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MMI sponsored Ladies Gaelic Football Interprovincial series 2011
The Valerie Mulcahy led Munster Province captured their 18 Mick Talbot interprovincial Cup title at Pairc Chiarain, Athlone on Saturday May 21 on a wet, windy and cold day.
Munster 2-
In game two Munster played Connacht and again didn't set the world on fire but won a tight and close encounter by a single point with the goals coming from Dymphna O Brien two, Valerie Mulcahy two and Aileen Wall Munster 5-
In game 3 Munster were up against the tournament resounding favourites Leinster and nobody gave them a chance. A number of changes both positional and in personnel helped considerably and Munster took the game to Leinster. A couple of early points set the tone and Munster playing a superb brand of possession football led at the break 5 points to 1. They now faced the elements in the second half but helped by a goal by Dymphna O Brien and Valerie Mulcahy 5 points, Linda Wall, Michelle Ryan, Gillian O Brien and Aine Sheehan points helped them over the line which resulted in a 3 way penalty shootout as Munster, Ulster and Leinster had two wins each. Munster 1-
After consultation, Munster were drawn against Leinster in phase one of the penalty shootout Valerie Mulcahy and Michelle Ryan both goaled to leave the two teams level as both sides also missed on two occasions. Deirdre O Reilly who had taken over as Munster goalkeeper then produced a great save and then drilled home the final penalty to put Munster through to the cup final. Ulster shaded Leinster by a single point in the second phase of the penalties to set up a repeat of round 1 in the cup final.
Could Munster turn round a resounding defeat from round one was the question and nobody outside the Munster camp gave them a chance. However this final was to be a different story on this occasion. Munster had the wind in the opening half and Aine Sheehan’s cracking goal put through by Michelle Ryan put them firmly in the driving seat. Five minutes later team captain Valerie Mulcahy scored a great long range point and in the fourteenth minute Mulcahy’s long range drive slipped past the defending clutches of the Ulster keeper who was distracted by the inrushing Niamh O Dea. Ulster replied with a goal in the dying minutes of the first half so it was all to play for at half time. It was then that this Munster team donned the mantle of greatness as a defence superbly marshalled by Deirdre O Reilly, Brid Stack, player of the tournament Briege Corkery along with considerable help from Ann Marie Walsh, Elaine Power, Linda Wall and keeper Gearadoin Kearney battened down the hatches and hoisted the no surrender sign. With midfielders Annie Walsh and Marie Considine running themselves to a standstill a fast mobile forward line of Michelle McGrath, Niamh Keane, Valerie Mulcahy, Michelle Ryan, Niamh O Dea and Aine Sheehan worked really hard and caused the Ulster defence all sorts of problems. Grainne Kenneally, Aileen Wall & Dymphna O Brien came on as second half substitutes and helped steer Munster to a famous win. Add in the contribution of Sinead Eustace, Mairead Wall, Louise Woods, Catriona Walsh, Gillian O Brien and Laurie Ryan in the earlier rounds and it all adds up to a supreme squad effort and a victory as good as Munster have ever enjoyed in the interprovincial series.
Noel O Connor Manager Selectors Michael Ryan (involved with Munster teams for the 25th time) Dave O Brien and Maire Halvey team physio Brendan Kirrane and Munster President Dan O Mahony all played their part as the Mick Talbot Memorial Cup headed south wards in the safe hands of deserving Captain Valerie Mulcahy.
Nobody could argue with the selection of Briege Corkery as a deserving player of the tournament as her spirit, commitment and ability of a gallant Munster team deservedly won the day.
MLGFA are extremely proud of the players from Clare, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary who selflessly fashioned this victory.
Panel: Gearadoin Kearney, Brid Stack, Deirdre O Reilly, Briege Corkery, Ann Marie Walsh, Valerie Mulcahy Captain, Aine Sheehan, Annie Walsh Cork, Niamh Keane, Sinead Eustace, Marie Considine, Niamh O Dea, Louise Woods, Laurie Ryan Clare, Linda Wall, Michelle McGrath, Michelle Ryan, Mairead Wall, Elaine Power, Grainne Kenneally & Aileen Wall Waterford, Dymphna O Brien Limerick, Catriona Walsh & Gillian O Brien Tipperary Management: Noel O Connor, Michael Ryan, Dave O Brien & Maire Halvey
Scorers: Valerie Mulcahy 3-