Cork see off Dubs to book U18 decider with Rossies
Cork will face Roscommon in the 2026 ZuCar All-Ireland LGFA U18 ‘A’ Championship final following victory over Dublin at Moyne Templetuohy GAA grounds in Tipperary on Thursday evening.
The defending U18 A champions are through to a second consecutive All-Ireland decider off the back of a terrific display.
Despite kicking 12 wides, Kieran O’Shea’s team had enough experience and firepower to see off Dublin for the second year in a row. Amid hot and humid conditions, Cork captain Laura Walsh led the way with seven points.
Lauren Finnegan’s 1-2 and Lauren O’Connor’s late goal were equally important as Cork booked a meeting with Roscommon, conquerors of Down 3-13 to 1-8 on the same evening, in the All-Ireland U18 A decider on July 25th.
Cork got off to the better start despite conceding the first score to Phoebe Mackin.
Lauren Finnegan’s 4th minute goal preceded unanswered Laura Walsh (free), Caoimhe O’Donnell, Autumn Devereaux and Lauren Finnegan scores to make it 1-4 to 0-1 after 9 minutes.
Mackin hit back with a desperately needed Dublin goal before Molly Bourke’s converted free left two between the teams.
Eight consecutive Cork misses and a failure to score for over 11 minutes allowed Dublin back into the game. Mackin remained unerring from frees and a Laoise Murtagh score levelled matters, 1-4 apiece, after 21 minutes.
Cork remained patient in possession however and finished the half strongly. A Walsh brace of frees and two Devereaux scores made it 1-8 to 1-4 before another Mackin free left a goal in it at the short whistle.
Laura Walsh’s fourth free extended Cork’s advantage at the beginning of the second half. Keeva O’Donovan and Sarah O’Connor pointed at either end before goalkeeper Róisín Duggan pulled off an excellent save and denied Dublin a certain green flag.
Róisín Ní Liatháin’s direct running was a feature of the Cork forward’s eye-catching display. Ní Liatháin extended Cork’s lead, 1-11 to 1-6, courtesy of a fine individual point heading into the final quarter.
Laura Walsh’s influence rarely waned and two points from Cork’s influential captain made it a seven-point game with 13 minutes remaining.
A Molly Bourke point temporarily gave Dublin hope before Cork put the result beyond doubt with a superb goal. Laura Walsh provided the assist for Lauren O’Connor to palm into the net on the edge of the square.
2-13 to 1-6 down with ten minutes remaining, Molly Bourke and Phoebe Mackin led a brief Dublin fightback. A late flurry of scores had the Dublin fans on their feet.
Dubs defender Layla-Mai O’Neill’s was yellow card however and Lauren Finnegan and Laura Walsh points confirmed Cork’s second consecutive All-Ireland LGFA U18 A final appearance.
L Walsh 0-7 (0-6 f), L Finnegan 1-2, L O’Connor 1-0, A Devereaux 0-3, C O’Donnell, S O’Connor, R Ní Liatháin 0-1 each.
P Mackin 1-4 (0-2 f), M Bourke 0-5 (0-3 f), L Murtagh 0-1, K O’Donovan 0-1.
R Duggan (Clonakilty); A Kelleher (Kinsale), A Collins (Nemo Rangers), M Barrett (Erin’s Own); É Walsh (Mourneabbey), A Coughlan (Aghada), C O’Donnell (Kinsale); C Ní Mhocháin (Naomh Abán), S O’Connor (Ballincollig); L Finnegan (Mourneabbey), L Walsh (captain, Mourneabbey), E Connolly (Castlehaven); A Devereaux (Youghal), L O’Connor (Inch Rovers), R Ní Liatháin (Naomh Abán).
A Treacy (Glanmire) for L O’Connor (51).
A Malone; E Fitzgerald, K Madden, C Brady; K Hanly, S Ó Donovan, K O’Donovan; E Stuart, S McDonnell (captain); L Murtagh, E Reen, Á Mulligan; O Kehoe, M Bourke, P Macken.
L Gargan for E Reen (18), L-M McNeill for E Stuart (40), A Cahill for K Hanly (48), Z Flood for E Reen (48), R K Kallo for L Murtagh (51).
Kevin Phelan (Laois).
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