Cork and Cavan will have to do it all over again after their All-Ireland U16 A final finished in a draw.
Cork and Cavan playing out a 12 points to 1-9 draw at Bretland Park, Clara, Co. Offaly writes Ger McCarthy.
Neither side deserved to lose on the day. Éabha O’Donovan starred for the Rebels with eight points. Mia Lynch, finished with six points and was equally influential for the Ulster champions.
Four points was the biggest margin throughout an evenly-contested All-Ireland final.
Kate Fegan’s superbly finished goal looked to have given Cavan the edge as they led deep into injury-time. But full credit to Cork who conjured up an injury-time leveller from O’Donovan.
The first-half belonged to Cork who capitalised on five Cavan wides. Building-up a six points to three interval advantage in heavy rain.
Cavan second-half comeback
However, Cavan had the better of the third-quarter. Katie O’Meara (0-2) and Lynch (0-2 2f) moved the Ulster champions within two points of their opponents. Nine points to seven with ten minutes remaining.
Another O’Donovan free made it a three-point game, five minutes from full-time. Whereas, once again Cavan responded as Lynch scored her sixth point from a free.
Then, a flowing Cavan move ended with Fegan brilliantly firing into the bottom corner to make it 1-8 to 0-10.
Cork were not finished, as O’Donovan and Sheridan exchanged frees.
It looked to be Cavan’s day until the game’s final attack. Five minutes into injury-time, O’Donovan landed her eighth score to force a replay.
The replay, provisionally scheduled for Friday, July 28, looks set to be another cracking contest between two excellent sides.
Cork: A Toye; É Walsh, A Tobin, A O’Sullivan (captain); R Breen, M McRea, M Barrett; J Foskin, K McEntee; C Murphy, É O’Donovan, C Horgan; É Nagle, L Walsh, K Carey.
Subs: E Burns for C Horgan (ht), A Sheehan for É Nagle (53), K Ferns for C Murphy (56), S Barry for A O’Sullivan (60).
Scorers: É O’Donovan 0-8 (0-4f), L Walsh 0-3 (0-1f), C Horgan 0-1.
Cavan: F Higgins; C Hegarty, C McDonnell, K Grigerenko; A Kennedy, K M Reilly (captain), C Crowe; E Mussi, L Miney; R Gilmartin, E Sheridan, K Fegan; M Lynch, C Clarke, K O’Meara.
Subs: K Cahill for C Hegarty (2, inj), N McCaffery for R Gilmartin (37), H McPhillips for K O’Meara (51).
Scorers: M Lynch 0-6 (0-3f), K Fegan 1-0, K O’Meara 0-2, E Sheridan 0-1f.
Referee: Paul McCaughey (Westmeath).
