A Donegal fightback in the second half wasn’t enough as Cork held on after a dominant first half in Clane.
Cork 2-12 Donegal 1-10
Cork were 10 points ahead at half-time as both teams scored early goals but Maxi Curran’s side were outplayed in the first half.
Despite being well on top for the majority of the second half, they couldn’t bridge the gap as Cork won their first game of the group.
Both sides hit the back inside the first two minutes of the game as Cork took a four point lead before Yvonne Bonner’s goal.
Orla Finn got the Cork goal while Libby Coppinger got the opening score of the game.
Cork raced into a big lead as Ciara O’Sullivan, Laura O’Mahoney and Aine O’Sullivan scored points while Doireann O’Sullivan scored a goal to make it 2-4 to 1-0 in the first quarter.
Doireann O’Sullivan pointed twice more, one from a free, while Finn got her first point of the game as Cork led by 10 points.
Geraldine McLaughlin got Donegal’s first point of the game after 22 minutes while Karen Guthrie pointed from a free.
But Cork would retain their 10 point lead at half-time as Sarah Leahy and Ciara O’Sullivan pointed from play with the score reading 2-9 to 1-2.
The second half would be a completely different story as Donegal dominated proceedings for most of the half as they attempted a massive comeback.
McLaughlin and Guthrie scored 6 frees between them, scoring three each, while Doireann O’Sullivan got the sole Cork score in this 20 minute period.
Cork were down to 14 when Meabh Cahalane was carded as Niamh McLaughlin made it a 4 point game.
But Doireann O’Sullivan pointed twice more, once from a free, to give the Rebels the win
