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Classy Cork retain title

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: CORK RETAINED their Bord Gáis Energy women’s National Football League Division One crown with a devastating…

Mon May 11 2009 - 01:00

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL:CORK RETAINED their Bord Gáis Energy women's National Football League Division One crown with a devastating performance against Mayo in Kiltoom on Saturday.

Jim McEvoy’s reigning Munster and All-Ireland kingpins collected the league title for the fourth time in five seasons. Rhona Buckley’s first-half goal helped Cork ease into a 1-10 to 0-5 half-time lead.

Buckley was a late change to the Cork line-up as she came in at full-forward for Amy O’Shea and more than justified her inclusion with a fine first-half display. Dominant Cork could even afford the luxury of 10 first-half wides while Mayo, chasing the game, registered eight wides in the second half.

Buckley forced Mayo goalkeeper Yvonne Byrne into a smart 12th-minute save before the St Finbarr’s star netted in the 17th minute after taking a pass from Deirdre O’Reilly.

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Mayo had a chance to get back into contention in the 24th minute but top-scorer Cora Staunton fired a penalty wide. Staunton scored two points early in the second half but Cork then stepped on the gas and roared to victory.

Player-of-the-match Nollaig Cleary was in superb form and scored six points for the winners.

In the Division Two final, Down beat Tipperary by 2-12 to 0-11 and Roscommon took the Division Three title with a 1-12 to 1-8 win over Wicklow.

CORK: E Harte; Rena Buckley, A Walsh, L Barrett; G O'Flynn (0-2), B Stack, B Corkery (0-2); J Murphy (0-1), N Kelly; N Cleary (0-6), M O'Connor (c), C O'Sullivan (0-2); V Mulcahy (0-5, three frees), Rhona Buckley (1-1), D O'Reilly (0-1). Subs: A O'Shea for Rhona Buckley (50 mins), C McCarthy for Barrett (54 mins), R O'Sullivan for C O'Sullivan (57 mins), A Sheehan for Corkery (57 mins), L Cohalan for O'Flynn (60 mins).

MAYO:Y Byrne; N Tierney, C McGing, M Corbett; S Hughes, C O'Hara, K Sullivan (0-1); C Egan, M Carter (c); F McHale, E Mullen (0-3), T McNicholas; L Cafferky, C Staunton (0-7, five frees), N Beegan. Subs: N Hurst for Hughes (28 mins), A Loftus for Corbett (ht), A Herbert for McHale (36 mins), S Cafferky for L Cafferky (48).

Referee:Joe Murray (Dublin).