Aghada and Éire Óg will go again after playing out a draw in the Cork LGFA Senior A final

STALEMATE: Brianna Smith with possession for Aghada in the Cork Credit Unions Senior A ladies football final: Éire Óg v Aghada, at MTU. Picture: Larry Cummins

Cork LGFA Senior A final: Aghada 1-7 Éire Óg 0-10

Aghada and Éire Óg will have to do it all over again following a Cork Credit Unions Cork LGFA senior A county final draw at MTU Cork last Sunday.

In a repeat of last year’s final, 2025’s re-run lived up to its billing.

There was nothing to separate two evenly matched teams in front of a huge attendance.

Level seven times throughout the hour, reigning champions Aghada live to fight another day. Éire Óg, avoiding a fifth consecutive senior A county final loss, get another crack at the champions next weekend (details to be confirmed).

“I think, probably, a draw is a fair result,” Aghada manager Eric Smith commented.

“It is difficult to assess it so quickly after the game. At the end of the day, I thought we were probably a bit flatter going in two points up at half time.

“They came back to us in the second half but I thought we showed a lot of character. Yeah, I'd be happy enough with a draw.” “Of course, we would have loved to have won it today,” Éire Óg manager Peter McGoldrick added.

“It’s a privilege to get another run out in the final. Everybody gave one hundred percent and it will come down to the wire again the next day, I’m sure.” An even opening spell saw the sides level 0-3 apiece with Aghada’s Abigail Ring (three, two frees) scoring alongside Éire Óg’s Orlaith Cahalane (two) and Sadbh McGoldrick.

Cahalane and Rachel Leahy exchanged scores prior to Laura Cleary making it 1-4 to 0-5.

An exciting half ended with Aghada goalkeeper Sarah Walsh making three top class saves to deny Cahalane (twice) and Sadbh McGoldrick.

Aghada introduced dual inter-county star Amy O’Connor at the break. It was another dual player, Orlaith Cahalane, whose fourth score made it a one-point game.

Emma Cleary levelled it up, 1-4 to 0-7, after 34 minutes. The tension was palpable as team mate Laura Cleary landed a free with 19 minutes remaining.

Aghada needed a spark and Maisie McRae provided it via a terrific point.

Level for a fifth time, Orlaith Cremin and Abigail Ring (free) scored at opposite ends as the tension reached fever pitch.

Shauna Cronin edged Éire Óg ahead until another Ring free levelled matters for the final time.

Orlaith Cahalane’s late yellow card preceded a nervous injury-time period where neither side could find a winner.

Scorers for Aghada: A Ring 0-5 (0-4 f), K O’Farrell 1-0, R Leahy, M McRae 0-1 each.

Scorers for Éire Óg: O Cahalane 0-4, L Cleary 0-2 (0-2 f), S McGoldrick, E Cleary, Ó Cremin, S Cronin 0-1 each.

AGHADA: S Walsh; K O’Farrell, S McAllister, A Cooper; M McRae, S Leahy, R Leahy; R Phelan (captain), H Looney; Y Burgoyne; K Smith, A Coughlan; A Ring, A Smith, B Smith.

Subs: A O’Connor for A Smith (ht), C Walsh for A Coughlan (47), B McGrath for Y Burgoyne (60).

ÉIRE ÓG: R Halligan; G Young, J O’Gorman (captain), I Sheehan; S Cronin, M Cahalane, E Crowley; S McGoldrick, L Cleary; E Cleary, O Cahalane, Ó Cremin; L Murphy, A Hayes, A Rodgers.

Subs: R Sheehan for G Young (34), E Healy for A Rodgers (41), K Cahalane for A Hayes (53), M McGoldrick for L Murphy (60).

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Rosscarbery).