Dubs continue fine start to season with victory over Cork

Dublin 2-15

Cork 2-3

By Aisling Clery and Daragh Small

Dublin TG4 All-Star Hannah Tyrrell says it’s all about fine-tuning at this stage of the season as her side turns their attentions to a clash with rivals Meath in the Lidl National Football League Division 1B.

The reigning champions continued their fine start to the league with a 2-15 to 2-3 victory over Cork at Croke Park on Saturday and Tyrrell scored 1-9.

TG4 All-Ireland champions Meath were also victorious, they got the better of Waterford, meaning both sides are through to the next stage before they meet in Round 3.

Hannah Tyrrell of Dublin in action against Meabh Cahalane of Cork Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

“We are just looking at it as another game, looking to improve and rectify, it doesn’t really matter who it is,” said Tyrrell.

“I’m sure it will be a great game to play but we are just looking forward to getting out there, getting more game time under our belt and improving each game in the season.”

Mick Bohan’s side were in control throughout Saturday’s match and second half goals from Libby Coppinger and Áine O’Sullivan were not enough to reel them back after Cork trailed by 1-9 to 0-2 at half-time.

The first half was dominated by Dublin but it was Cork who were first to strike when Orla Finn converted a second minute free. Dublin hit 1-6 without reply after that, Tyrrell levelled the game from a free before Niamh Hetherton added a point from play to give them the lead for the first time in the sixth minute, they never looked back.

Katie Quirke of Cork is tackled by Leah Caffrey of Dublin Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Dublin’s first goal arrived moments later when Kate Sullivan offloaded to Nicole Owens and the St Sylvester’s star rifled to the net. A further point from Owens and three successful frees from Tyrrell sent Dublin into a 1-6 to 0-1 lead at the first water break.

Finn scored her second point on the resumption, Cork’s first score in 17 minutes, before Dublin regained the ascendency with Tyrrell converting two frees. They could have been further ahead but Martina O’Brien turned Owens’ shot round the post before Sullivan scored to give Dublin a ten-point advantage at half-time.

Tyrrell pushed Dublin into a 1-11 to 0-2 lead with two points at the start of the second half and Sullivan scored her second but then Cork were handed a lifeline. Substitute Aisling Kelleher sent the ball in to the box, Abby Shiels scrambled to save it and Libby Coppinger finished the rebound to the net.

Nevertheless, Dublin responded with Tyrrell and Orlagh Nolan on target to push them 1-14 to 1-2 ahead by the final water break.

Katie Quirke scored after some patient build up before Cork’s second goal, when O’Sullivan slipped the ball past Shiels to reduce the gap to eight points, but Dublin weren’t finished yet.

Siobhán Killeen was fouled in the box, and Tyrrell scored the penalty to bring her tally to 1-9 and earn Dublin’s second win in 2022 with reigning TG4 All-Ireland champions Meath next up.

Scorers: Dublin: H Tyrrell 1-9 (8f), N Owens 1-1, K Sullivan 0-2, N Hetherton 0-1, O Nolan 0-1, S Killeen 0-1.

Cork: L Coppinger 1-0, Á O’Sullivan 1-0, O Finn 0-2 (1f), K Quirke 0-1.

DUBLIN: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, H Leahy; A Kane, M Byrne, O Nolan; J Dunne, K McDaid; C O’Connor, N Hetherton, K Sullivan; J Egan, H Tyrrell, N Owens.

Subs: N Collins for Caffrey (30), S Killeen for Egan (30), R Hartnett for McDaid (38), S Fagan for Nolan (46), L Davey for Hetherton (46), S Woods for Owens (46), E Gribben for Kane (54), S Wylde for O’Connor (54), R Brennan for Leahy (54), O Whyte for Tyrrell (59)

CORK: M O’Brien; M Ambrose, R Phelan, M Cahalane; L O’Mahony, M Duggan, E O’Shea; A Hutchings, S Kelly; E Cleary, L Coppinger, D Kiely; S O’Leary, K Quirke, O Finn.

Subs: D Kinry for Ambrose (30), A O’Mahony for Kiely (30), R Leahy for O’Leary (30), A Kelleher for Duggan (37), E Scally for Coppinger (42), Á O’Sullivan for Finn (46), E Kiely for Cleary (46), C Collins for O’Shea (56)

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).