Early goals set Glanmire on road to Senior B ladies football success against O'Donovan Rossa

Glanmire 3-8 O’Donovan Rossa 2-5

Glanmire were crowned Cork Credit Unions Senior B ladies football champions following their win over O’Donovan Rossa at MTU on Sunday.

A blistering start, which saw them score 2-2 in the first five minutes, was key to their success as O’Donovan Rossa were always chasing the game from here. But to their credit they never gave up, but Glanmire were simply too good on the day and ran out deserving winners.

They had quality performances all over the pitch, led by the likes of Niamh McAllen, Abbie O’Mahony and Ava Fitzgerald.

Glanmire got off to the perfect start as they took the lead in the second minute when McAllen pointed.

She won the ball back from the restart and set up Ally McCarthy for their opening goal to make it 1-1 to no score after three minutes.

McAllen added another point and with five minutes gone she got their second goal, to see Glanmire lead by 2-2 to no score as O’Donovan Rossa didn’t know what hit them.

Eabha O’Donovan got the West Cork side off the mark after eight minutes from a free and she added a second to reduce the deficit.

But Glanmire worked the ball up the pitch and McAllen was involved again, this time setting up Ava Fitzgerald for their third goal, another blow to O’Donovan Rossa.

To their credit they started to settle and O’Donovan got their third point, before they scored a goal.

A high ball in from Kate O’Donovan was punched to the back of the net by Fionnuala O’Driscoll, to make it 1-3 to 3-2.

But late points from McAllen and Riona Crowley had Glanmire well in control at half-time, as they led by 3-4 to 1-3.

Evie Twomey increased their lead at the start of the second half, before Orla McCarthy got O’Donovan Rossa’s first point from play.

Orlaith Roche kept the scoreboard ticking over for Glanmire, before O’Donovan pointed for the Skibb side.

With 45 minutes gone they gave themselves a lifeline when Emer McCarthy found the back of the net, to make it 3-6 to 2-5, but this proved to be their last score.

Aishling McAllen and Fitzgerald pointed late on for Glanmire to seal their win as they now move on to the Munster championship in a few weeks.

Scorers for Glanmire: N McAllen 1-3, A Fitzgerald 1-1, A McCarthy 1-0, R Crowley (f), A McAllen (f), O Roche, Evie Twomey 0-1 each.

O’Donovan Rossa: E O'Donovan 0-4 f, F O’Driscoll, E McCarthy 1-0 each, O McCarthy 0-1.

GLANMIRE: C Richmond; C Murphy, G Cashman, E Baker; C O’Donovan, M Barry, A Fitzgerald; O McAllen, A O’Mahony; A Treacy, N McAllen, K Goggin; R Crowley, Evie Twomey, A McCarthy.

Subs: Ellen Twomey for C Murphy (30), O Roche for K Goggin (ht), A McAllen for R Crowley (35), K O’Connor for C O’Donovan (38), R Crowley for A Treacy (55 HI), K Goggin for A McCarthy (55).

O’DONOVAN ROSSA: T O’Regan; F Leonard, A Tobin, E Fitzgerald; T Murphy, S Hurley, E McCarthy; L O’Mahony, M O’Neill; O McCarthy, S Farrell, A O’Driscoll; Eabha O’Donovan, K O’Donovan, F O’Driscoll.

Subs: E Healy for K O’Donovan (h-t), Elaine O’Donovan for S Farrell (55).

Referee: Justin McCarthy, Castletownroche.