MONAGHAN PUT ON A MASTERCLASS AGAINST ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS

Monaghan 2-13
Cork 0-13
By MARY GRIMES

REIGNING All Ireland senior champions Cork (with full points from their first two fixtures of 2014) were forced to play second fiddle (0-13 to 2-13) to John Morrison’s Monaghan ladies in a pulsating round three NFL tie last weekend.

In exacting a small measure of revenge for last year’s Croke Park defeat, Monaghan showed a much-changed line-out but still proved the masters on the day.

Team-manager Morrison had no less than five Monaghan players making their debut against the Cork ladies with Charlotte Brady, Joanne Geogheghan, Anita Newell, Muireann Atkinson and Laura Boylan all performing like experienced veterans in what was an excellent open free flowing game of football.

Added to the five debutants, Morrison then added Catriona Mc Kenna and Marian Shiels for the injured Linda Martin and Laura Boylan with Niamh Kindlon and Niamh Lynch also being introduced in the final quarter.

Monaghan playing with a stiff breeze, opened on the attack from the throw in, but it was the All Ireland champions centre half forward Doireann O Sullivan who pointed a free that was to open the scoring, quickly followed by a point from ply by Kinsale’s Orla Flynn.

Monaghan were clearly suffering from nerves early on …