Indomitable Cork defy the odds once more

TG4 LADIES SFC FINA:

This summer, there were even bigger tests but another memorable TG4 All-Ireland SFC campaign concluded with familiar faces on the Hogan Stand podium. Cork, for the eighth time in nine seasons, are champions.

It’s a remarkable record and in that time, they have lost just one game in the All-Ireland series — a 2010 quarter-final defeat to Tyrone. They wobbled in unfamiliar territory against Armagh when sent through the backdoor by two defeats in the Munster championship to Kerry but since then, Eamonn Ryan’s all-conquering Rebels built up an irresistible head of steam.

And with yesterday’s final — their third against Monaghan in six seasons — very much in the melting pot, Cork ground it out. It was almost inevitable but Monaghan were unhappy with the sin-binning of Eileen McKenna with 12 minutes to play.

With so little time left, it was a pivotal moment and Monaghan boss Gregory McGonigle would later insist, during the course of a harsh analysis of match referee John Niland, that you must be 100% certain it was a yellow card in that situation.

But when McGonigle and his backroom staff review the tape, they will probably accept Cork deserved it. The Leesiders registered eight wides in the second half, some of them very much in the ‘horrendous’ category, but still got over the line. It’s what they’ve done for so long. It’s what they continue to do.

And perhaps the genesis of yet another Brendan Martin Cup success can be traced back to that escape act against Armagh. More likely it was coming from nine points down to beat Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final, when all looked lost. Or perhaps it was slaying Kerry in the semi-final, having lost to the Kingdom twice in Munster. Put simply, when it comes to finals, Cork don’t know how to lose. And in many ways, this had to be the sweetest of them all. Because they had been written off in quarters and Monaghan were as short as 13/10 to win their first title since 1997.

Ultimately, the Ulster champions slumped to yet another September defeat and judging by the tears and sheer devastation on Farney faces as they trudged into the players’ bar afterwards, this will be the toughest of the lot to accept.

In front of 25,103 spectators, and with just three minutes remaining, Valerie Mulcahy kicked the winning score from a nerveless free.

Monaghan had a chance to salvage a draw but Catriona McConnell’s free, the last kick of the game, sailed wide into the teeth of a strong breeze from some 40 metres out.

If a glance at the clock — with eight seconds remaining when the free was awarded — didn’t convince McConnell that it was boom or bust, the sound of the full-time hooter hammered the truth home.

With eight minutes left, McConnell had edged her side a point clear, before Cork’s inspirational midfielder Juliet Murphy, who performed a retirement U-turn earlier in the season, banged over an inspirational equaliser from long range.

The scene was set for a grandstand finish and Mulcahy held her nerve to convert what turned out to be the winner, as McConnell and her team-mates were left heartbroken at the death.

The second half was an edgy, scrappy affair at times as both sides struggled for scores.

Monaghan, who trailed by 0-6 to 1-6 at half-time, received a major boost when goalkeeper Linda Martin converted a 33rd minute penalty, following Briege Corkery’s foul on Cora Courtney. And Monaghan moved two points clear — 1-8 to 1-6 — when Laura McEnaney, daughter of selector Seamus, kicked a point.

That completed a spirited Monaghan revival, as they had trailed by five points — 0-3 to 1-5 — in the first half.

Goal machine Mulcahy grabbed Cork’s goal in the 14th minute, taking a pass from Doireann O’Sullivan before finishing coolly from close range. But Monaghan had a chance themselves eight minutes before half-time, with McConnell denied by recalled Cork keeper Elaine Harte’s fine stop.

Scorers for Cork: V Mulcahy (1-4, 0-4f), J Murphy, N Cleary (0-2 each), G O’Flynn, Annie Walsh (0-1 each).

Scorers for Monaghan: C McConnell (0-4f), L Martin (1-0pen), C Mohan (0-2), L McEnaney, T McNally, C McAnespie (0-1 each).

CORK: E Harte; AM Walsh, Angela Walsh, B Stack; B Corkery, R Buckley, G O’Flynn; D O’Reilly, J Murphy; N Cleary, Annie Walsh, D O’Sullivan; C O’Sullivan, V Mulcahy, R Ní Bhuachalla.

Subs: O Farmer for Ní Bhuachalla (ht), O Finn for Annie Walsh (49), R Ní Bhuachalla for Farmer (52), A Barrett for AM Walsh (60).

MONAGHAN: L Martin; G McNally, S Courtney, C Reilly; L McEnaney, E McCarron, A McAnespie; A Casey, Y Connell; T McNally, C Mohan, C Courtney; C McConnell, E McKenna, C McAnespie.

Subs: E McElroy for A McAnespie (ht), N Kindlon for Mohan (56).

Referee: J Niland (Sligo).