Naomh Abán end Éire Óg reign as Cork senior champions with narrow semi-final victory

Naomh Abán knock out holders Éire Óg

Naomh Abán ended Éire Óg’s reign as Cork LGFA senior A county champions following a narrow one-point semi-final victory on Sunday.

Junior A county and provincial champions in 2022, Naomh Abán lost an All-Ireland junior final to Salthill-Knocknacarra that same year.

2025’s intermediate county final success propelled Noel McDonagh’s side into the senior ranks where they have reached a county decider at the first time of asking.

Ovens was the venue for a terrific semi-final with hosts Éire Óg on Sunday afternoon.

The sides were level, 0-6 apiece, early in the second half when Naomh Abán’s Lydia McDonagh fired home a swift 1-1. The eventual winners withstood a ferocious comeback to edge the result 1-7 to 0-9.

McDonagh had an afternoon to remember, accruing 1-6. Róisín Lehane was Naomh Abán’s other scorer. Shauna Cronin, Orlaith Cahalane, Laura Cleary (0-2 each), Isobel Sheehan, Orlaith Cremin and Lisa Murphy (0-1) were on target for Éire Óg.

Aghada will be Naomh Abán’s opponents in this year’s senior A showdown after coming through a titanic battle with Mourneabbey.

Last year’s runners-up and 2024 county champions bested the North Cork club in Aghada.

Five goals flew in during a high-octane first half with the teams level at 3-3 to 2-6. Mary Leahy’s 50th minute goal gave Aghada some breathing space and stretched their lead to six points.

As ever, Mourneabbey refused to accept defeat and a late goal reduced the deficit to two.

Yet, Aghada held on to win 4-8 to 3-9 thanks to Abigail Ring (1-4), Brianna Smith (1-1), Kaitlin Smith, Mary Leahy (1-0 each) and Róisín Phelan (0-3) efforts.

Laura Walsh was in superb form for Mourneabbey, contributing 1-8. Ciara O’Sullivan (2-0) and Doireann O’Sullivan (0-1) completed their team’s total.

Clonakilty and Glanmire will contest this year’s senior B county final.

The latter proved too strong for St Val’s, running out convincing 4-15 to 0-9 winners at the Pike, Sallybrook.

Orlaith Roche (1-4) and Niamh McAllen (1-2) top scored for the winners with Ava Fitzgerald and Niamh McAllen also finding the net. Aishling McAllen, Keeley Goggin, Abbie O’Mahony, Aoife Treacy, Evie Twomey and Olivia McAllen were also on Glanmire’s scoresheet. Ciara McCarthy (0-4), Laura Buttimer (0-3) and Eireann O’Shea (0-2) replied for St Val’s.

Clonakilty and Castlehaven met in an all-West Cork senior B semi-final in Ahamilla.

Síofra Pattwell (1-4), Moira Barrett (1-2), Sinéad O’Donovan and Katie O’Driscoll scored in Clon’s hard-fought 2-9 to 1-9 triumph.

Mairéad O’Driscoll (0-4), Niamh O’Sullivan (1-0), Hannah Sheehy, Amy McCarthy, Shelley Daly and Emma Maguire were amongst the Haven’s scorers.

This year’s intermediate county decider will be contested by Bride Rovers and Inch Rovers.

Bride needed extra-time before seeing off Midleton by a single point, 5-12 to 3-17. Former Cork multi-All-Ireland winner and All-Star, Angela Walsh, came off the bench to score a late goal in Inch Rovers’ 2-12 to 2-8 semi-final victory away to Dohenys.