O'Donovan Rossa land another Munster ladies football title

O’Donovan Rossa 0-10 St Ailbe’s 0-7

O’Donovan Rossa have captured their second consecutive AIB Munster LGFA title by overcoming Limerick’s St Ailbe’s in last Sunday’s provincial intermediate decider in Mallow.

The West Cork club, fresh off their 2023 county, provincial and All-Ireland junior A title successes, carried that momentum into the current campaign.

Defeating Naomh Abán for the Cork intermediate trophy back in October, Rossa’s made it consecutive Munster final successes by overcoming St Ailbe’s in front of a huge and appreciative attendance.

A nervous opening period delivered little in the way of scoring opportunities thanks to two committed sets of defenders. Multiple turnovers were forced at either end until Georgia Keane edged the Limerick side ahead from a free after 9 minutes.

Their opponents struggled in front of goal, kicking three consecutive wides and having two other attempts blocked down.

Fionnuala O’Driscoll and Kate O’Donovan worked hard on meagre possession but it was Cork senior Laura O’Mahony who won a free from which Éabha O’Donovan equalised.

St Ailbe’s attempts to build on their early promise saw Mairead Kavanagh’s close-range shot saved by Ella Hayes.

Fionnuala O’Driscoll made them pay, catching a high ball and instantly splitting the posts to edge Rossa’s 0-2 to 0-1 in front on the quarter hour.

Pressing high on Rossa’s kickouts, St Ailbe’s enjoyed plenty of possession but 20 minutes elapsed before Georgia Keane levelled from her second free.

Eimear Ryan notched St Ailbe’s first from open play three minutes later. Éabha O’Donovan responded only for Georgina Keane to split the posts as a more open game inched towards the break.

Wing-back Meadhbh MacNamara forced her way through to hand the Limerick champions a 0-5 to 0-3 interval lead.

Ella Hayes denied Mairead Kavanagh for a second time but St Ailbe’s kept pressing and Kate Kennedy stretched the advantage. The Skibbereen club raced down the opposite end but Lisa Harte fired wide under pressure for three defenders.

Kate O’Donovan and Fionnuala O’Driscoll combined for the former to kick Rossa’s fourth point. Substitute Sinead Farrell made an instant impression, firing over to make it a one-point game shorty after.

Georgina Keane’s accuracy from frees saw St Ailbe’s move two clear once again. Rossa’s needed a spark and Laura O’Mahony provided it, making it 0-7 to 0-6.

The closing stages saw both teams waste opportunities before O’Donovan Rossa dug deep. First substitute Aoife O’Driscoll split the posts and then Éabha O’Donovan landed her second free.

O’Donovan fired over another before Fionnuala O’Driscoll added the insurance score. Despite a late St Ailbe’s burst, Rossa’s held on to make it consecutive Munster LGFA triumphs.

Scorers for O’Donovan Rossa: É O’Donovan 0-4 (0-2 f), F O’Driscoll 0-2, K O’Donovan, S Farrell, L O’Mahony, A O’Driscoll 0-1 each.

St Ailbe’s: G Keane 0-4 (0-3 f), E Ryan, M MacNamara, K Kennedy 0-1 each.

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

Subs: S Farrell for T Murphy (h-t), A O’Driscoll for M O’Neill (48), E Byrne for O’Driscoll (59).

St AILBE’S: B Madigan; A Dalton, J McGuire, E Donnelly; M MacNamara, N Ryan (captain), K Heelan; C Hickey, Ó Ryan; S MacNamara, M Kavanagh, L Nash; G Keane, K Kennedy, E Ryan.

Subs: C Ryan for J McGuire (h-t), D Egan for S McNamara (ht).

Referee: David Grogan (Tipperary).