Cork ladies football sides aim for All-Ireland glory

IT'S a special weekend for two Cork ladies football clubs as they go in search of All-Ireland glory.

First into action tomorrow are Glanmire in the currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Intermediate Club final against Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s from Leitrim, throw-in 3pm at Croke Park.

Then on Sunday O’Donovan Rossa will take on Claremorris from Mayo in the junior decider at Parnell Park at 2pm.

Whatever happens in the games both sides can look back with pride on what they have achieved, but they want to end on a high and get the chance to celebrate over Christmas.

From Glanmire it has been a long road to get them here, starting back in 2018 when they won the Cork, Munster, and All-Ireland junior championships.

That led them to being promoted to the intermediate ranks and on form they looked like they were going to kick on to join the senior ranks.

But they suffered heartbreak after heartbreak as they last three finals in a row, before making it fourth time lucky to get the better of Naomh Aban this year. Even at that, it could have gone either way right to the end.

Winning the Cork championship was as much a relief as joy for the club and anything after that was a bonus.

The pressure was off and they could now go out and enjoy their football even more, but like lots of people, they were hit by the floods. Their pitch was under water in Glanmire as they prepared for the Munster final, but as one selector said it was nothing compared to what happened to people’s houses and businesses.

The GAA community in Cork rallied behind them and they had offers of pitches from all over the place. 

The Munster title was secured and they then took on Na Fianna in the All-Ireland semi-final. 

Glanmire recovered from a poor first half to win by 1-7 to 0-6 to reach tomorrow’s decider.

They have a side full of talented players, with Ava Carey, Ellen Twomey, and Abbie O’Mahony amongst those who played in the 2018 success.

That bit of experience of the big occasion might be the difference tomorrow and they should be heading home on the special train the club has hired for supporters with another trophy in their cabinet.

O’Donovan Rossa also recovered from a junior final loss in Cork to take the title this year and have played some outstanding football along the way.

They are a joy to watch as they move the ball at pace from defence to attack and once their full-forward line gains possession they are hard to stop.

Éabha and Kate O’Donovan, along with Fionnuala O’Driscoll have tormented defences all season and will take some stopping on Sunday.

At the other end of the pitch, it will take some going to get past Michelle Donellan, Emer McCarthy, and Allie Tobin in their full-back line. Add in the likes of Laura O’Mahony and Triona Murphy and this is a team that is more than capable of making it a successful trip to Dublin this weekend.

Neither Cork side will have it easy, but with a little luck, it could be a very successful weekend for both.

FIXTURES

TOMORROW

Currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Intermediate Club final: Glanmire v Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s (Leitrim), Croke Park, 3pm.

SUNDAY

Currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Junior Club final: O’Donovan Rossa v Claremorris (Mayo), Parnell Park, 2pm.