something that we probably didn’t have prior to him coming on board. With the knowledge that he brings to the game and his general consistency, we’re very lucky to have him involved with us. He has brought us to where we are – and hopefully he can take us a little bit further!’’

Cork had a long break following their emphatic win over Kerry in the Munster final which was a concern ahead of their game with Kildare last Saturday in Nowlan Park.

Murphy admitted: “It’s all well and good to be playing practice matches and to be training, but it never prepares you for the mental and physical battle that is championship.

“There was always that concern we might get off to a bad start or that we mightn’t even come out of the starting blocks. From very early on Kildare attacked a lot and got a few good scores. We were slow to start.”

But that proved a false dawn for the Leinster girls and soon the Cork machine clicked into overdrive with Mary O’Connor, Deirdre O’Reilly, Rhona Buckley and substitute Laura McMahon finding the net.

Mayo lost in the Connacht final to Galway, but bounced back with wins over Laois and Tyrone.

“We didn’t play particularly well in that game and we were lucky to get over it. Our (true) form is probably something between the two performances,’’ said Staunton.

Already this year they played Cork, in the League final in Kiltoom (losing 1-20 to 0-11). She missed a penalty before half time and another good chance of a goal was lost soon after the resumption.

“If these scores went in, things could have been different, but Cork were by far the better team on the day. It’s up to the other counties to get up to their level, but that’s not easy. It’s going to take a lot of work at under-age and senior level. Someone has to challenge them. They are going to be beaten some day. Whether it’s this time or in five years time, who knows. We’re massive underdogs, but God loves a trier and we’ll be trying our best!’’

Captain for their first three All-Ireland wins, Murphy acknowledges that Mayo have a bigger incentive than most of the leading teams to topple them. “It will be very easy for them to throw everything at us. They have nothing to lose, but I think at the end of the day it just comes down to Cork playing Mayo. The rivalry between the teams is huge. I think if we were to go out and play them in a practice match, we’d want to beat them. Everybody involved with Cork has put in a huge amount of effort, as I’m sure Mayo have. We have been on the road for a while and, from what I can see, the hunger is still there. The will-to-win is still there and I hope we can prove that.’’

Meanwhile, it’s an all Munster affair as Clare face Waterford in the Intermediate semi-final (Nenagh, 4.15pm) Clare were unbeaten in the pool stages and welcome back minor captain Eimear Considine. Waterford were demoted to the intermediate Championship last year and are seeking a swift return to senior football.

The Déise lost just one Championship game at the hands of Longford and although there are a lot of new faces in the squad there is plenty of experience there too in the form of Linda Wall and captain Michelle Ryan.

CLARE: D Walsh, C Considine, L Kelly, S Eustace, M Delaney, S Kelly, S Hoey, L Henchy, F Lafferty, M Considine, E Morrissey, R Lenihan, A Kelly, N Keane, AM Callinan

WATERFORD: A Jordan, G Enright, G Kenneally, L Hogan, N Dunphy, A Dunphy, M Foley, M McGrath, E Power, M Wall, M Ryan, L Wall, A McGovern, S Ryan, N Briggs.