CORK PRODUCED AN outstanding second-half performance to blitz Derry and retain their 100% record in this year’s National League.
The Leesiders will play Clare in the Division 1 semi-final in a fortnight, with Kilkenny, who defeated Offaly, taking on Wexford in the other semi-final.
The pacy Julia White notched up an early goal for Cork but Derry were extremely competitive in the opening half.
Karen Kielt found the opposition net from a penalty at the end of the first quarter to hand the Ulster outfit a boost.
Grainne McNicholl was brilliant in the half back line for John A Mullan’s side and they remained very much in contention at the interval, trailing by just 1-8 to 1-3.
The defending champions moved through the gears after the resumption, with Síle Burns plundering two goals and Jenny O’Leary also raising a green flag.
Mullan introduced his full complement of substitutes as he continues his bid to get as many players as possible accustomed to top level camogie ahead of a maiden senior championship campaign.
Cork kept the foot on the throttle and O’Leary, White, Orla Cotter, Katrina Mackey and the excellent Briege Corkery were amongst the point-scorers as they strolled to a comfortable 4-21 to 3-5 success.
Kilkenny confirmed their place in the last four by coming out on top in the battle with Offaly, 2-13 to 0-10.
Ann Dalton did much of the damage, scoring seven points from placed balls, while Edwina Keane and Denise Gaule were also multiple scorers. Mairéad Power and Áine Fahey scored the goals that made sure Offaly could not peg them back.
The Faithful were much too reliant on the ever-dependable Elaine Dermody, who scored all bar one of her side’s points. Those nine points all came from frees, with Siobhán Flannery contributing Offaly’s only score from play.
RESULTS
Division 1 Group 1: Cork 4-21 Derry 3-5; Kilkenny 2-13 Offaly 0-10.
Division 2 Group 1: Cork 4-11 Down 2-8; Kilkenny 3-9 Kildare 1-9.
Division 2 Group 2: Meath 0-6 Wexford 0-6; Waterford 2-14 Antrim 2-10; Limerick 0-10 Galway 1-5.
Division 3: Armagh 3-5 Westmeath 2-7.
Division 4: Tyrone 1-11 Cavan 1-5; Carlow 2-13 Kildare 0-2.
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Ladies Football
PETER Clarke’s Mayo squeezed into the top four in Division 1 of the Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League on Sunday.
Clarke plotted the downfall of his former side Dublin in a winner-takes-all clash at Naomh Mearnog.
The Westerners ran out 1-10 to 0-8 winners against the Sky Blues to finish fourth in the table – a result that sets up a Division 1 semi-final meeting with champions Monaghan.
Mayo had to come from behind against Dublin to get the result, as Clarke’s charges trailed by 0-5 to 0-6 at half-time. Mayo were three points behind approaching half-time before Aileen Gilroy and Deirdre Doherty notched scores to keep them in touch.
Mayo had the breeze at their backs for the second half and ace forward Cora Staunton began to exert a growing influence.
And Staunton was involved in Mayo’s crucial goal as Dublin goalkeeper Cliodhna O’Connor struggled to deal with the Carnacon star’s lengthy free and Niamh Kelly netted the loose ball.
Dublin responded well after that setback but Mayo held out for that priceless spot in the last four and Natalia Hyland pointed a 60th minute penalty for the Jackies.
Meanwhile, Cork and Laois will meet in the other semi-final.
All-Ireland champions Cork were boosted by the return of experienced trio Deirdre O’Reilly, Angela Walsh and Nollaig Cleary for Saturday’s 7-23 to 0-3 demolition job on Donegal at Cork IT.
Cork led by 3-11 to 0-1 at half-time with Walsh, Rhona Ni Bhuachalla and Emma Farmer (penalty) scoring the goals. Sarah Harrington collected a brace in the second half as the Rebelettes tacked on four more goals, with Donegal on the receiving end of a 41-point mauling.
Elsewhere, Sinead Doogue and Martina Dunne netted for Laois but already-relegated Meath still recorded their first victory of the season as they ran out 3-16 to 2-13 winners in Summerhill.
And Monaghan made is seven wins from seven with an emphatic 6-16 to 1-4 victory against Ulster rivals Tyrone in Clones. Ciara McAnespie scored a hat-trick, Caoimhe Mohan a brace and Therese McNally notched the other goal for Gregory McGonigle’s rampant side.
There was drama in Division 2 as Clare avoided relegation with an impressive 7-8 to 0-8 victory against Westmeath in Kinnegad. Waterford’s 2-11 to 2-8 win over Kildare on Saturday left Clare knowing that they had to win on their travels to stay up.
And Clare produced a big win to condemn Waterford to Division 3 football in 2014. Kerry will play Kildare and Galway will take on Westmeath in the Division 2 semi-finals.
Wicklow were relegated from Division 3 after losing by 1-6 to 4-18 at home to Wexford, who stay up. In the divisional semi-finals, Armagh will play Leitrim and Down take on Tipperary.
In Division 4, Offaly, Roscommon, Limerick and Antrim occupy the top four positions.
RESULTS
Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League
Division 1: Dublin 0-8 Mayo 1-10; Meath 3-16 Laois 2-13; Monaghan 6-16 Tyrone 1-4; Cork 7-23 Donegal 0-3.
Division 2: Westmeath 0-8 Clare 7-8; Kerry 3-10 Galway 2-13; Kildare 2-8 Waterford 2-11; Cavan 3-16 Fermanagh 2-8.
Division 3: Wicklow 1-6 Wexford 4-18; Longford 0-8 Armagh 2-9; Sligo 0-10 Tipperary 1-17; Down 2-17 Leitrim 2-9.
Division 4: Limerick 8-11 Offaly 1-5; Antrim 2-12 Roscommon 3-12.
