Barryroe GAA

15 April, 2025

Echo 15/04/2025 by Ger McCarthy

Cork U14 ladies footballers enjoy provincial success on the double

Cork ladies football future looks as bright as ever following two Munster LGFA final double successes for the county’s youngest inter-county representatives last week. The Rebel U14 A and B teams each won their respective provincial finals, utilising squads bursting with talented players and playing an attractive brand of football. Held midweek, Ioannis O’Connell’s Cork held off Clare to win the 2025 Munster LGFA U14 A championship title in Brosna, county Kerry. The following night, John Fitzgerald’s U14 Bs edged hosts Limerick in a high-scoring Munster LGFA Johnny Hayes A tournament decider in Rathkeale.

Both Cork U14 panels had come through testing provincial blitzes en route to their respective final appearances last Wednesday and Thursday evening. Winning four of their five matches at the concluding stage-two blitz held in Cloughduv the previous weekend, Ioannis O’Connell’s Cork U14 As travelled to Brosna for a Munster final showdown with the Banner. Nerves were apparent throughout the opening exchanges as two young teams got to grips with the occasion. Clare dominated the middle sector for long stretches and the sides changed ends tied 1-3 apiece. Cork were much improved in the second half. Mourneabbey’s Anna O’Mullane’s superb haul of 1-3 helped the Rebels eventually run out 1-10 to 1-6 winners and claim this year’s Munster LGFA U14 A championship trophy. Fia Comerford (0-3), Kate O’Connell (0-2), Laura O’Mullane and Michela Moynihan were Cork’s other scorers on an evening Anna O’Mullane, Aoife Harte, Grace O’Sullivan, Aoife Walsh, Fia Comerford and Leah Mylod stood out for the winners.

In Rathkeale the following evening, the Cork U14 B team added the Munster LGFA Johnny Hayes A Tournament trophy at the conclusion of a 27-score provincial decider. The two finalists served up an absolute cracker with Limerick building a narrow 1-10 to 2-4 interval advantage. The goals kept coming and hosts were still ahead, 3-10 to 3-5, with a quarter of an hour remaining. That was the juncture when Cork utilised the positive impact of their substitutes bench to kick for home. Edging ahead and impressively holding off their opponents during the closing stages, Cork won 5-7 to 3-12 thanks to Ruth Kelly, Ava Murphy and Olivia King each contributing 1-2. The newly crowned champions’ additional scores came via Grace Higgins, Daisy McSherry (1-0 each) and Jenny Duggan (0-1).

While the Cork U14 Bs season has ended with a deserved trophy, the Cork U14 As must now begin preparations for an All-Ireland grading blitz on Saturday, May 3.

Cork LGFA U14 A panel

Mary Kate Hannon (Cloyne); Caitriona Ambrose (Mourneabbey), Aibhlin McCarthy (Ibane Ladies), Tara Browne (St Val’s); Grace O’Sullivan (Tadhg Mac Carthaigh), Aoife Walsh (Ibane Ladies), Leah Mylod (St Nick’s); Anna O’Mullane (Mourneabbey), Aoife Harte (c, Ibane Ladies); Abbie Ní Scannláin (Naomh Abán), Niamh Doyle (Ibane Ladies), Maria Humphreys (Banteer); Kate O’Connell (Watergrasshill), Laura O’Mullane (Mourneabbey), Fia Comeford (Glanmire), Emily Conlon (St Colum’s), Aisling Kelleher (Naomh Abán), Isabella Brosnan (St Nick’s), Isabelle O’Sullivan (Donoughmore), Kate Collins (Ibane Ladies), Lauren O’Mahony (Delaneys), Leona O’Brien (Kanturk), Lucy Howard (St Mary’s), Meg Allen (Carrigtwohill), Mia Lawlor (Dromtarriffe), Michela Moynihan (Ballincollig), Nell Kinsella (Kilmacabea), Niamh O’Sullivan (St Colum’s), Orlaith Murphy (Mallow), Sophie Erangey (White’s Cross).

Cork LGFA U14 B panel

Sally McAuley (Clonakilty); Carragh McCarthy (Bantry Blues), Ella Sloan (c, Cloyne), Hannah O’Sullivan (Beara); Sarah Kate Cremin (Kilshannig), Riona Groarke (Douglas), Laura O’Riordan (Watergrasshill); Poppy Lynch (Douglas), Aisling Cotter (Bride Rovers); Katie McGann (Fermoy), Ciara Kelleher (Ballincollig), Olivia King (St Val’s); Ruth Kelly (Lisgoold), Emily Casey (Castlemagner), Jenny Duggan (Mallow), Ciara Finn (Midleton), Sadhbh O’Leary (Mallow), Aoibhin McCarthy (Castlehaven), Roisin Hanlon (Passage West), Grace Holland (St Colum’s), Megan O’Mahony (Delaneys), Ava Murphy (Grenagh), Caoimhe Hurley, Claire Healy (both St Colum’s), Brooke Holland (Inch Rovers), Kate Somerville (Aghada), Grace Higgins (Glanmire), Sarah Hoare (Fermoy), Daisy McSherry (Mallow), Cora Darby (Ballincollig).