Inch Rovers return to the Cork LGFA senior grade following intermediate county final win over Bride Rovers

Inch Rovers 2-17 

Bride Rovers 2-7 

Inch Rovers returned to the Cork Credit Unions Cork LGFA senior grade following a rousing intermediate county final victory over Bride Rovers on Saturday afternoon.

One of four county deciders played at MTU Cork’s grounds, Inch grabbed the headlines by making their way back to the senior fold.

Warm weather and huge attendances made it an afternoon to remember, especially for the winners, not least Inch Rovers.

The latter led 1-7 to 1-4 at the interval thanks to Orlaith Murphy’s goal answering an earlier Leah Hallihan green flag. 

Inch stretched their advantage to five, 1-11 to 1-6, before Nikita Parle netted to haul Bride back into the game.

That was Inch Rovers’ cue to up the tempo and outscore their opponents 1-6 to 0-1 during a dominant closing period.

Sorcha O’Rourke finished with 1-7 and she, along with Orlaith Murphy, Annie Walsh and Angela Walsh efforts helped cement a deserved Inch Rovers triumph.

“It’s fantastic,” Inch manager Damien O’Connell said.

“We were only talking about the history of this club before the game. We spoke about an opportunity to write our own history with this team.

“The younger girls who have come into the team, the older girls, they’ve all done so much for this club.

“It is amazing to get the result today and be in a position to get Inch back up playing senior football next year. Unreal, unreal.

“We have worked really hard this year,” Inch captain Aoife Walsh added.

“They are a great bunch of girls. We deserve this. The club deserves this. We have worked really hard to go back up senior and we are going to stay there next year.

“We will work harder again to face that competition. There is going to be a big step up but we have worked so hard to get there.” 

Elsewhere on Saturday afternoon, Carrigaline outlasted Erin’s Own to win the junior A county title 4-11 to 3-13 following a cracking encounter.

There was double county final joy for the West Cork LGFA division. 

Ilen Rovers defeated Bandon 2-10 to 0-6 to become junior D champions and St Colum’s outgunned St Catherine’s 6-10 to 3-8 to lift the junior E county trophy.

Scorers for Inch Rovers: S O’Rourke 1-7 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), O Murphy 1-2, Annie Walsh (0-2f), L O’Connor 0-3 each, A Ashman, Angela Walsh 0-1 each.

Bride Rovers: L Hallihan, N Parle 1-1 each, K Quirke 0-3 (0-2f), G Kearney 0-2.

INCH ROVERS: C Deane; C Gillman, J Long, A Budds; G Rooney, T O’Neill, D O’Sullivan; A Joyce, A Olaniran; E Brenner, L O’Connor, A Ashman; S O’Rourke, O Murphy, A Walsh.

BRIDE ROVERS: S Murphy; E Collins, A Hoare, S Buckley; R Mohally, E Ahern, S Bermingham; L Murray, S Hayes (captain); L Hallihan, K Quirke, C Walsh; E Hallihan, G Kearney, N Pearle.

Referee: Paul O’Callaghan (Ibane Ladies).