O'Donovan Rossa ladies footballers edge out Scartaglen to reach Munster final

O’Donovan Rossa 4-9 Scartaglen 3-11 

Fionnuala O’Driscoll’s 1-3 confirmed a second consecutive AIB Munster LGFA final appearance for O’Donovan Rossa after the Skibbereen club overcame Scartaglen in Rossa Park, Skibbereen on Saturday.

Having claimed county, provincial and All-Ireland junior titles in 2023, O’Donovan Rossa’s successful streak continued in the last four of the Munster LGFA intermediate championship.

In front of a packed attendance, home advantage proved critical in a marvellous provincial semi-final Rossa’s had to dig deep to see off their Kerry opponents.

The hosts got off to a blistering start with inter-county midfielder Laura O’Mahony netting inside the first minute. Additional O’Mahony, Fionnuala O’Driscoll, Éabha O’Donovan and Kate O’Donovan points pushed the hosts seven clear after only five minutes.

A shell-shocked Scartaglen needed a spark and got it when Julie Ann Barrett found the net. That green flag kick-started a revival that saw the Kerry club move a point clear by the quarter-hour.

Leah Boyle, Emma Kerin, Abbie Brosnan, Katie Kerins and Shauna Tangey (free) unanswered scores made it 1-5 to 1-4.

O’Donovan Rossa’s emerged from a disappointing period with Kate O’Donovan flicking an Éabha O’Donovan free to the net. Mallaidh O’Neill and Aoife Dunlea swapped points to send Rossa’s in 2-5 to 1-6 ahead at the break.

There was still two between the teams when Scartaglen were awarded a 38th-minute penalty. Shauna Tangney converted before Kate O’Donovan levelled matters.

An Aoife Dunlea yellow card didn’t prevent the visitors from edging ahead when Emma Kerin scored but O’Donovan Rossa’s response was devastating.

First Fionnuala O’Driscoll and then Éabha O’Donovan’s (free) long-distance attempts ended up in the back of the net.

Scartaglen fought back and, amid a raucous atmosphere, saw Shauna Tangney’s second penalty and an Emma Kerin point level matters, 4-8 to 3-11, with time almost up.

Fionnuala O’Driscoll sent over a monster point right at the death and, after Tangney missed an injury-time free, O’Donovan Rossa held on to reach another Munster final.

Scorers for O’Donovan Rossa: F O’Driscoll 1-3, É O’Donovan 1-2 (1-1 f), K O’Donovan 1-2, L O’Mahony 1-1, M O’Neill 0-1.

Scartaglen: S Tangney 2-1 (2-0 pens, 0-1 free), J A Barrett 1-1, E Kerin 0-3, A Dunlea 0-2, L Boyle, A Brosnan, K Kerins, A O’Connell 0-1 each.

O’DONOVAN ROSSA: E Hayes; M Donnellan, A Whooley, A Tobin; F Leonard, S Hurley, L Harte; L O’Mahony (c), T Murphy; J Beechinor, K O’Donovan, E McCarthy; É O’Donovan, F O’Driscoll, M O’Neill.

Subs: E Byrne for S Hurley (44), A O’Driscoll for J Beechinor (50), S Farrell for T Murphy (58).

SCARTAGLEN: E O’Callaghan; T Kerin, J Brosnan, R O’Sullivan; K Sugrue, A O’Connell, K Kerins; A Dunlea (c), J Lawlor; A Brosnan, D Dunlea, E Kerin; J A Barrett, L Boyle, S Tangney:

Subs: M Rahilly for J A Barrett (50), C O’Connor for K Kerins (52), F Nelligan Maguire for A Brosnan (55).

Referee: Patrick Smith (Waterford).