Final place will help Cork learning curve, says happy Carroll
Cork manager Joe Carroll. Picture: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Cork manager Joe Carroll said reaching the Lidl National Football League final is a great boost for a young squad.
They will take on Galway in the final on Saturday, April 11, in a repeat of the Division 2 decider which Galway won last year.
"We are delighted to be there. It is going to be a great learning curve for a very young squad,” said Carroll, whose side defeated Meath by 4-8 to 2-12 to advance to the final.
“The squad is gelling with every passing game. All that has come through hard work. The players have worked fierce hard since we brought them in.
“We will consider the lineup for the Dublin game during the week as we are conscious that we have a lot of players who have not gotten game time,” he added.
Galway defeated Dublin by 3-13 to 1-13 to book their place in the final and manager Daniel Moynihan was pleased with the way they built a lead in the opening half with the three goals.
“I thought we played really well in the first half. I think a couple of their opportunities came for our own errors, but generally speaking, I think we were very happy that first half performance, had a bit of a cushion for ourselves.
“It's nice to be able to say that we're in a league final with a game to spare,” said Moynihan.
Armagh eased their relegation concerns with a 1-13 to 2-8 win over Kerry in Silverbridge with Blaithin Mackin getting the goal in the opening half to lead by 1-6 to 1-2 at the break.
“I think the first 15 after half-time was probably the best football we've played in a couple of years,” said Armagh manager Gregory McGonigle. “I thought maybe a few times we were tackled a lot, maybe it was over physical, but again, I thought the girls performed very, very well.”
Áine O’Neill struck a late goal as Waterford fought from behind to claim a share of the spoils with Kildare on a 2-10 to 1-13 scoreline, but she felt they should have secured victory.
“It definitely feels like we left that behind us,” said O’Neill. “The first half, I don’t even know what that was. Then in the second half we did pull out a really good performance, but we definitely did still miss chances.”
Meanwhile, Cavan will contest the Division 2 final, which will also take place on Saturday, April 11, after they secured promotion to the top flight for the first time in history when they defeated Tyrone by 1-10 to 1-6 with Keri McCormack getting their goal.
In Division 3, Louth booked their place in the final on Sunday April 12 with a 1-14 to 1-8 win over Roscommon, while the remaining slot will be taken by Antrim or Down, who meet next Sunday in Round 7. Limerick have been relegated and either Clare or Laois will join them after next week's games.
And in Division 4, Offaly will meet Carlow next Sunday in the Division 4 semi-final after their 3-18 to 2-12 win over Longford.
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