WOMEN'S FOOTBALL FINALS/SENIOR FINAL:MANY SEASONED observers of ladies football thought the landscape of the game had changed irrevocably when Tyrone defeated Cork in last year's quarter-final.
Eamonn Ryan’s crew were chasing a scarcely-credible six-in-a-row and the suspicion was that a transitional period was inevitable once their great run had been brought to an end.
Dublin went on to succeed the Rebel County, having pushed them all the way in the previous term’s final, and for all the world it looked like the establishment of a new order.
There seemed nothing to dispel this perception with 16 minutes remaining in this year’s quarter-final, as the champions led by six points over their predecessors, and deservedly so.
What happened next was vintage Cork though as they reeled in their opponents point-by-point to prevail by the minimum margin. They haven’t looked back since.
Remarkably, the veterans appear re-energised, with Juliet Murphy, Rena Buckley, Valerie Mulcahy, Angela Walsh, Brid Stack and Nollaig Cleary appearing as strong as ever, while Briege Corkery is a significant return to the ranks having taken a year out in 2010.
Crucially though, the acceptance by management that the squad would need to be freshened up has yielded dividends. A lot of players previously confined to the bench were tried during the league and winning that title proved their capabilities.
The silverware was a bonus though. The real profit was the form of Grace Kearney, Amy O’Shea and Annie Walsh among others, and the result is a panel with genuine strength in depth that has been utilised to deadly effect to dethrone Dublin, as well as recover from a slow start against Laois in the semi-final.
Deirdre OReilly is one of the old guard, although being labelled a veteran might seem a bit incongruous for a 27-year-old. But she has been around the scene for a dozen years, has all the medals and even bagged an All-Star in 2005.
That was as a centre-forward mind you. This year, she has been reincarnated as a corner-back and is flourishing there. Her speed, confidence in possession and willingness to kick-start attacks with supporting runs have proven invaluable to the campaign so far.
According to the Liscarroll woman, an increase in the number of younger players in the squad has had an undoubted regenerative effect.
“Sometimes they would ask for your advice on things but they just respect you a little more as well, the same way as you respect them because you’ve been in that place yourself. They’re fighting, fighting to take your place all the time so you have to stay sharp.”
Fitness has never been a problem for O’Reilly mind you, and like Murphy, she owns and runs her own gym. She wouldn’t be still around if she wasn’t enjoying it and remains as motivated as ever.
“The years have flown by and I suppose when youre enjoying it and when you’re winning it helps. You just want to win as much as you can while youre there.”
Monaghan stand in the way of All-Ireland number six and will pose a stiff challenge. The Farney County has a rich tradition in ladies football but haven’t claimed the ultimate honours since 1997.
Niamh Kindlon, Caitríona McConnell and Ciara McAnespie are blue-chip forwards and O’Reilly knows she and her colleagues will have their hands full.
“They’re a very tough side. They play a lot like ourselves so it will be a good, open game,” she said.
Monaghan were very impressive in derailing Kerrys ambitions in the semi-final but, given their experience and the calibre of substitute they can introduce when the going gets tough, it’s impossible to look beyond Cork.
CORK: E Harte; AM Walsh, A Walsh, D O’Reilly; B Corkery, B Stack, G O’Flynn; J Murphy, R Buckley; N Cleary, M Kelly, G Kearney; V Mulcahy, R Ní Bhuachalla, A OShea (c).
MONAGHAN: L Martin; G McNally, S Courtney (c), C Reilly; A McAnespie, N Fahy, L Connolly; A Casey, C Courtney; T McNally, E McCarron, C McConnell; C McAnespie, N Kindlon, C Mohan.
Referee: J Niland (Sligo).
