Cork opened their TG4 All-Ireland campaign with a decisive victory when they struck for six goals against Laois at Laois Hire O'Moore Park.
Cork got on top from the outset, proving successful in finding gaps in the Laois defence and securing 1-04 in the opening ten minutes. A Katie Quirke free opened the scoring followed by Sadbh McGoldrick raising the white flag and Emma Cleary pointing two in a row. Cork were awarded a penalty when an Eimear Barry pass went astray and was collected by Ava McAuliffe who was brought down in the square and Daire Kiely stepped up and found the back of the net.
Amy McDonagh added another point for Cork while McAuliffe raised their second green flag. Mo Nerney fired home past Sarah Murphy earning Laois’ only score of the half.
Cork added four more points courtesy of Cleary, Abbie and Laura O’Mahony, and Quirke (free), before Quirke found their third goal of the contest in the 32nd minute of the first half to lead by 3-09 to 1-00.
In the opening ten minutes of second half, Kiely got Cork’s 10th point and McAuliffe got her second goal while Nerney pointed a free and Aoibhe Byron kicked Laois’ first score from play. But Hannah Looney and Rachel Leahy rattled the Laois net within minutes of one another. Nerney kicked her second free and Quirke replied with her first from play.
Cork went through a period of kicking wides before clubmates Daire Kiely and Eimear Kiely added a further two points to their sides tally while Nerney pointed her third of the contest followed by a Katie Donoghue free for a 23-point win.
The win puts three points on the board for Cork and they will hope to add to this as they face Galway at home next weekend while Laois face Galway on June 23.
Cork: S Murphy; M Duggan, S Kelly, A Ryan; S McGoldrick (0-01), A Healy, D Kiely (1-02, 1 pen); M O’Callaghan (capt.), A O’Mahony (0-01); E Cleary (0-03), L O’Mahony (0-01), A McDonagh (0-01); A McAuliffe (2-00), K Quirke (1-03, 2f), R Leahy (1-00). Subs: S Cronin for A Ryan (HT), K Smith for A Healy and H Looney (1-00) for M O’Callaghan (Both 35), L Hallihan for R Leahy (45), and E Kiely (0-01) for Quirke (47).
Laois: E Barry; S Farrelly, C Dunne (capt.), G Lalor; A Moore, M Cotter, A Gorman; K Jacob, A Moran; K Donoghue (0-01), A Fitzpatrick, L Kearney; M Nerney (1-03, 2f), E Lacey, G Moran. Subs: C Malone for K Jacob (23), A Byron (0-01) for A Fitzpatrick (HT), A Ryle for M Cotter (42), A Cummins for G Lalor and A Walsh for L Kearney (Both 50), and R Reddin for C Malone (64).
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).
By Keely Burke
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