Women's SFC Final - Cork 4-13 Monaghan 0-11:ALL THE talk this September across the Gaelic Games world has been of three-in-a-row successes; yet the Cork women's footballers went one better yesterday at Croke Park as a comfortable win over Monaghan put them alongside Kerry as the only counties to claim four titles in succession in the TG4 women's senior football championship.
In ideal conditions, an attendance of 20,015 watched what is unquestionably the team of the decade, as Cork romped to a 14-point victory.
Cork reigned supreme as corner forward Valerie Mulcahy, who had bounced back from a two-week suspension following a late red card in the semi-final win over Tyrone, scored 3-2 to ensure a fourth medal in succession for herself and 12 of her team-mates.
This was a game which hinged on three goals, all of which came from the boot of the Rockbán ace and all at vital stages.
The first score of the game came after three and a half minutes - a Mulcahy speciality, as the 25-year-old rifled a penalty-kick to the back of the net past Monaghan goalkeeper Linda Martin.
Mulcahy replicated this effort again in the closing four minutes of the game, in between slicing the ball between the posts from play in the opening stages of the second half with a fisted effort.
Mulcahy was modest when recalling the three scores which ensured victory.
"I had my mind made up for the first one, and for the second one the goalkeeper was showing a lot to the same side, but I just decided to keep going the same way and thankfully they went in," she said.
"Just as the ball came in, I stayed outside the edge of the small square and, thankfully, I managed to punch it in. It was a great team performance I thought myself and I just happened to be the one who scored the goals."
Despite amassing 12 wides, Cork's sheer experience carried them through to ensure an unblemished championship record spanning four years, during which they have won 11 of the 12 titles on offer - across league and championship - and just losing one match.
Cork only led by 1-8 to 0-8 at the interval thanks to Mulcahy's penalty goal, with Caitríona McConnell, and Edel Byrne keeping Monaghan in touch; while defenders Christina Reilly, Aoife McAnespie and Angela Lennon helped to continue to keep John McAleer's side in contention in defence.
However, Mulcahy again produced the goods at the start of the second half, when, with four minutes played, she penetrated the Monaghan rearguard for a second time.
Although Cork led by six points at this stage, Monaghan managed to claw into the lead thanks to scores from Niamh Kindlon and Edel Byrne.
But this was as close as the Ulster champions could get to the reigning champions; although Monaghan goalkeeper Linda Martin pulled off a fine save following an Amy O'Shea 40th-minute goal opportunity, Cork reigned supreme.
A Ciara O'Sullivan goal within 30 seconds of her introduction and a similar super-sub impact from Rhona Buckley, who kicked two points when she replaced Amanda Murphy, helped pave the way for Cork's success.
Mulcahy's third goal was equally as well struck as the first with four minutes left on the clock, this time following a foul on Mary O'Connor.
No more scores were needed for the champions as Monaghan battled hard until the end, but they failed to make much headway in the final minutes, as Cork defended superbly.
A strong team performance ensured the Brendan Martin Cup remains on Leeside for the fourth year in succession, with Angela Walsh lifting silverware after the game.
Cork manager Eamon Ryan summed up this game as a 'battle' when reflecting on his side's victory. "I knew it was going to be a battle and that we would have to bring a lot of bodies behind the ball.
"We played into their hands in the first half, we used very slow ball and didn't offload it quickly. We delayed getting it up front and they clustered us."
CORK:E Harte; C Walsh, A Walsh, L Barrett; B Corkery, B Stack, G O'Flynn; J Murphy (0-3, three frees), N Kelly; N Cleary (0-2), M O'Connor (0-2), A Murphy (0-1); V Mulcahy (3-2, 2-0 pen, one free), A O'Shea (0-1), D O'Reilly. Subs: Rena Buckley for C Walsh (29 mins); C O'Sullivan (1-0) for D O'Reilly (42); Rhona Buckley (0-2) for A Murphy (48 mins); R O'Sullivan for O'Shea (55 mins); S O'Reilly for Cleary (56 mins).
MONAGHAN:L Martin; G McNally, S Courtney, C Reilly; A McAnespie, A Lennon, F Courtney; A Casey, I Kierans (0-1); C McConnell (0-3, one free), N Kindlon (0-1, one free), T McNally (0-2); C McAnespie (0-1), E Byrne (0-3), N Fahy. Subs: L Connolly for Lennon (44 mins); C Courtney for McConnell (48 mins); E McCarron for Fahy (51 mins); U McNally for Reilly (54).
Referee:Keith Tighe (Dublin).
