O’Donovan Rossa secure back-to-back Munster LGFA titles with win over St Ailbe’s

Having annexed Cork, Munster and All-Ireland LGFA junior A titles in 2023, the West Cork club continued their incredible run of success.

Player of the match and Captain Laura O'Mahony of O'Donovan Rossa celebrates with her team. Pic: Dan Linehan

O’Donovan Rossa 0-10 St Ailbe’s 0-7 

O’Donovan Rossa made it back-to-back AIB Munster LGFA titles following a three-point win over Limerick side St Ailbe’s in Mallow.

Having annexed Cork, Munster and All-Ireland LGFA junior A titles in 2023, West Cork club O’Donovan Rossa continued their incredible run of success by adding county and now provincial trophies twelve months later.

This latest triumph was hard earned and built on the back of another superb defensive display. Laura O’Mahony’s Player of the Match display along with Éabha O’Donovan’s shooting made it another afternoon to remember for the huge crowd in attendance.

Defences were on top and there was little to choose between the sides during the opening period of a well attended provincial decider.

Numerous turnovers and multiple stray passes meant two nervous teams were separated by St Ailbe’s Georgia Keane free after 9 minutes.

O’Donovan Rossa took an age to settle and saw three attempts drift wide before Cork senior Laura O’Mahony was brought down and Éabha O’Donovan equalised from a free.

St Ailbe’s attempts to build on their early good work saw Mairead Kavanagh’s close range shot saved by Skibbereen goalkeeper Ella Hayes.

Fionnuala O’Driscoll was causing issues on the edge of St Ailbe’s square. Rossa’s full forward fielded a high delivery before walloping over a fine score.

Pressing high on Rossa’s kickouts, St Ailbe’s enjoyed plenty of possession but 20 minutes elapsed before Georgia Keane levelled from her second free of the afternoon.

Despite kicking four wides, the Limerick senior champions finished the half stronger with Eimear Ryan, Georgina Keane and Meadhbh MacNamara raising white flags.

Éabha O’Donovan provided O’Donovan Rossa’s only response and the 2023 All-Ireland junior champions changed ends two points in arrears.

Kate Kennedy pushed the Limerick side three ahead but O’Donovan Rossa’s response was impressive. Kate O’Donovan and substitute Sinead Farrell fired over to make it a one-point game shorty after.

Georgina Keane’s converted another free but the momentum was already swinging in Rossa’s favour as Laura O’Mahony made it 0-7 to 0-6.

The closing stages saw both teams waste opportunities before another O’Donovan Rossa substitute Aoife O’Driscoll scored and Éabha O’Donovan landed her second free.

O’Donovan took her total to four for the afternoon ahead of Fionnuala O’Driscoll kicking the insurance score to cement consecutive Munster LGFA successes for the Skibbereen club.

Scorers for O’Donovan Rossa: É O’Donovan 0-4 (2f), F O’Driscoll (0-2), K O’Donovan, S Farrell, L O’Mahony, A O’Driscoll 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Ailbe’s: G Keane 0-4 (3f), E Ryan, M MacNamara, K Kennedy 0-1 each.

O’DONOVAN ROSSA: E Hayes; M Donnellan, A Whooley, A Tobin; E McCarthy, S Hurley, L Harte; L O’Mahony (captain), T Murphy; J Beechinor, K O’Donovan, F Leonard; É O’Donovan, F O’Driscoll, M O’Neill.

Subs: S Farrell for T Murphy (ht), A O’Driscoll for M O’Neill (48), E Byrne for O’Driscoll (59).

St AILBE’S: B Madigan; A Dalton, J McGuire, E Donnelly; M MacNamara, N Ryan (captain), K Heelan; C Hickey, Ó Ryan; S MacNamara, M Kavanagh, L Nash; G Keane, K Kennedy, E Ryan.

Subs: C Ryan for J McGuire (ht), D Egan for S McNamara (ht).

Referee: David Grogan (Tipperary).