Cork belles dig deep to ring up double

LUCKY champions, maybe, but certainly not undeserving winners.

It took character most of all, and a fighting second-half display in which several individuals made huge contributions, to earn Cork their second consecutive TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football senior title in Croke Park yesterday. Armagh made the giant leap from junior winners 12 months ago to put in a supreme effort in the first half, only to lose their way after having a defender sin-binned. Cruelly, after missing several chances to draw level, they were denied what seemed a legitimate free in the dying seconds.

Played in front of an attendance which was 5,000 higher than for the combined camogie and U21 hurling finals, the first championship meeting of the counties produced a marvellous contest which throbbed with excitement in the closing stages.