Disappointment for Dohenys as Cromane prevail in free-taking shootout

Dohenys 0-15 Cromane 2-9 

(Cromane won 6-5 on sudden death frees)

Dohenys' hopes of a first AIB Munster LGFA junior final appearance were dashed by Cromane following an enthralling clash decided by sudden death in Sam Maguire Park, Dunmanway, last Saturday.

The huge attendance certainly got their money’s worth following two hours of drama that ended with the Kerry champions reaching their first ever Munster final.

So intense was the action, both in normal and extra time, that referee Billy Cummins joined numerous players suffering from cramp.

Level on eight occasions, both teams deserve credit for serving up such a memorable encounter. It was 0-11 to 2-5 at the final whistle and 0-15 to 2-9 after extra-time before free kicks decided the outcome.

Each side missed an attempt before Marin Duffy and Melissa Duggan nervelessly converted to make it four free kicks each and an engrossing semi-final went to sudden death. Eimear Burke and Roisín Griffin converted as did Dohenys' Ava O’Donovan before Abbie McCarthy missed and Cromane celebrated winning a marathon encounter.

Dohenys have intermediate football to look forward to in 2026 and showed why they are a club on the up despite this heartbreaking semi-final defeat.

Cromane dominated possession throughout the opening stages but it was their opponents who struck first. Having been in defensive mode for the first 10 minutes, Ava O’Donovan and Rachel McCarthy points handed the hosts an early lead.

A physical matchup that delivered plenty of tough tackles saw Dohenys repel a succession of Cromane attacks. The West Cork club’s full-back line of Alison Hayes, Ciara Aherne and Michelle Duggan gave nothing away. It took an Eimear Burke free to get the Kerry side on the scoreboard after quarter of an hour.

Cork senior Melissa Duggan replied with a point before a tight game was blown wide open after 18 minutes. Eimear Burke and Mary Kate Smith were involved in the buildup to Roisín Griffin gaining possession and firing into Dohenys’ net.

Once again Dohenys responded positively with Melissa Duggan splitting the posts after Cromane goalkeeper Edel Murphy produced a point-blank stop.

Duggan was denied a certain goal by an Orla Dunphy goal-line block in a half that ended with Dohenys 0-7 to 1-2 ahead. Ava O’Donovan (two) and Mairead Crowley scored for Dohenys with Mary Kate Smith replying for the visitors.

It was 0-9 to 1-3 when Mary Kate Smith was brought down by Dohenys’ Alison Hayes after 43 minutes. The resulting yellow card and converted Roisín Griffin penalty had the Kerry champions back to within a goal. Yet, it was Dohenys who moved up a gear.

Despite their temporary numerical disadvantage, a brace of Ava O’Donovan frees sandwiched an Eimear Burke score. Dohenys couldn’t hold on however, and Roisín Griffin’s leveller, six minutes into injury time, meant it was all square at the final whistle.

Griffin and O’Donovan each scored twice in the opening half of extra time. O’Donovan scored again on the resumption to make it 0-14 to 2-7. Eimear Burke replied via consecutive frees but another Ava O’Donovan free levelled matters for the final time even though Dohenys lost Rachel McCarthy to a yellow card.

The free kicks and sudden death that followed only added to the drama but it was Cromane celebrating at the conclusion of a memorable encounter.

Scorers for Dohenys: A O’Donovan 0-10 (0-8 f), M Duggan 0-2, R McCarthy, M Crowley, KA Buttimer 0-1 each.

Cromane: R Griffin 2-3 (1-0 pen), E Burke 0-5 (0-3 f), MK Smith 0-1.

DOHENYS: K Corcoran; A Hayes, C Aherne, Michelle Duggan (c); M Collins, A Duggan, L Farr; E O’Donovan, M Crowley; Melissa Duggan, A O’Donovan, H McCarthy; C Galvin, R McCarthy, A McCarthy.

Subs: K A Buttimer for C Galvin (34), G O’Mahony for H McCarthy (48), H McCarthy for L Farr (et).

CROMANE: E Murphy; N Burke, O Burke, S O’Donovan; S Corkery, S Foley, O Dunphy; L O’Sullivan, R Smith; M Duffy (c), M K Smith, E O’Sullivan; R Griffin, E Burke, S Harkin.

Subs: ME McDonnell for O Dunphy (5, inj), C Hurley for E McDonnell (48), S Clifford for M Duffy (et), M Duffy for S Clifford (et).

Referee: Billy Cummins (Tipperary).