Ladies football: Hannah Looney goal key as Cork see off Waterford

It's Dublin or Galway next up in the All-Ireland last four

AERIAL BATTLE: Emma Murray of Waterford reaches for a high ball under pressure from Rachel Leahy and Daire Kiely of Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final Cork 1-17 Waterford 2-4 

Dublin or Galway await Cork in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-finals following Saturday’s 10-point defeat of Waterford at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Hannah Looney’s 45th minute goal proved crucial on a day the Rebels held their opponents to six scores. Leading 0-6 to 1-2 at the break, Cork kicked on in the third quarter and proved too strong for their dogged opponents.

“We would be very happy with a lot of that performance,” Shane Ronayne said.

“1-17 is probably one our big scores in a tight game this year. We would happy with a lot of it. Most of the time, we were very good, defensively. Had a couple of lapses for the two Waterford goals alright. So, that is something we will have to work on.” Heavy showers made for slippery underfoot conditions just before the start but it was Waterford who struck first through Emma Murray.

Shane Ronayne’s side enjoyed a dominant spell immediately after with four different scorers edging the hosts ahead. Aoife Healy, Emma Cleary, Laura O’Mahony and Abbie O’Mahony found their range to make it 0-4 to 0-1.

The visitors responded positively with Sarah Murphy producing an excellent save to prevent Clodagh Carroll from netting.

Unable to build on their positive opening quarter, Cork were punished by a more clinical opponent who struck 1-1.

Emma Murray’s second point preceded a superb move that released Katie Murray to finish low into the net to make it 1-2 to 0-4.

Despite missing a plethora of chances, including a Rachel Leahy goal attempt blocked by Cora Murray, late Máire O’Callaghan and Emma Cleary efforts made it 0-6 to 1-2 in Cork’s favour at the short whistle.

This game was decided by a third-quarter Cork surge that yielded an unanswered 1-4. Laura O’Mahony, Laura Cleary, Katie Quirke (two) points preceded substitute Hannah Looney firing home after 45 minutes.

Eimear Kiely and Clodagh Carroll exchanged scores prior to an Emma Fitzgerald free. Katie Quirke (free) kept Cork’s eight-point lead intact before Laura O’Mahony fisted her third point.

Hannah Power and Máire O’Callaghan were each yellow carded in a closing spell Waterford’s Clodagh Carroll netted a consolation goal.

Tougher tests ahead but Cork are gaining momentum at at the most opportune time.

Scorers for Cork: H Looney 1-1, E Cleary 0-4, K Quirke (1f), L O’Mahony 0-3 each, A Healy, A O’Mahony, M O’Callaghan, E Kiely, S McGoldrick, L McDonagh (1f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: Waterford: C Carroll 1-1, K Murray 1-0, E Murray 0-2, E Fitzgerald (1f) 0-1 each.

CORK: S Murphy; M Duggan, S Kelly, S Leahy; A Healy, S Cronin, D Kelly; M O’Callaghan (captain), A O’Mahony; E Cleary, L O’Mahony, A McDonagh; A McAuliffe, K Quirke, R Leahy.

Subs: H Looney for A O’Mahony (40), E Kiely for A McAuliffe (40), S McGoldrick for S Cronin (47), A Ryan for A Healy (47), L McDonagh for K Quirke (53).

WATERFORD: E O’Brien; C Murray, H Power (captain), K McGrath; A Murray, A McNulty, E Murray; E Power, C Carroll; M Comeford, A Fitzgerald, N Power; E Fitzgerald, L McGregor, K Murray.

Subs: C McCarthy for N Power (49), A Waring for K Mullen (51), L O’Shea for L McGregor (55).

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).