Cork's craft and guile gets them over the line at Croke Park

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: Cork 1-9 Dublin 0-11:THERE WAS always a concern that Dublin would be unable to stay with Cork. Then the match got underway and the challengers kicked two points in the opening three minutes.

A captivating contest ensued.

Dublin also should have bagged an early goal, but Sinéad Aherne was denied by an Elaine Harte block. That and a later penalty miss by the same, busy full forward proved crucial in the overall perspective.

But really, as manager Gerry McGill noted afterwards, Dublin would not have been at HQ yesterday without the St Sylvester's attacker. Aherne proved her worth with a 0-3 return, but memories of that tame penalty miss will linger.

Cork struggled to handle Dublin's ferocity and intent for the opening three quarters of the game. However, perhaps roused by the early scores from Lyndsey Davey and the excellent Mary Nevin, they went for the jugular in response and that meant goals. If it were not for a dose of luck, Dublin may well have been buried before they even got started.

Nervy defending, as Dublin attempted to settle into the alien environment that is this vast Croke Park pitch, presented Cork with a goal opportunity for Nollaig Cleary on five minutes. She belted it off her left foot into the corner. Juliet Murphy tacked on a point as the champions smelt blood.

Waves of attacks descended on the Hill 16 end. It helped that resistance came in the form of 40 -year-old full back Noelle Comyn who used all her guile to keep Valerie Mulcahy quiet.

Eventually, Cork's main weapon became unstoppable.

Anyway, Amy O'Shea smacked the inside butt of the right upright before Rhona Ní Bhuachalla flashed a wild shot wide.

The Dubliners present in the 21,606 crowd braced themselves for another whipping.

But then the players relaxed, unburdening themselves of the natural fear that comes with such a jarring experience as an AllIreland final, as Aherne and Amy McGuinness found their range with neat points.

The penalty arrived midway through the first half after referee Declan Corcoran adjudged Ciara O'Sullivan to have dragged Aherne to the ground. A yellow card and sin bin followed.

Ten minutes seems an excessive punishment in a 60-minute game, but the experiment certainly appears to have weeded out body -checking from the woman's game - if it ever existed at all.

Aherne hardly struck the penalty, allowing Harte to save. To make matters worse, Dublin failed to avail of the extra player.

At least they led at the interval after possession was worked cross-field for Nevin to clip over her second point.

Cork's second-half rebuttal came thrice off the left boot of Valerie Mulcahy in an eight-minute period. Dublins' Lyndsey Peat responded, but her score could be contested as Corcoran appeared to blow for a Dublin free before allowing the white flag to be raised. The referee doesn't get much hassle in the women's game. It must be a nice change.

Next came another flurry of Dublin attacks, with Siobhán McGrath, McGuinness and finally Aherne pointing, the latter score being the pick of the day after five pairs of hands quickly transferred possession into the red zone.

Little moments were indicating a possible changing of the guard. Peat was making a nuisance of herself, while Nevin's bravery earned a free off Bríd Stack.

But they desperately needed another score to force Cork into chasing a goal and crowd their defence even more. It never came.

Instead, the big Cork players made some immense plays. Angela Walsh, as she had done all day in fairness, alleviated pressure with several carries from deep. Stack and Juliet Murphy became more purposeful in possession.

The great Briege Corkery's trademark forays up the wing had been well covered, but now she was visible with some quick cameos. Mulcahy was everywhere. Mairéad Walsh came in and changed the game.

In contrast, Nevin's industry had taken its toll and Denise Masterson could no longer stem the tide in midfield although the losing captain had a superb game. Dublin also began to force their passes with long balls leaving matters to chance.

A Mulcahy free was followed quickly by a Kelly point, despite the presence of five Dublin defenders. This levelled matters for the sixth time. Dublin couldn't get out of their half. Pressure was now being applied everywhere. Cleary took another score. Kelly then found Mulcahy who side-footed her fifth point.

Dublin looked exhausted, but forced their way upfield, though by now they lacked their earlier cohesion and urgency. They earned a free with less than two minutes remaining, which Aherne kicked, but this merely presented the best footballers around with a chance to provide a 90-second lesson in retention of possession.

It was clinical. Dublin were hoping for the chance to snatch a draw but Cork had the bit between their teeth. And wouldn't let go.

CORK: E Harte; R Buckley, A Walsh, G O'Flynn; C O'Sullivan, B Stack, B Corkery; J Murphy (0-2, frees), N Kelly; N Cleary (1-1), D O'Reilly, A O'Shea; M O'Connor (capt), V Mulcahy (0-5, 0-3 frees), R Ní Bhuachalla. Subs: L McMahon for A O'Shea (39 mins), L Barrett for R Ní Bhuachalla (42 mins), M Kelly (0-1) for M O'Connor (51 mins).

DUBLIN: C O'Connor; A Cluxton, N Comyn, M Kavanagh; C Barrett, S Furlong, S McGrath (0-1); D Masterson (capt), N McEvoy; M Nevin (0-2), A McGuinness (0-2), E Kelly (0-1); L Davey (0-1), S Aherne (0-3, one free), L Peat (0-1). Subs: L Kidd for A Cluxton (27 mins), N Hurley for E Kelly (39 mins), E Travers for C Barrett (54 mins), K Flood for N McEvoy (56 mins), R Byrne for M Nevin (57).

Referee: D Corcoran (Mayo).