Five of Cork’s camogie squad are still on for a unique dual player double after Barryroe ace Jenny O’Leary ran the show in the Rebels’ facile 3-9 to 1-4 Forás na Gaeilge All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Galway at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny.
O’Leary was the 2003 runners-up scorer-in-chief as she bagged 2-5, and kept Cork’s dream alive of a unique camogie-football-hurling treble, with the women footballers due to take on Mayo in the last eight.
The left-half forward combined with Emer Dillon to open up Cork’s account before Brenda Hanny’s seventh minute hack forward found Anne Marie Hayes, niece of Galway senior hurling boss Conor, who rifled to the Cork net.
The Tribeswomens’ lead was a short one as O’Leary immediately brought John Considine’s side level with two placed shots. Cork then motored towards a 2-6 to 1-1 half-time lead as Galway were shut out for 24 minutes.
Two goals in two minutes turned the tie as a strong Emer Watson run ended in a hand pass goal for the full forward on 14 minutes, and seconds later O’Leary turned and twisted the Galway rearguard to crack home off her left side.
Lorda Kavanagh bagged a quick three points after the restart as Galway came back to within six points, but O’Leary snapped home her second and Cork’s third goal on 39 minutes for a 3-6 to 1-3 advantage.
Rachel Moloney, Emer Dillon and 2002 skipper Una O’Donoghue all pointed in the closing stages to book Cork’s place in the September 19 decider.
Galway: AM Hayes 1-0, L Kavanagh 0-3 (1f), O Kilkenny 0-1
Cork: J O’Leary 2-5 (2f, 2 ‘45), E Watson 1-0, E Dillon, E Burke, R Moloney, U O’Donoghue 0-1 each
Filed by James Boylan
