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These 10 top Irish female athletes have experienced the wrath of Cork

Cork’s ladies go in search of 5-in-a-row this weekend against the Dubs at Croke Park.

AS CORK GO in search of five in-a-row on Sunday, and their 10th All-Ireland title in eleven years, here are some of the top Irish female athletes who have experienced the wrath of the Rebels since their rise began in 2005.

1. Niamh Fahey

Galway, soccer

Niamh Fahey Niamh Fahey at Irish training. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland and Chelsea FC star Niamh Fahey was Galway’s go-to forward in the 2005 championship campaign, lining out at full-forward in the 2005 final against Cork. In 2008, Fahey chose soccer over ladies football and joined Arsenal FC, making 18 appearances, mostly at left full–back, as the club won a domestic treble.

2. Niamh Briggs

Waterford, rugby

Niamh Briggs lifts the trophy Niamh Briggs lifts the Interprovincial Series trophy for Munster. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

The Irish women’s rugby captain faced Cork in the 2005 Munster final in Páirc Uí Rinn with Waterford. The Old Parish star lined out at number 14 and had to endure the physicality of six-time All-Star-winning defender Angela Walsh. Since, Walsh went on to win nine All-Ireland medals with Cork and was a 2014 Players’ Player of the Year nominee, but this year stepped away from the set-up given the birth of her first child, Keeva.

3. Lindsay Peat

Dublin, basketball

Lindsay Peat and Grainne Dwyer Lindsay Peat in action for DCU Mercy. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

The former Irish international basketball star scored two cracking goals to give Dublin a 10-point lead in last year’s ladies football All-Ireland final against Cork.
Since the age of 13, Peat played basketball, but it wasn’t until in her early twenties that she took up ladies football. The Artane woman has also co-captained the senior Irish women’s basketball team, however this year she stepped away from the Dublin ladies football set-up.

4. Louise Galvin

Kerry, rugby

Louise Galvin evades a tackle Louise Galvin evades a tackle for Ireland in a Women's Sevens Series qualifier at the UCD Bowl. Gary Carr / INPHO Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO

Having traded her boots at the end of the Division 1 league this season to align with the Irish women’s rugby sevens programme, Kerry forward Louise Galvin knows all about Cork, and in fact lost the 2012 All-Ireland final to them in Croke Park, as well as a number Munster finals. However, she won one in 2013 denying Eamonn Ryan’s side ten successive titles, and collected the Player of the Match award for good measure.

5. Miriam Liston

Waterford, basketball 

Miriam Liston and Michelle Fahy celebrate Miriam Liston celebrates with a UL teammate. Cathal Noonan Cathal Noonan

A former wing-forward for the Déise, Liston also faced the wrath of Cork in Munster championship clashes. Liston is better known for her basketball exploits having won numerous National Cup and Superleague titles with the UL Huskies. In recent years she returned to football, however suffered defeat in the Intermediate Club All-Ireland final in 2013 with Dublin side, Thomas Davis.

6. Claire Molloy

Galway, rugby 

Claire Molloy runs in for a try Claire Molloy in action for Ireland. Colm O'Neill / INPHO Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO

The Irish women’s rugby star featured in the 2005 All-Ireland final against the Rebels as a substitute, coming on in the second-half to use her defensive skills to shackle the Player of the Match, Valerie Mulcahy. Since, Molloy has gone on to win two Six Nations medals with Ireland, and last year reached the semi-final of the women’s rugby World Cup in France.

8. Caroline O’Hanlon

Armagh, netball 

Caroline O'Hanlon and Tracy Lawlor Armagh's Caroline O'Hanlon in action against Laois. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Northern Ireland netball star Caroline O’Hanlon has come face to face with Cork in tight games, including losing an All-Ireland final to them in 2006 by a solitary point.
O’Hanlon represented Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games last summer before returning to face Cork in the All-Ireland ladies football semi-final.

9. Jackie Shiels

Meath, rugby

Jackie Shiels Jackie Shiels in training with Ireland in Ashbourne, County Meath. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

The Irish rugby player won a Six Nations medal this spring, and will be remembered for having taken over the kicking duties for Niamh Briggs in Ireland’s game against Kazakhstan in the 2014 women’s rugby World Cup in France. Shiels lined out against Cork in the 2005 All-Ireland ladies football quarter-final at wing-forward in O’Moore Park before turning her attention to the oval ball.

10. Sarah Rowe

Mayo, soccer 

Sarah Rowe and Duri Kim Sarah Rowe in action against South Korea at the World University Games. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

The Irish women’s soccer player lined out at the U19 European Championships last summer, prior to facing Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Cork in O’Connor Park, Tullamore. At corner-forward, Rowe used her pace, but came up against All-Star veterans like Bríd Stack and Angela Walsh, as Cork continued their march in retaining the Brendan Martin Cup.

One change for Dublin, while Cork include 6 players chasing a 10th All-Ireland title

The biggest women’s sporting event in Europe could be in Croke Park this Sunday