Cork ladies football clubs are gunning for an All-Ireland Rebel treble

THREE Cork clubs are going for glory in a bumper weekend of ladies football All-Ireland finals.

While the inter-county team didn’t land the Brendan Martin Cup this season, there’s no doubt the game is in rude health on Leeside, with Aghada, Kinsale and Mourneabbey closing in on the big prizes at club level.

Aghada will aim to become the first Cork side to capture the junior All-Ireland since Clonakilty in 2009 when they head to Crettyard in Laois tomorrow to face Monaghan side Corduff. The east Cork outfit had to travel to Tuam Stadium two weeks ago, but they powered through the semi-final 3-12 to 1-7, driven by Cork seniors Emma Farmer, Hannah Looney and Róisín Phelan.

Kinsale and Mourneabby are in Parnell Park on Sunday for a double-header, with the intermediate final against Meath’s Dunboyne at 1.45pm followed by the senior clash with Carnacon and Mayo legend Cora Staunton at 3.45pm.

Kinsale are on quite a roll, having been junior champions in Cork last year and All-Ireland runners-up, with marquee Rebel forward Orla Finn leading the line. The seaside town is buzzing since their semi-final win according to manager Michael O’Connor.

“It was just unbelievable how the players have brought this community together, and how the community has got right behind them,” said Kinsale boss, Micheal O’Connor.

“I can’t thank the town enough, honestly. Both the GAA people, and non-GAA people, have been absolutely fantastic in supporting us.

“The players who have brought the entire community together, and if we can just go one more step, it would be a huge thank you from all of us really.”

Sadhbh O’Leary, an All-Ireland minor winner already with Cork, is a rising star in Cork ladies football, and Kinsale have a young and hugely talented squad overall.

Mourneabbey, with four O’Sullivan sisters including Rebel aces Ciara and Doireann on board, are the superpower of the senior championship. They lost All-Ireland finals in 2014 and ’15 and last season’s semi-final and will be hugely motivated against Mayo’s Carnacon.