O'Mahony leads goal-hungry Cork past Tipperary

Cork's Laura O'Mahony celebrates her goal against Tipperary during the Lill Ladies NFL Division 2 game at Fethard. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

LGFA National League Division 2: Tipperary 0-9 Cork 3-12 

Cork maintained their promotion push from Lidl LGFA National League Division 2 by netting three goals in seeing off Tipperary at Fethard Town Park last Sunday.

It was far from straightforward but Joe Carroll’s side registered a second Division 2 victory in three outings at the expense of their Munster rivals.

Tipperary were the better team for much of the opening half and, backed by a strong wind, trailed 2-2 to 0-7 at the interval. Two goals in two minutes, via Orlaith Roche and Laura O’Mahony, turned the game on its head.

Cork were much improved in the second period and held their opponents to two points before kicking for home. Emma Cleary chipped in a superb third goal to wrap up a 3-12 to 0-9 triumph.

Overcoming a tough opponent and scoring three goals for the second time this season, Cork maintained their push for promotion which pleased manager Joe Carroll.

“I suppose we set our (initial) target that we would win the first three games but winning two out of three is very good,” Cork’s manager admitted.

“We were close in the one against Galway last week. We would be very, very pleased with our second half performance here today against Tipperary. We were a bit ‘iffy’ in the first half but there was a very strong breeze too.

“Tipp did trouble us and they have an awful lot of good footballers. Some of them are involved with me in UCC. They are well able to play football.” 

Next up is a tough trip to Monaghan in a fortnight’s time. Under a new manager and backroom team, Cork’s seniors are making steady progress. 

Erika O’Shea, Laura O’Mahony and Emma Cleary were the pick of the winners’ top performers at the conclusion of a satisfying afternoon’s work in Fethard.

Scorers for Cork: L O’Mahony (1-4), K Quirke 0-3 (2f), O Roche, E Cleary (1-0 each), H Looney, M O’Callaghan, A O’Mahony, K Smith, K O’Driscoll (0-1 each).

Scorers for Tipperary: E Morrissey, K Crotty Ryan (1f), A O’Shea (0-2 each), A Fennessy, S English, C Condon (0-1 each).

CORK: S Murphy;⁠ M Duggan, D Kiniry, S Callanan; E O’Shea, S Leahy (captain), R Ní Chorcora; M O’Callaghan, A O’Mahony; L O’Mahony, H Looney, A McDonagh; E Cleary, O Roche, K Quirke.

Substitutes: S Cronin for D Kiniry, K O’Driscoll O Roche (both ht), S Kelly for S Callanan (46), A Corcoran for A McDonagh (55), K Horgan for R Corkery (55), A Ryan for E O’Shea (58), K Smith for E Cleary (58).

TIPPERARY: L Fitzpatrick (captain); E Cronin, L Spillane, M Cronin; S O’Carroll, M Curley, S English; A R Kennedy, N Twomey; A Fennessy, A O’Shea, H Brennan; K Crotty Ryan, E Morrissey, A Ryan.

Substitutes: S Lutrell for L Spillane (17, inj), C English for A Fennessy (ht, inj), N Towey for L Morrissey (41), C Condon for H Brennan (46), K Cashman for S O’Carroll (50), H Spillane for A O’Shea (50).

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).