Report: Armagh fall short to Cork in All-Ireland decider

GOALS proved crucial for Cork as they retained their All-Ireland U14 Platinum football title at St Brigid’s, Kiltoom in Roscommon.

Three came in the first half and it set them on their way to victory as they were made to battle all the way to the finish by Armagh.

A superb run from Olivia Gray saw her open the scoring for Armagh in the second minute, and their start got even better two minutes later.

A shot from Molly O’Neill was saved by Orla Finn but Lilymae Mackin was quickest to react to punch the breaking ball to the net.

Cork’s first real chance came after six minutes when Caoimhe McCarthy’s shot from a free was cleared off the line by Aurora Byrne.

Cork opened their account after eight minutes when an Abiageal Fenton shot was saved by Byrne, but Aoife O’Connell picked up the breaking ball to find the back of the net, to make it 1-1 to 1-0.

Ciara Murphy pointed for Armagh, before Cork got their second goal, this time O’Connell turning provider for Fenton to make it 2-0 to 1-2.

Fiadh Bell pulled a point back for Armagh, before Mackin hit the crossbar from a free.

With 20 minutes gone Armagh were back on level terms when Molly O’Neill scored, to make it 2-1 to 1-4.

Fenton then had a goal chance for Cork with her initial effort coming back off the post and when she picked the ball up again, Byrne saved her second effort.

With four minutes to half time Armagh took the lead when Bell scored from a free, but their lead didn’t last long.

Cork worked the ball down the pitch through Beth Hegarthy and when she was fouled the referee had no hesitation in awarding them a penalty.

Eirinn Coppinger stepped up and slotted home to see the Rebels lead by 3-1 to 1-5 at half time.
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If Armagh got a good start to the first half, then Cork did to the second.

Within 20 seconds they hit the post again, this time Coppinger unlucky not to score.

Another goal chance came their way when Byrne denied Fenton again.

With 32 minutes gone Coppinger pointed for Cork, with O’Connell also pointing to increase their lead, 3-3 to 1-5.

Ciara O’Brien added another for Cork, with Bell replying for Armagh.

In a frantic start to the second half Cork had their fourth goal, after 37 minutes, when Coppinger was on target again, to make it 4-4 to 1-6.

Armagh hit back with two from Bell, to make it 4-6 to 1-8 after 43 minutes.

Fenton pointed for Cork, with Bell replying from a free, as the game moved from end to end at pace.

Fenton increased Cork’s lead, with Bell again scoring for her side. Caoimhe McCarthy pointed from a free for Cork, before Armagh got their second goal to set up a tense finish.

Olivia Gray blasted to the top corner, to make it 4-8 to 2-9 with five minutes to go.

Points from Bell and Cara Murphy put only three points between the sides with minutes remaining.

But Cork hung on to retain their title after an epic battle.

Scorers: Cork: E Coppinger 2-1 (1-0 pen), A O’Connell 1-2, A Fenton 1-1, K Whelton (f), C McCarthy (f), C O’Brien, A McElroy 0-1 each.

Armagh: O Gray 1-2, L Mackin 1-0, F Bell 0-6 (2f), C Murphy, M O’Neill, C Murphy 0-1 each.

CORK: O Finn; N O’Sullivan, S Heron, C Walsh; A O’Connor, B Cronin, E O’Sullivan; M Collins, A McElroy; A O’Connell, C McCarthy, C O’Brien; C Hurley, A Fenton, K Whelton. Subs: B Hegarty, E Coppinger, R Humston, M Philpott, A O’Donovan, C Daly, C McCarthy.

ARMAGH: A Byrne; C Morgan, K Kelly, M Fox; EM McGrane, C Murphy, A Breslin; K Ferris, C McKeever; O Gray, M Campbell, M O’Neill; E Brito, L Mackin, F Bell. Subs: L Doyle, G Daly, Z Awada, A McGrattan, A Carbery, S McParland, K Kelly, EM McGrane, LL Fitzpatrick, G Clarke, O Gray, C Murphy.

Referee: Aaron Clogher (Roscommon).