Tadhg MacCarhaighs looking to kick on after minor county glory
Cork Ladies Football: Tadhg MacCarthaigh defeated Ballinhassig to claim the 2024 Cork LGFA A2 Minor title in Bishopstown.
West Cork LGFA Club Tadhg MacCarthaigh made great strides over the past 12 months including a minor county title and will be anxious to kick on in 2025.
The Caheragh club’s adult team enjoyed a productive Division 3 county league campaign prior to making their mark in the Junior B county championship.
Another West Cork club, Bantry Blues, would go on to win the Division 3 trophy but there was enough consistency in Tadhg MacCarthaigh’s displays to suggest a positive county championship campaign awaited. Before all of that, a West Cork LGFA Division 2 final appearance saw Tadhg MacCarthaigh face off against Ilen Rovers for the divisional trophy.
Castlehaven’s Union Hall pitch was the venue for a West Cork decider in which Caheragh led 1-8 to 1-6 at the break. Ilen proved more clinical in the second period however, and ran out 3-12 to 2-14 winners despite Ellen Hurley (1-7) and Clodagh O’Neill (1-4) top scoring and impressing for the runners-up.
A narrow loss to Nemo Rangers preceded a three-point win at home to Carriglaine in Aughaville. Once again, Ellen Hurley (2-4) provided the bulk of the scores.
Continuing their excellent run of form, Caheragh made it through to Cork LGFA junior B county semi-finals following a 2-20 to 3-8 Group 1 victory away to Bishopstown. Ellen Hurley (1-8), Jennifer Collins (1-1), Amy McKennedy, Clodagh O’Neill, Kate McCarthy (0-3 each), Rachel Leonard and Olivia Collins (0-1 each) were on target.
That outcome set up a last-four junior B county championship meeting away to Erin’s Own. Alas, the latter proved too strong on their home pitch, winning 3-15 to 0-16 despite Ellen Hurley, Kate McCarthy, Jennifer Collins, Rachel Leonard, Clodagh O’Neill and Amy McKennedy impressing for the West Cork club.
Many of that Tadhg MacCarthaigh panel’s season was far from over. The Aughaville-based side reached the Cork LGFA minor A2 county championship and were drawn away to Midleton.
A terrific game went the way of the visitors thanks to a 3-9 to 2-9 win. Katie Kingston, Emma O’Donovan and Lucy O’Driscoll scored the goals in a semi-final Amy McKennedy (0-5), Ella O’Sullivan and Katelyn McCarthy also contributed.
That outcome confirmed a minor A2 county final appearance against Ballinhassig.
A rearranged final took place on Bishopstown GAA’s 4G playing surface. Ballinhassig trailed 1-5 to 1-2 at the interval but fought back in the second period. Kicking three consecutive points, the latter levelled matters prior to their opponents’ only score of the half.
Ella O’Sullivan found the net and when Ballinhassig could only manage one additional point, Tadhg Mac Carthaigh’s defence helped their team seal a 2-5 to 1-6 victory.
Ella O’Sullivan (1-2), Katelyn McCarthy (1-0), Lucy O’Driscoll, Katie Kingston and Amy McKennedy (0-1 each) provided Tadhg Mac Carthaigh’s scores to round off a memorable end the season for the West Cork LGFA club.
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