Mourneabbey motoring after opening weekend clash against St Val’s

Elsewhere, Clonakilty, Aghada and Naomh Abán also got off the mark.

Former Cork star Orla Finn featured for Kinsale in their derby clash. Pic: INPHO/Bryan Keane

Mourneabbey, Clonakilty, Aghada and Naomh Abán were the winners on the opening weekend of the 2026 Cork Credit Unions Cork LGFA senior county championship.

Seven points from Cork minor Laura Walsh proved pivotal to Mourneabbey’s impressive Group 1 senior championship victory away to St Val’s.

The North Cork club got their campaign off to the best possible start despite leading by a single point, 1-9 to 1-8, at the short whistle.

Three second-half goals cemented Mourneabbey’s 4-14 to 2-12 triumph. Sarah Finnegan (2-0), Roisin O’Sullivan and Máire O’Callaghan (1-1 each) all found the net.

Lauren Finnegan (0-2), Doireann O’Sullivan, Ciara O’Sullivan and Bríd O’Sullivan (0-1 each) completed the winners’ total.

Elsewhere in Group 1, Clonakilty and Kinsale played out an entertaining West Cork derby in Ahamilla.

The hosts led 1-6 to 0-5 at the interval thanks to a fortuitous Sinead O’Donovan goal. The same player netted for a second time, despite being checked for a square infringement, to cement Clonakilty’s 2-9 to 1-9 success.

Cork senior Katie O’Driscoll contributed four points on an afternoon Cork Camogie All-Ireland winner Millie Condon, Ashling Hutchings and Ruth Shanley also featured on Clon’s scoresheet.

Former Cork senior Orla Finn came off the bench and scored a point for a battling Kinsale. Caoimhe Horgan (0-5), Catherine Murphy (1-0), Jenny Murphy (0-2) and Áine Ní Ní Chearnaigh (0-1 each) were also on target.

Reigning senior county champions Éire Óg enter the fray next weekend. The Ovens club travel to Kinsale while Mourneabbey and Clonakilty meet in Group 1’s second round of games.

Into Group 2 of the senior county championship where last year’s runners-up faced a difficult opening day challenge away to Glanmire at the Pike, Sallybrook.

Leading by eight points following an impressive first-half showing, Aghada kicked for home to run out 1-11 to 1-6 winners.

Eric Smith’s side had an even spread of scorers including Abigail Ring (0-4), Sarah Leahy, (1-0), Kaitlin Smith, Mary Leahy (0-2 each), Róisín Phelan, Rachel Leahy and Emma Farmer (0-1 each).

Despite the defeat, Glanmire’s Orlaith Roche scored three points and Aoife Treacy raised a green flag. Additional Olivia McAllen and Aishling McAllen efforts couldn’t prevent a Glanmire loss.

2025 county and provincial intermediate champions Naomh Abán began life as a senior club with victory at home to Castlehaven in Ballyvourney.

Noel McDonagh’s side were four points up at the break before running out 3-10 to 2-8 winners thanks, in part, to Joanne Kelly’s personal haul of 1-5.

Róisin Lehane contributed (1-1) with Rosie Corkery (1-0), Lydia McDonagh (0-3) and Amy McDonagh (0-1) also scoring.

Next weekend’s Group 2 matchups include Aghada and Naomh Abán clashing in Aghada. Castlehaven and O’Donovan Rossa’s West Cork derby should attract a huge crowd to Union Hall.