Some called it the rope-a-dope. Others called it pure class. Whatever it was, Dublin were so stunned they simply couldn’t recover.
The Ladies Football Final was eerily similar to the Men’s, in that quality was lacking, scoring was scarce and some genuine heroes stood up to be counted.
Cork did what the champion teams often seem capable of – dipping below their usual standards and still ending up with the silverware.
Dublin dominated 50 minutes of the match but Cork turned it on for 10 and won a highly contentious final. A first half goal gave them a foothold in a tense, error-strewn game and Cork, as winners do, ramped it up midway through the second half.
With the scores level at 1-3 to 0-6, Cork flooded forward. Orla Finn chipped in with a score but one woman delivered time and again, and again.
O’Sullivan is 21 years of age and already had four All-Ireland winners’ medals back home. She wanted a fifth and she damned well got it.
Between the 48th and 54th minute, O’Sullivan got three points that broke Dublin’s spirit. One was a finely struck free and the other two were scored on the run and with unnerving precision. They were so good that they stood out like beacons from a game won by grit; by digging in.
Rare moments of beauty in a pure and not so simple scrap.
Well done to the @CorkLGFA team. They are incredible. What a team. Doireann O Sullivan kicked three massive points in the last 20 minutes
— Joss (@townjoss) September 25, 2016
Doireann O' Sullivan feek of a footballer congratulations girls 🔥🔥
— Mego (@MeganSlattery92) September 25, 2016
Great win for @CorkLGFA against a brilliant Dublin team. 3 sublime points from Doireann O Sullivan just when they were needed. Well done.
— Martin (@itsmartinslife) September 26, 2016
Sár thaispeántas ó Doireann O'Sullivan & Mná Chorcaí sa dara leath. Laochra iad uilig! #GAABeo #Corcaighabú
— Garret Kelleher (@GarretKelleher) September 25, 2016
Seven-in-a-row next year?
Just try and stop her.
Catch up on the first episode of Football Friday Live…
