Cork U16 and minors ladies football teams impress in Munster openers

IT was a positive weekend for the Cork minor, U16A and U16B panels in the opening rounds of the 2024 Munster LGFA Championships.

Shane Ronayne and the Cork seniors have endured an indifferent start in the Lidl National League Division 1. One victory from three outings has heaped the pressure on the Rebels to get a result at home to Waterford on Sunday.

The Cork senior manager can at least take some bit of solace from the manner his county’s minors and U16s got their provincial championships off to the best possible start this past weekend.

While a new-look senior squad is still finding its feet, Cork’s up-and-coming footballers have already set a positive tone to their Munster and All-Ireland LGFA campaigns.

Miltown Malbay was the venue for the Cork minors’ first Munster LGFA round-robin clash of the season against Clare last Saturday.

Jamie Cronin’s side enjoyed the benefit of a gale wind in the opening half and made full use of it to net four goals and lead 4-5 to 3-2 at the interval. The concession of those three goals, via Clare's Aine McNamara (two) and Lucy Shanahan, was a concern for the visitors especially with the Banner enjoying the benefit of the elements in the second period.

Crucially, Cork netted a fifth goal immediately after the restart. To their credit, Clare kept pressing forward for the remainder of an entertaining game but were unable to reduce the deficit before losing 5-6 to 3-6.

Fresh off of helping O’Donovan Rossa win an All-Ireland LGFA Junior A title, Éabha O'Donovan was Cork’s top scorer on the day with 1-4 (2 frees). The Rebels’ other scores were provided by Cloughduv’s Amy Sheppard (1-1), Ilen Rovers’ Kate Carey (1-1), Éire Óg’s Órlaith Cremin (1-0) and Ilen Rovers’ Maebh Collins 1-0 (penalty).

Other results from last weekend’s opening round of the Munster LGFA minor championship ties included Tipperary’s 1-7 to 0-4 victory at home to Waterford. Kerry proved far too strong for Limerick by winning 2-14 to 0-1 on the road. This Saturday, Cork host the Kingdom in the second round of the Munster LGFA minor championship. A cracking encounter is anticipated between two of the grade's most talented squads.

The Cork U16A and U16B panels made their 2024 provincial championship debuts in a double-header against Waterford in Ardmore last Sunday.

Kenneth Burns’ U16B team were first up in their opening Munster LGFA Sharon O’Keefe Memorial competition encounter. Things didn’t quite go to plan in the opening half with the Déise building a narrow 1-3 to 0-4 interval lead.

Cork played into the teeth of a gale wind during that opening period however and quickly turned things around in the second half. Six different scorers helped the visitors claim a hard-earned 0-11 to 1-6 win.

Youghal’s Autumn Devereux (0-2), Mourneabbey’s Sarah Finnegan (0-2), Douglas’ Julie O’Reilly (0-2), Éire Óg’s Erin Healy (0-2), Naomh Abán’s Róisín Ní Liatháin (0-2) and Courcey Rovers’ Katie Crowley (0-1) were on target for the Cork U16Bs.

“It was great to get an away win to start off our Munster LGFA Sharon O’Keefe Memorial campaign,” Cork LGFA U16B manager Kenneth Burns commented.

“Waterford are very strong this year and there was a lot in the game for both teams to learn from.” Next up for the Cork U16Bs is a second round Munster LGFA clash at home to Clare this weekend.

The Cork U16As also got off to a flier in their first competitive outing of the season last Sunday. The second half of a double-header in Ardmore saw Denis Mulvihill’s young side benefit from a strong wind to move 1-9 to 0-1 ahead at the short whistle. Only some wayward shooting prevented Cork from building a larger lead.

Admirably, Waterford tore into their opponents in the second half and kicked six points. It wasn’t enough to prevent Cork from registering a merited 1-12 to 0-7 triumph.

Mourneabbey’s Laura Walsh enjoyed a terrific afternoon, accumulating 1-6 (0-1 free) in her side’s victory. Castlehaven’s Ellen Connolly (0-2), Ilen Rovers’ Carla O’Regan (0-2, 0-1 free), Ballincollig’s Sarah O’Connor (0-1) and Courcey Rovers’ Caoimhe Foley (0-1) completed the winners’ total.

Some of Cork’s outstanding performers included Sky Fielding, Ava Ashman, Eimear Walsh, Ava Coughlan, Sarah O’Connor and Laura Walsh. Banteer is the venue for Sunday’s second Munster LGFA U16A outing against Clare.

So, the Cork minor, U16A and U16Bs got their respective Munster LGFA campaigns off to a positive start and will be hoping for more of the same in round two this coming weekend.