Women In Sport: All Roads Lead To Croke Park As Waterford And Cork Book Their Spots In All-Ireland Finals

What a display! Cork will get the chance to defend their All-Ireland title in Croke Park this year after an emphatic 4-14 to 0-13 win over Kerry in the TG4 All-Ireland senior semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Saturday evening. The old adage that goals win games certainly rang true as Cork drove to victory, as goals from Player of the Match Valerie Mulcahy (two), Aine O’Sullivan and Eimear Scally proved to be the difference between the sides throughout. Valerie Mulcahy hit two goals for Cork. The opening ten minutes were extremely close, with just one point on the scoreboard courtesy of Valerie Mulcahy. Kerry found their feet on 11 minutes and soon took the lead, 0-2 to 0-1, after some well-worked scores. It was neck-in-neck throughout, before Aine O’Sullivan finished to the net to put Cork 1-2 to 0-4 ahead. Despite good play from Kerry, Mulcahy netted her first of the day to send Cork to the dressing room with a 2-5 to 0-7 cushion at the break. Cork's Vera Foley and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh of Kerry Again, Kerry kept in touch on the scoreboard as the second half got underway, but they just could not get that all-important goal. Mulcahy netted her second of the day before the hugely impressive Eimear Scally got Cork’s fourth to send them through to the All-Ireland final on September 27th after a fantastic display. Meanwhile in the intermediate semi-final, Waterford booked their spot in Croke Park with a 2-17 to 2-6 win over Leitrim at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. A big day for Cork manager Eamonn Ryan This marks Waterford’s first intermediate football final since 2012 and was thanks in particular to an outstanding performance from Player of the Match Aileen Wall. Goals from Wall and substitute Michelle Ryan sent Waterford on their way to victory and one step closer to lifting the intermediate title. However it wasn’t all plain sailing for the Deise women, who had just a one point cushion at the break (1-3 to 1-2) but whatever was said to them in the dressing room at half time clearly worked, as they opened the second half with a run of five unanswered points.

Well done to @WaterfordLGFA the first team to reach the 2015 @TG4TV All 2:06 to 2:17 #bethediff

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) August 29, 2015

Despite a fantastic display at the other end from Leitrim’s Aine Tighe, Waterford had hit their stride and will now contest the final on September 27^th against either Kildare or Offaly. Images: INPHO