Katie Quirke nets vital brace of goals as Cork edge past Mayo to make All-Ireland LGFA football quarter-finals
KATIE QUIRKE netted a vital goal brace either side of half-time to send Cork into the All-Ireland quarter-finals as they held off a late Mayo fightback in Castlebar.
The Rebels are aiming to end a nine-year wait for another crown and got off to the perfect start when Máire O'Callaghan ran through the heart of the home defence and fired into the net just seconds after the throw-in.
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With a strong wind at their backs, Mayo responded admirably through their go-to sharpshooter Sinéad Walsh as she struck over two frees.
But Hannah Looney fisted over Cork's first point after evading the Mayo defence on the end line. A tit-for-tat opening period saw the Connacht side draw level again by the end of the first quarter thanks to a third Walsh free and a splendid point from play by substitute Ava McDonnell — who came on in the fourth minute for the injured Erin Murray.
Sherin El Massry then nudged the hosts ahead before Looney restored parity with her second white flag.
Cork went back in front after Quirke's point attempt from 20 metres sailed over the head of unfortunate stopper Julia Gawalkiewicz and into the net on 21 minutes.
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Quirke (free) and McDonnell traded scores before Mayo were denied a goal themselves after a short Cork kickout was intercepted by Clodagh Keane.
The quick-thinking full-forward fed Walsh but Cork goalkeeper Sarah Murphy got back heroically to block.
That action preceded a long delay to the game after Shauna Kelly suffered a serious injury after being caught by the Cork No 1 when Murphy blocked Walsh's effort.
Leading 2-3 to 0-6 at half-time, Cork kept Mayo at bay in the third quarter as a point from Aoife Geraghty and two Walsh frees were matched by a trio of Aine O'Sullivan points.
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The Rebels appeared home and hosed after Quirke's second goal on 52 minutes but Mayo refused to wilt and were back to within three after substitute Annie Gough found the net.
Mayo thought they had levelled — with a draw enough to send them through at Cork's expense — when Clodagh Keane got on the end of Gough's pass but it was ruled out for a square ball.
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Laura O'Mahony's late point made sure of Cork's passage to the last eight, while Mayo play Leitrim in the relegation play-off in two weeks' time.
CORK
: S Murphy; S Kelly, S Leahy, M Duggan; A Corcoran, S Cronin, R Corkery; M O'Callaghan 1-0, A Healy; A O'Mahony, L O'Mahony 0-2, K Horgan; A O'Sullivan 0-3, H Looney 0-2, K Quirke 2-1, 1f.
Subs
: E Cleary for Kelly 25 mins (inj), A Ring for Corkery 45, S McGoldrick for Horgan 50, L Hallihan for A O'Mahony 53.
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MAYO
: J Gawalkiewicz; L Wallace, N O'Malley, C Durkin; D Caldwell, E Brennan, S El Massry 0-1; H Reape, S Lally; L Hanley, S Walsh 0-6, 5f, A Geraghty 0-1; E Murray, C Keane, K Sullivan.
Subs
: A McDonnell 0-2 for Murray 4 mins (inj), A Gough 1-0 for Sullivan 42, C Whyte for Hanley 50, B Hession for Brennan 52.
REFEREE
: G Chapman (Sligo).
1
Rosie Corkery of Cork in action against Saoirse Lally of Mayo during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Group 2 match
Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
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