Lidl Ladies' National Football League Division One final
Cork 2-15 Donegal 2-14
DONEGAL came agonisingly close to toppling champions Cork in yesterday’s epic Lidl National Football League Division One final at Parnell Park.
But, not for the first time in recent years, the Rebelettes showed why they are the queenpins of ladies’ football to hold off a spirited Donegal side and clinch their fifth successive league title and a ninth in 10 seasons.
It was a nervy finish for Ephie Fitzgerald’s side in a game that was all square six times over the 60 minutes.
While Donegal duo Yvonne McMonagle and Geraldine McLaughlin have haunted many teams over the course of this year’s league campaign, it was Cork’s Orla Finn whose scoring prowess was on show at the sun-drenched Dublin venue.
She finished with 1-10 (0-9 from frees), while the Donegal duo were held scoreless in the second half as Michéal Naughton’s side finished with 13 players.
McMonagle was sent to the sin bin in the 59th minute and midfielder Katy Herron was red-carded in the final seconds for a high challenge on Jess O’Shea.
With 10 minutes of normal time remaining, the sides were level at 2-13 apiece before two Finn frees put daylight between the sides. Karen Guthrie reduced the deficit to just a point again but Cork held out.
It looked like it was going to be all one-way traffic when Cork found the back of the net after just 19 seconds, Finn finishing an attack from possession won at the throw-in.
But Donegal rallied, despite losing Kate Keeney early on to injury and they had the game level, 1-1 to 0-4, by the 10th minute.
Cork edged back in front, but the dangerous McLaughlin levelled matters again, 1-5 apiece, in the 16th minute.
Donegal moved in front for the first time through a Karen Guthrie free, but Cork’s Eimear Scally equalised, before the same player found the back of the net for Cork’s second goal in the 23rd minute to leave the gap at half-time two points, 2-8 to 1-9.
Niamh Hegarty’s 37th minute goal, cutting straight through the Cork defence, to give Martina O’Brien no chance, moved Naughton’s side in front 2-10 to 2-8 and it looked like Donegal could be on course for a famous victory.
However, Cork were quickly level and as the sides continued to exchange points as the clock ran down, Donegal missed several decent chances, with Finn converting Cork’s to hold out for the most narrow of victories.
Lidl Ladies’ National Football League Division Two final: Cavan 0-15 Westmeath 2-9
CAVAN and Westmeath must do it all again after Maud-Annie Foley’s late point secured a draw for the Midlanders in yesterday’s Lidl National Football League Division Two final at Parnell Park.
It was a game that Cavan will feel got away but Aidan McCabe’s side will take the chance to do it all over again and finish it right this weekend.
Ciara Blundell’s two goals, one in each half, proved crucial to keep Westmeath in touch. With nine minutes remaining, her second half goal, with Cavan leading 0-15 to 1-8 put them to within a point before experienced midfielder Foley, with three minutes left on the clock, sent over the equaliser to ensure Westmeath did not suffer a third final defeat in four seasons.
Cavan started well, leading 0-6 to 0-1 inside the first quarter, but Blundell finished off a good team move on 14 minutes to reduce the deficit and see them trail 0-8 to 1-2 at the break.
The Ulster side began the second half as they did the first and extended their lead to five points, through Claragh O’Reilly and Aisling Doonan and remained in control.
Westmeath did not give up, though, and three times reduced the Cavan lead back to two points. Points from Donna English and Doonan (free) had Cavan four ahead, but not for the first time, Blundell proved to be a thorn in the Cavan side with her second major of the day, before Foley kept her nerve to level the scores and send the game to a replay.
