Cork in cruise control

Cork’s pace and clever use of possession were crucial factors as they cruised to victory in this All Ireland U14 championship final in St Brendan’s Park in Birr.

The Cork girls had played with the wind in the first-half and exploited it fully, leading by 1-3 to 0-0 after ten minutes. Nicola Dennehy was the goalscorer after she played a wonderful one-two with Danielle O’Connor and placed a perfect finish past Gemma Murphy.

Mayo responded with two points but Cork added four more before half-time to lead by 1-7 to 0-2 at the break.

Cork were outstanding defensively in the second-half and a late Laura Cleary penalty sealed the win.

Scorers for Cork: L Cleary 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), N Dennehy 1-2 D O’Connor 0-3 N Lynch 0-1.

Scorers for Mayo: C Moran, M Walsh 0-1 each.

CORK: A Brennan; R Geary, E Spillane, A O’Sullivan; A Lynch, B Casey, L Crowley; C Hartnett, L O’Neill; C O’Mahony, L Cleary, A Scannell; N Dennehy, D O’Connor, N Lynch.

Subs: J Coleman for Geary, E Connolly for Dennehy, S Hayes for O’Connor, J Fox for Scannell.

MAYO: G Murphy; C McHale, C Flatley, D Tierney; A Gilmartin, S Mangan, H Cleary; S Lavelle, C Moran; T Philips, E Needham, M Walsh; S Ludden, E Ronayne, R Waldron.

Subs: G Mulligan for Waldron, R Durkan for Needham, M Reilly for Moran, A Dowling for Philips.

Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).