Cork clubs book Munster finals in positive weekend for Rebel County

Aghada, Glanmire and Inch Rovers all progress to deciders. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Aghada, Glanmire and Inch Rovers will contest AIB Munster LGFA club finals following a positive weekend for the Rebel county.

Waterville hosted Sunday’s Munster senior championship last-four encounter between Cork and Kerry’s respective county champions, Aghada and Southern Gaels.

Windy conditions failed to deter two attack-minded teams with Aghada’s Mary Leahy opening the scoring with a second-minute goal. Their opponents’ response was swift as Kerry senior Síofra O’Shea raised a green flag.

Southern Gaels were three ahead before Clare Walsh netted the visitors’ second goal to level matters, 2-1 to 1-4, on the quarter-hour.

Aghada upped the tempo and built a 3-8 to 2-5 interval lead thanks, in part, to an Abigail Ring goal and Kaitlin Smith two-pointer. Rachel Dwyer found the net to keep the Gaels in touch.

The Cork champions didn’t take their foot off the gas once play resumed. Róisín Phelan and Mary Leahy (her second) goals stretched the Cork club’s advantage to ten early in the second period.

Aoife Dwyer pulled a goal back as the Gaels patiently reduced the deficit before late Abigail Ring and Emma Farmer points sealed a 5-12 to 3-11 Aghada victory.

“That was our best performance in five years with this team,” Aghada manager Eric Smith commented.

“It was very windy but thankfully, underfoot conditions were excellent. I’m delighted for the girls. They are a very ambitious group and keep pushing the bar.

“Delighted for everyone in the club too who have been so supportive of the players for a long time. Everyone is looking forward to the Munster final.” 

Also on Sunday, Waterford champions Gaultier defeated Clare’s Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-16 to 2-5 and will face Aghada in the senior final.

Inch Rovers will take on Limerick’s St Ailbe’s in this year’s Munster LGFA intermediate decider.

The Cork champions came through the toughest of examinations from Templemore at a windswept Killeagh. Rovers led 0-6 to 0-2 at the short whistle thanks to Sorcha O’Rourke, Annie Walsh, Aoibhe Joyce and Ava Ashman efforts.

Templemore responded in the second half and levelled matters courtesy of Kate Nevin’s late goal. Deep into injury-time, a converted Sorcha O’Rourke free won it for Inch.

St Ailbe’s had too much firepower for Cooraclare in the other Munster intermediate semi-final, winning 3-11 to 1-8 in Ballybricken.

Defending Munster LGFA senior B champions Glanmire reached a second consecutive provincial final by seeing off Castleisland Desmonds at the Pike, Sallybrook last Saturday.

The hosts managed the difficult conditions better, leading 0-6 to 0-0 at half-time. Cork senior Abbie O’Mahony’s second half goal helped cement a 1-13 to 0-4 Glanmire win.

Aisling McAllen (2f), Orlaith Roche (0-4 each), Evie Twomey, Niamh McAllen (0-2 each) and Aoife Tracey (0-1) were also on target. Julia Curtin scored all four of Castleisland’s total.

“The girls are delighted,” Glanmire Coach Michael O’Sullivan said.

“We are loving the journey even if it is repeating the same journey as last year. The girls just went about their business against Castleisland Desmonds, managed the conditions in the first half and things just opened up for us in the second half.

“We are training into November and what could be wrong with that?” Liscannor will face Glanmire in this year’s Munster senior B final. The Clare club overcame torrential downpours and Waterford’s Ballymacarbry 1-11 to 1-8 in Saturday’s other semi-final.

Carrigaline’s first foray into the provincial junior championship ended in defeat away to Ballymacelligott.

This Munster junior semi-final was moved to Cordal due to sections of Ballymacelligott’s waterlogged pitch proving unplayable. Yet, it was the Kerry side got off to a blistering start with Sarah Scanlon’s brace of goals building a 2-3 to 0-0 lead.

A Holly Fitzgerald green flag settled the Cork junior A county champions nerves but Rachel Creedon, Rachel Griffin, Roisin Rahilly and Cora Savage points ensured Ballymacelligott changed ends 2-10 to 1-5 ahead.

Amid deteriorating weather, Sky Fielding and Rachel O’Regan’s yellow cards hurt Carrigaline’s comeback chances. 

Bekah Grant netted a second Carrigaline goal, and their opponents’ Niamh Rahilly was also sent to the line for 10 minutes, but it mattered little as Ballymacelligott ran out 2-14 to 2-6 winners. Cora Savage top scored for the winners with eight points.