Cork ladies football sides in search of Munster glory
Abigail Ring will be one of the players Aghada will look to on Sunday against Gaultier in the AIB Munster Senior A ladies football championship final at Mallow. Picture: Larry Cummins
Cork will be hoping to make it three from three over the weekend in AIB Munster ladies football club finals.
Aghada, Glanmire, and Inch Rovers have all made their respective deciders, with Carrigaline narrowly losing out from joining them in the junior decider.
First into action tomorrow are Glanmire, who are defending their Senior B title.
The East Cork side won this championship for the first time last year and will be determined to put back-to-back titles together, to watch their Cork double.
Credit must go to the Munster LGFA for running this competition, but unfortunately. there is no All-Ireland in this championship so no matter what happens Glanmire’s season comes to an end tomorrow.
Glanmire saw off Castleisland Desmonds in their semi-final on a scoreline of 1-13 to 0-4.
Aisling McAllen, Orlaith Roche, Michelle Barry, Abbie O’Mahony, Niamh McAllen, and Ellen Twomey are just some of the players they will look to as they bid to retain their title.
Sunday will see Aghada contest the Senior A final against Gaultier from Waterford, and Inch Rovers playing St Ailbes from Limerick in the intermediate decider.
Aghada will be hoping to win their first senior title at this level and can go into the final in confident form following their win over a fancied Southern Gaels side in the semi-final.
In that game, Aghada led by 3-8 to 2-5 at half-time, with Abigail Ring among their goalscorers, and Kaitlin Smith hitting a two-pointer for the East Cork side.
Scores from Róisín Phelan and Mary Leahy help stretch their lead to 10 early in the second half, before late Ring and Emma Farmer points sealed a 5-12 to 3-11 win.
“That was our best performance in five years with this team,” Aghada manager Eric Smith said.
“I’m delighted for the girls. They are a very ambitious group and keep pushing the bar. Delighted for everyone in the club too who have been so supportive of the players for a long time. Everyone is looking forward to the Munster final.”
Gaultier defeated Clare’s Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-16 to 2-5 to reach the final and will be looking to win the first part of a Munster double.
A week later, their camogie face St Finbarr’s in the equivalent decider, so they will be hoping to set up that double for the club.
Waterford football has been on the up in recent years, and Gaultier are a side moving in that direction as they won their first senior county ladies football title this year, defeating Ballymacarbry, who had won the championship for the previous 44 years,
They will look to the likes of Molly Comerford, Katie Desmond, Roisin Kirwan, and Annie Fitzgerald, all inter-county players to get the better of Aghada.
But Aghada have plenty of talent of their own and along with the aforementioned Ring, Smith and Ring, will be looking to Rachel and Sarah Leahy to lead their charge.
Sally McAllister and Yvonne Burgoyne will lead their defence, in what is an all-round impressive side.
They were disappointed in their Munster showing two years ago and have learned a lot from that and will be determined to win their first Munster title on Sunday.
Before them Inch Rovers take on St Ailbe’s at 1pm.
The Cork champions came through the toughest of tests against Templemore in the semi-final. They led 0-6 to 0-2 at half-time, thanks to Sorcha O’Rourke, Annie Walsh, Aoibhe Joyce, and Ava Ashman efforts.
Templemore responded in the second half and levelled matters courtesy of Kate Nevin’s late goal. Deep into injury-time, a free from O’Rourke won it for Inch.
Glanmire v Liscannor (Clare), 1pm.
Ballymacelligott (Kerry) v Arravale Rovers (Tipperary), 3.30pm.
Aghada v Gaultier (Waterford), 3.30pm.
Inch Rovers v St Ailbes (Limerick), 1pm.
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