She may now be in her 23rd year of inter-county football but Cora Staunton remains a massive influence on Mayo matches from start to finish as today once again showed.
She scored 1-9 in a monumental effort which helped her side knock out the reigning champions and preeminent force through the years Cork, by a scoreline of 3-11 to 0-18.
It was a rip-roaring contest throughout with the lead changing sides seven times, and Staunton's class shone through not only in her play, but also her post-match interview as she admitted she stuck around to help the girls who never made it to Croke Park finally get there.
Comhghairdeas le Cora Staunton @duckie15 Laoch na hImeartha sinsir @LadiesFootball inniu #Properfan #TG4 pic.twitter.com/eAIuQF1i2V
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) September 2, 2017
She is a national treasure.
Staunton both set Mayo on their way with the first point of the match as well provided a bit of a buffer with the last score of it too. This is quite a testament to how she continues to be a dominant force from start to finish.
'I stuck around for the younger girls who never got to play in Croke Park.' Cora Staunton is just an awesome sportsperson.
— Sinead Farrell (@Shin_Farrell) 2 September 2017
Cora Staunton on fire. Would love to see her win another All-Ireland.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) 2 September 2017
Run out of superlatives for Cora Staunton. Back in an All-Ireland final. https://t.co/KDCXv4errW
— Sinéad Kissane (@sineadkissane) 2 September 2017
Having knocked out Cork, who have won 11 of the past 12 All-Ireland's, Mayo will now fancy their chances in their first final since 2007. They'll play Dublin in Croke Park on September 24th.
With Staunton having mulled retirement previously, this may be her last chance to add to her four All-Ireland medals.
