Cork cruise home with the wind in their sails

Cork 0-14 Mayo 0-07

A seventh Tesco Homegrown Division 1 success in nine seasons now joins the seven All-Ireland titles achieved since 2005.

It’s been a remarkable period of dominance and few would back against Cork adding another provincial title to a glittering collection before bidding to retain the Brendan Martin Cup.

“You want to win as much as possible while you’re able,” said defender Bríd Stack after the final whistle at Parnell Park. “Hopefully this will be the start for the rest of the year.”

And seasoned observers have noted how Cork have rarely looked better, sharper, hungrier at this stage in a season. That they are is down to the intrinsic motivation within the players themselves but Ryan is also gifted with the ability to evolve and rejuvenate.

The return of key players as the campaign progressed saw Cork become incrementally better although doubts still surround the availability of midfielder Juliet Murphy for the summer. Ryan and his players hold out hope that Murphy may still return – but it will have to be soon as Cork gear up for the Munster championship and a clash with Division 2 winners and beaten 2012 All-Ireland senior finalists Kerry next month.

With or without Murphy, Cork will start as championship favourites and for an emerging Mayo side, this was a steep learning curve as they discovered that they’re still some way short of the summit.

Cora Staunton, scorer of 1-10 in the semi-final victory over Monaghan, was restricted to four points on Saturday. Her three points from play all came in the first half but Mayo managed just two points in the entire second half.

Fiona McHale’s opening score of the second half handed Mayo the lead for the only time (0-6 to 0-5) but the Westerners were outgunned 0-2 to 0-9 after the break.

Cork’s winning margin t could have been more but for Mayo goalkeeper Yvonne Byrne’s outstanding display.

Byrne, a survivor from Mayo’s breakthrough 1999 All-Ireland senior success, pulled of a string of outstanding saves and was named player of the match.

Byrne said: “We knew we’d be up against it against Cork. I We weren’t up to the pace of Cork. Coming from Division 2 to make a Division 1 final is a good leap and hopefully a learning curve for us.”

Mayo, playing into the teeth of a second half wind, couldn’t live with Cork after half-time.

Stack nodded: “Some fantastic scores. A few of the girls were disappointed at half-time – they didn’t get their shooting boots going but they came out in the second half and were unbelievable. It just proves the depth in the squad – it’s great to see and it’s a great foundation going into the championship.”

Stack added: “There was a very strong wind in the first half. We knew if we gave them space, they would pop their points. The whole team worked as a unit today – the forwards tracked back and made our job easier. We were happy enough going in at half-time but the wind will never win a game for you. We had to got out and perform in the second half and we did.”

After McHale’s point, Mayo didn’t score again for 17 minutes and in that time, Cork built a matchwinning platform.

Cork had their homework done and after Staunton ended Mayo’s scoring drought, the Leesiders finished with four points on the spin to rub salt into Mayo’s wounds.

Scorers for Cork: V Mulcahy 0-4 (3f), O Finn 0-3, G O’Flynn 0-3 (2f), R Ní Bhuachalla 0-2 (1f), D O’Sullivan & Angela Walsh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Mayo: C Staunton 0-4 (1f), S Rowe 0-2, F McHale 0-1.

CORK: E Harte; A.M. Walsh, B Stack, A Barrett; B Corkery, D O’Reilly, G O’Flynn; Annie Walsh, R Buckley; O Farmer, Angela Walsh, O Finn; V Mulcahy, R Ní Bhuachalla, D O’Sullivan.

Subs: N Cleary for Mulcahy (48), E Farmer for O’Sullivan (54), V Foley for Barrett (56).

MAYO: Y Byrne; M Corbett, N Tierney, K Sullivan; Ciara McManamon, M Carter, L Ryder; C Egan, Clodagh McManamon; A Gilroy, D Doherty, F McHale; L Cafferky, C Staunton, S Rowe.

Subs: A Bell for Ryder (19), G Kelly for Cafferky (45), N Kelly for Doherty (45), C Connelly for Ciara McManamon (45).

Referee: K Delahunty (Tipperary).