Early goal blitz keeps Glanmire on the up

Evie Twomey with possession for Glanmire under pressure from Laura O’Mahony, captain, O’Donovan Rossa in the Cork Credit Unions Senior B ladies football final:  Picture: Larry Cummins

LGFA Cork Senior B final: Glanmire 3-8 O'Donovan Rossa 2-5 

Three first half goals paved the way for Glanmire to claim the Cork Credit Unions Cork LGFA senior B county title at MTU Cork on Sunday afternoon.

All-Ireland intermediate champions in 2023, senior A county semi-finalists in 2024 and now senior B county winners in 2025.

Glanmire’s upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing down.

This Glanmire panel will be challenging for the senior A honours next year and beyond.

“We were determined to build a panel during the league, and we did,” Glanmire manager Conor Quinlan said.

“We have the second-team competition county final on Tuesday as night now well. So, we have a bit of depth.

“The girls are superb. I can't speak highly enough of them.

“They are a great bunch. So hard-working, work for each other and they’re hard to beat.” Sunday’s beaten finalists, O’Donovan Rossa, are on a similar trajectory. Despite Sunday’s loss, getting to a senior B decider in their first year up at senior level represents steady progress.

It was Glanmire who got off to the best possible start by firing home and unanswered 2-2 inside the first 5 minutes.

Niamh McAllen opened the scoring prior to Ally McCarthy capitalising on a turnover from a kickout to find the bottom corner.

The Skibbereen club struggled to contain McAllen as the electric centre-forward promptly added 1-1.

Two converted Éabha O’Donovan frees temporarily stopped the rot but a rampant Glanmire responded when Ava Fitzgerald slalomed through for her side’s third goal after 12 minutes.

Kate O’Donovan’s long delivery was palmed to the net by Fionnuala O’Driscoll as Rossa’s looked for a way back.

It was their opponents who led 3-4 to 1-3 at the short whistle however, following Niamh McAllen and Ríona Crowley (free) efforts.

Evie Twomey and Orlaith Roche points sandwiched a fine Orla McCarthy effort for Rossa’s during a hectic start to the second period.

Éabha O’Donovan reduced the deficit from a free as the Skibbereen side enjoyed a dominant spell.

That period was highlighted by a tremendous Emer McCarthy goal who found the top corner from an acute angle.

That brought the gap back to four points but Glanmire remained calm as two points via Aishling McAllen (free) and Ava Fitzgerald scored in successive attacks.

The latter was black carded right at the end but it didn’t matter as Glanmire saw out the remaining time.

Scorers for Glanmire: N McAllen 1-3, A Fitzgerald 1-1, A McCarthy 1-0, R Crowley (0-1 f), A McAllen (0-1 f), E Twomey, O Roche 0-1 each.

O'Donovan Rossa: É O’Donovan 0-4 (0-4 f), F O’Driscoll, E McCarthy 1-0 each, O McCarthy 0-1.

GLANMIRE: C Richmond; C Murphy, G Cashman, E Baker; C O’Donovan, M Barry, A Fitzgerald; O McAllen, A O’Mahony; A Treacy, N McAllen, K Goggin; R Crowley, E Twomey, A McCarthy (captain).

Subs: E Twomey for C Murphy (30), O Roche for K Goggin (ht), A McAllen for R Crowley (35), K O’Connor for C O’Donovan (38), R Crowley for A Treacy (55, head inj), K Goggin for A McCarthy (55).

O'DONOVAN ROSSA: T O’Regan; F Leonard, A Tobin, E Fitzgerald; T Murphy, S Hurley, E McCarthy; L O’Mahony (captain), M O’Neill; O McCarthy, S Farrell, A O’Driscoll; É O’Donovan, K O’Donovan, F O’Driscoll.

Subs: E Healy for K O’Donovan (ht), E O’Donovan for S Farrell (55).

Referee: Justin Murphy (Grange).