Four-goal Aghada reclaim Cork senior A crown
Aghada claimed their second Cork Credit Unions Cork LGFA senior A county title after an engrossing battle with Naomh Abán at MTU Cork on Sunday afternoon.
Champions in 2024 and last year’s runners-up, the East Cork club has returned to the summit of Cork’s senior A grade and deservedly so.
Eric Smith’s side did it the hard way.
Overcoming Mourneabbey in a semi-final shootout, before seeing off county final debutantes Naomh Abán, Aghada needed every bit of their recent experiences to recapture the senior A trophy.
A decision to return to the gym last November reaped dividends as Aghada won all of their 2026 championship ties. Róisín Phelan led by example for the winners with Abigail Ring, Maisie McRae, Sally McAllister and Sarah Leahy also impressing.
Despite the loss, Naomh Abán, in their first year at the senior grade, showed why they belong amongst the county’s elite. In Lydia McDonagh, Joanne Kelly, Róisín Lehane, Eadaoin Hyde and Rosie Corkery, the Ballyvourney club has the spine of a talented panel to build around over the coming years.
This was a hard-hitting, no-nonsense encounter all the way through and the outcome remained in the melting pot after 45 minutes.
Clare Walsh’s first half goal had kept Aghada in touch but it was Naomh Abán who led 0-8 to 1-4 at the short whistle. Lydia McDonagh, Róisín Lehane, Joanne Kelly and Gráinne Lucey scores had the Ballyvourney club deservedly in front.
Re-emerging a different team, Aghada pressed high on their opponents’ kick-outs and were 2-7 to 0-9 ahead, thanks to a Sarah Leahy goal, when the final’s outcome swung in their favour.
Claire Hughes was red carded for bringing down Aghada’s Kaitlin Smith inside the square, leaving Naomh Abán down to 14 players for the remainder of the final.
That red card was a debatable call but the resulting penalty was coolly dispatched by Róisín Phelan. Aghada won possession from the ensuing restart, worked the ball to Abigail Ring, who promptly found the net.
Smith added a point and, suddenly, it was 4-8 to 0-9 heading down the home stretch.
Admirably, Naomh Abán refused to throw in the towel as Lydia McDonagh converted two frees in quick succession. Aghada lost Yvonne Burgoyne to a yellow card offence and another McDonagh free brought a revitalised Naomh Abán to within five points of the leaders.
Aghada defended their 45-metre line and although they lost Clare Walsh to another yellow card, a minute after returning to their full complement, a Lydia McDonagh free was all Naomh Abán could muster at the conclusion of nine.
Also on Sunday, Clonakilty and Glanmire squared off in this year’s senior B county decider in MTU Cork.
Two early goals proved pivotal to the outcome. Glanmire’s Niamh McAllen and Olivia McAllen found the net inside the opening 20 minutes. Glanmire withstood a Clonakilty second half fightback to win 2-8 to 0-8.
The winners’ scores were provided by Niamh McAllen (1-3), Olivia McAllen (1-1), Orlaith Roche (0-2), Lucy Greene (0-1f) and Evie Twomey (0-1 each). Katie O’Driscoll (0-5) top scored for a Clonakilty team that also had Síofra Pattwell (0-2) and Kate O’Donovan (0-1) on target.
Elsewhere in MTU Cork, St Michael’s proved too strong for Courcey Rovers in the junior D county final, edging the result 4-11 to 3-11. Banteer overcame Dripsey 0-11 to 1-3 to capture the junior F county title.
A Ring (1-4, 0-3f), R Phelan (1-2, 1-0 pen), C Walsh, S Leahy (1-0 each), K Smith, A Smith (0-1 each).
L McDonagh (0-8, 0-6f), A Scanlon (1-0), R Lehane, J Kelly (0-2 each), G Lucey (0-1).
S Walsh; K O’Farrell, S McAllister, M McRae; A Coughlan, Y Burgoyne, A Smith; R Phelan (captain), S Leahy; M Leahy, R Leahy, B Smith; A Ring, C Walsh, K Smith.
E Farmer for M Leahy (57).
L Hughes; C Hughes; C O’Connell, E Hyde; A McDonagh (captain), R Corkery, C Twomey; G Lucey, C Vaughan; A Scannell, J Kelly, C Murphy; G Murphy, L McDonagh, R Lehane.
I Riordan for C Murphy (37).
Conor McCarthy (Rosscarbery).
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