Cork hold on for huge win over arch-rivals Dublin to strengthen grip atop league table

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Cork 0-8

Dublin 1-4

Daire Walsh reports from Croke Park

REIGNING CHAMPIONS CORK strengthened their grip at the top of the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 table when they held off a late rally from All-Ireland champions Dublin at a rain-swept Croke Park.

The ever-dependable Orla Finn kicked five points for the visitors, while Hannah Looney also chipped with 0-2 during an industrious display in very difficult conditions.

Carla Rowe led the way with 1-2 for Dublin but despite enjoying a late flourish, they fell to their first loss of the campaign.

Cork, after dropping some early shots into the hands of Dublin goalkeeper Ciara Trant, took the lead through centre-back Melissa Duggan’s fifth minute point.

While they didn’t always capitalise on the opportunities that fell their way, a brace from the reliable Finn extended the lead for Ephie Fitzgerald’s charges. Rowe kicked the hosts into gear with a two-point salvo, but Cork subsequently reinforced their authority.

Finn registered 0-13 when the Munster side overcame Dublin in last year’s league semi-final and she split the posts at the end of an intricate attacking move before adding a routine free on 24 minutes to make it 0-5 to 0-2 for Cork at the break.

Maire O’Callaghan and Looney were combining to good effect in midfield, and it was the latter who took the charge when the action resumed.

The Aghada star landed points from play with side of another Finn free to give Cork a firm control of the proceedings.

Dublin, despite struggling to impose their attacking game against a watertight Cork defence, received a lifeline midway in the third quarter when Rowe slotted home a penalty into the bottom right corner of the net after a foul on Oonagh Whyte.

Five-time All Star Lyndsey Davey was simultaneously introduced off the bench for her seasonal return as Mick Bohan’s side, who secured their sole league title in 2018, looked set for a big finish to the contest.

And they certainly ramped up the pressure on the league champions in a frenetic finish with Hannah O’Neill and Davey shooting points.

But they were unable to draw level with a free from Rowe in the dying moments drifting wide as Cork held on for victory.

The win comes as a big one for the Rebels, with the league going to a straight final this year.

 

Scorers for Cork: O Finn 0-5 (4f), H Looney 0-2, M Duggan 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: C Rowe 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), H O’Neill, L Davey 0-1 each.

Cork: M O’Brien; M Ambrose, R Phelan, S Leahy; L O’Mahony, M Duggan, A Hutchings; M O’Callaghan, H Looney; O Farmer, Á O’Sullivan, L Cleary; L Coppinger, S Noonan, O Finn.

Subs: B O’Sullivan for Cleary, S O’Leary for Noonan (both h-t), K Quirke for Coppinger (40), S Kiely for Leahy (48), E Kiely for Farmer (50), C O’Callaghan for Phelan (64).

Dublin: C Trant; É Rutledge, M Ní Scanaill, N Collins; O Nolan, M Byrne, L Caffrey; L Magee, J Dunne; K Sullivan, S Woods, C Rowe; N Sweeney, H O’Neill, C O’Connor.

Subs: O Whyte for Sullivan (22), N Hetherton for Magee (34), R McDonnell for Sweeney, L Davey for Whyte (both 45), L Kane for Woods (58).

Referee: Niall McCormack (Laois).

Brace of goals from Áine O’Sullivan gives Cork the points in all-Munster clash

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LIDL NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1

Cork 2-11

Tipperary 1-6

By Paul Carroll

In Ardfinnan

 

Reigning champions Cork proved too strong for Tipperary in their Lidl National Football League Division 1 clash at Ardfinnan with goals in each half from Áine O’Sullivan the difference between the sides.

Ephie Fitzgerald’s side continued their perfect start to the campaign with an impressive performance and a comfortable win over their neighbours.

Caitlin Kennedy’s goal had kept Tipperary in touch after a bright start from Cork, but Áine O’Sullivan’s strike before the interval settled the defending champions.

Despite playing into a strong breeze in the first-half, it was Tipperary’s Roisin Daly who opened the scoring with a well worked point. However, the breeze saw play based largely in the Tipp half for the next ten minutes and Cork made the most of their territorial advantage.

In this ten-minute period, Cork tagged on five unanswered points, three of which came from the boot of freetaker Orla Finn, while Laura O’Mahony and Bríd O’Sullivan also found the target.

Tipperary answered back in the 12th minute when midfielder Caitlin Kennedy struck a superb goal into the top corner to close the gap to a point. However, it was Cork who dominated possession to round off the half, with points from Saoirse Noonan and Finn, before Áine O’Sullivan fired their key goal five minutes from the break.

Cork took a 1-8 to 1-2 lead in at half-time as Aishling Moloney tried to keep Tipp in touch, and last year’s Intermediate Player of the Year kicked another score at the start of the second half which closed the gap to five.

Moloney played a traditional full-forward role in the second half and she continued to impress with wonderfully struck points off the right boot to put just two points between the sides.

Protecting their lead against the breeze, Cork found it difficult to gain possession in the Tipperary half and it wasn’t until ten minutes from time that the champions got their first point of the half from the accurate Finn.

A five-minute flurry saw Cork add a further two points from substitute Sadhbh O’Leary and Áine O’Sullivan, before O’Sullivan put the tie out of Tipperary’s reach with her second goal four minutes from time.

Scorers – Cork: A O’Sullivan 2-1, O Finn 0-5 (3f), B O’Sullivan 0-1, L O’Mahony 0-1, S Noonan 0-1, M O Callaghan 0-1, S O Leary 0-1.

Tipperary: A Moloney 0-5 (2f), C Kennedy 1-0, R Daly 0-1.

CORK: M O’Brien; M Ambrose, R Phelan; S Leahy; L O’Mahony, M Duggan, A Hutchings; M O’Callaghan, H Looney; L Coppinger, B O’Sullivan, L Cleary; Á O’Sullivan, S Noonan, O Finn. Subs: S O Leary for Coppinger (h-t), O Farmer for B O’Sullivan (h-t), S Kelly for Cleary (h-t), A Kelleher for Leahy (46), E Mullins for Looney (50), K Quirke for Noonan (52).

TIPPERARY:  L Fitzpatrick; E Moore, L Spillane, E Cronin; M Curley, B Condon, S Lambert; L Dillon, C Kennedy; O Winston, E Morrissey, R Daly; S McKevitt, A Moloney, N Hayes. Subs: M Creedon for Dillon (46), K Davey for McKevitt (46), K Cunningham for Winston (50), M Heffernan for Daly (50), A Carey for Kennedy (55), E McCarthy for Moloney (55).

Ref – Niall McCormack (Laois).

Classy Finn points the way as champions Cork launch their Lidl NFL defence with a convincing victory

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Cork 1-9

Westmeath 0-6

By RORY NOONAN

On an historic day at Páirc Uí Chaoimh the Cork ladies footballers got the defence of their Lidl National Football League title off to a winning start thanks largely to Orla Finn’s early flurry of scores.

This league clash against Westmeath was the first time the Cork senior ladies played a competitive game at the Páirc and the home side were determined not to come out on the wrong side of the scoreline.

Cork were five points clear at half-time, but a strong third quarter from Sean Finnegan’s side meant they needed three late scores to make sure of victory.

Finn wrote her own little bit of history as she got the first score in a competitive ladies football game at the venue to put Cork in front in the second minute. She added their second after eight minutes as the home side were dominating the early exchanges.

Two minutes later and Finn kicked her third point as Westmeath were finding it difficult to get the ball out of their own half, and her fourth soon followed.

Leona Archibold finally got Westmeath on the scoreboard from a 13th minute free, but Cork continued to dominate and Laura O’Mahony scored from distance to keep them four points to the good.

From the re-start Cork regained possession and this time it was Eimer Scally who wrote herself into the history books. She latched onto a loose ball in the Westmeath defence to become the first ladies footballer to score a goal at the stadium, a score that made it 1-5 to 0-1 after 18 minutes. Unfortunately for Scally and Cork she went off injured just before half-time.

However Cork won’t be happy how they finished the first-half, as they failed to score again after Scally’s goal. Rachel Dillon and Lucy McCartan pointed for Westmeath to reduce the deficit and it took a great block from Ashling Hutchings to deny them a goal.

Vicky Carr played McCartan in but her goal-bound effort was well blocked by Hutchings to see Cork lead 1-5 to 0-3 at half-time.

Scores were few and far between in the second-half with both sides tiring. Finn extended Cork’s lead before Jo Hanna Maher pulled a point back for Westmeath.

It took a great last ditch tackle from Dillon to deny Cork a goal, before Aoife Connolly was on target for the visitors, to make it 1-6 to 0-5.

With ten minutes remaining Caoimhe O’Callaghan was sin-binned for Cork for persistent fouling, but her side continued to dominate, and three quick points from Finn, Laura Cleary and Ciara McCarthy made sure of the win.

There was one last kick from Westmeath as Connolly got the last score of the game, but there was no stopping Cork as they got the defence of their title off to a winning start.

Scorers – Cork: O Finn 0-6 (4f), E Scally 1-0, L O’Mahony 0-1, C McCarthy 0-1, L Cleary 0-1.

Westmeath: A Connolly 0-2 (2f), L Archibold 0-1 (1f), R Dillon 0-1, L McCartan 0-1, J H Maher 0-1.

CORK: M O’Brien; M Ambrose, R Phelan, C O’Callaghan; L O’Mahony, A Hutchings, M Duggan; M O’Callaghan, H Looney; A O’Sullivan, L Coppinger, O Finn; S O’Leary, S Noonan, E Scally.Subs: B O’Sullivan for Scally (28), O Farmer for A O’Sullivan (h-t), L Cleary for O’Leary (45), C McCarthy for Coppinger (53), E Cleary for Finn (60).

WESTMEATH: L McCormack; R Dillon; K McDermott, L Power; F Coyle, F Claffey, A Roche; J Maher, V Carr; T Dillon, L Archibold, L McCartan; J Draper, S McCormack, A Dolan. Subs: S Dolan for Draper (15), L Slevin for McCormack (28), A Connolly for Dolan (40), A Sheerin for Slevin (47), G Halligan for T Dillon (59), K Hegarty for McCartan (60), C Thornton for Archibold (60).

Ref – Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).

Cork begin league title defence against Westmesth

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Lidl Ladies NFL – Division 1 – Round 1

Cork v Westmeath, 4.00pm, Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

FOR the very first time, the Cork Senior Ladies Football team will have the chance to play at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The LGFA is sending a camera to the famous Leeside venue to capture history, as Ephie Fitzgerald’s charges begin the defence of their Lidl NFL Division 1 crown against visitors Westmeath.

The Lake County avoided relegation from the top Division last year and have their work cut out again in a highly-competitive pool.

Cork have eight survivors from last year’s NFL Division 1 Final victory over Galway in their starting line-up, with TG4 All Star Orla Finn named at top of the left.

Cork are targeting a 13th Division 1 crown this season and Westmeath couldn’t ask for much tougher opposition as the new campaign gets underway.

Roisin Phelan’s return after missing the 2019 season due to work commitments is another massive boost for the Rebelettes.

Cork (v Westmeath): M O’Brien; M Ambrose, R Phelan, C O’Callaghan; S Kelly, A Hutchings, M Duggan; M O’Callaghan, H Looney; L Cleary, B O’Sullivan, O Farmer; S O’Leary, Á O’Sullivan, O Finn.

Westmeath (v Cork): L McCormack; R Dillon; K McDermott, L Power; F Coyle, F Claffey, A Roche; J Maher, V Carr; A Jones, L Archibold, L McCartan; J Draper, S McCormack, A Dolan.

Fitzgerald with the late winner as Mourneabbey reclaim their All- Ireland Senior title

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ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CLUB FINAL

Mourneabbey 2-9

Kilkerrin/Clonberne 0-14

By Ivan Smyth

At LIT Gaelic Grounds

Mourneabbey secured back-to-back All-Ireland Senior Club titles as a Laura Fitzgerald point with less than 20 seconds remaining broke Kilkerrin/Clonberne hearts in a dramatic All-Ireland decider at the Gaelic Grounds.

Points from Chloe Miskell and Annette Clarke had hauled Kilkerrin/Clonberne back level as the full-time whistle approached, but one final patient attack was brilliantly finished by Fitzgerald on the turn and Shane Ronayne’s side completed the successful defence of their title after an enthralling encounter.

The Galway club started the quicker of the two sides with Claire Dunleavy and Chloe Miskell opening their accounts. Laura Fitzgerald got reigning champions Mourneabbey off the mark but further scores from Ailish Morrissey and two from Olivia Divilly helped first time finalist Kilkerrin/Clonberne move 0-5 to 0-1 ahead.

However, Mourneabbey struck back with 1-2 in a two-minute spell to hit the front for the first time in the contest. Noelle Healy pointed before her side overturned a Lisa Murphy kickout, and Healy slipped Doireann O’Sullivan through on goal before the Cork captain bundled the ball home despite Murphy’s best efforts.

Olivia Divilly levelled the game with a free but Kilkerrin/Clonberne were dealt a severe blow when Nicola Ward, who picked up an All-Star last weekend, was forced off through injury. Mourneabbey continued to look menacing up front and when Healy fed Fitzgerald and she palmed to the net it appeared they had claimed their crucial second goal. However, after lengthy debate between referee Maggie Farrelly and her umpires, Fitzgerald was deemed to be in the square and the goal was chalked off.

Doireann O’Sullivan and Eva Noone traded scores before Ciara O’Sullivan and Fitzgerald put Mourneabbey two ahead approaching half-time. Clarke kicked a fine score after good work by Hannah Noone and Louise Ward as Mourneabbey led by 1-6 to 0-8 at the break.

After the restart Doireann O’Sullivan resumed the scoring for the Cork side, before Lynsey Noone’s goal bound effort was deflected over by Mourneabbey goalkeeper Meabh O’Sullivan. Ailish Morrissey then managed to level the contest for the seven-in-a-row Galway champions as the quality of football increased as the pace of the game escalated. Kilkerrin/Clonberne saw Hannah Noone sent to the sin bin but Morrissey moved them a point in front with a well-taken score.

Ciara O’Sullivan and Clarke swapped points before a sweeping Mourneabbey counter attack saw Fitzgerald score her side’s second goal. Chloe Miskell and Clarke scores levelled the contest while Mourneabbey then had Ciara O’Sullivan sin binned.

With both sides seeking the winner Olivia Divilly dropped a free short, while Ailish Morrissey, Clarke and Dunleavy all kicked wides late in the game for Kilkerrin/Clonberne.

And they were punished for these misses when Fitzgerald kicked the match winning score to secure back to back titles for Mourneabbey.

Scorers – Mourneabbey: L Fitzgerald 1-3, D O’Sullivan 1-2 (1f), C O’Sullivan 0-2, N Healy 0-2.Kilkerrin/Clonberne: O Divilly 0-3 (2f), A Morrissey 0-3, A Clarke 0-3, C Miskell 0-2, C Dunleavy 0-1, L Noone 0-1, E Noone 0-1.

Mourneabbey: M O’Sullivan; S Conroy, E Meaney, A O’Sullivan; E Harrington, R O’Sullivan, K Coakley; M O’Callaghan, B O’Sullivan; N Healy, C O’Sullivan, N O’Sullivan; L Fitzgerald, D O’Sullivan, S O’Callaghan. Subs: A Ryan for S O’Callaghan (35), E Jack for Harrington (35), A Cronin for N O’Sullivan (50).

Kilkerrin/Clonberne: L Murphy; S Gormally, A Costello, S Fahy; C Dunleavy, N Ward, H Noone; L Ward, S Divilly; L Noone, O Divilly, C Miskell; A Morrissey, A Clarke, E Noone. Subs: K Mee for N Ward (19), C Boyle for C Miskell (52-57, blood), C Boyle for L Noone (58).

Ref – Maggie Farrelly (Cavan).

Mourneabbey All Ireland Club Final

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On Saturday, November 23, at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway) and holders Mourneabbey (Cork) go head-to-head for the Senior title at 5pm

For the third season in a row, reigning All-Ireland champions Mourneabbey will contest the Senior Club Final.

Mourneabbey, currently managed by Tipperary’s 2019 TG4 All-Ireland winning boss, Shane Ronayne, had lost Finals in 2014, 2015 and 2017 but they finally got over the line last year when seeing off Dublin outfit Foxrock-Cabinteely in the showpiece decider.

Their opponents this time are first-time Finalists Kilkerrin-Clonberne, who have newly-crowned TG4 All Stars Nicola and Louise Ward, who are twin sisters, in their ranks.

Mourneabbey’s Eimear Meaney, left, pictured with Kilkerrin-Clonberne captain Louise Ward

Kilkerrin-Clonberne can also call upon the talents of the Divilly sisters, Siobhán and Olivia, while they’ll also have the three Noone sisters, Hannah, Eva and Lynsey, who have been winning regularly at underage level with Galway, spearheading the Western charge.

Mourneabbey are a battle-hardened outfit, however, with established Cork stars Eimear Meaney, Maire O’Callaghan, and the O’Sullivan sisters, Ciara and Doireann, in their ranks.

Mourneabbey can also call upon the services of 2017 TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year Noelle Healy, a key member of the Dublin teams that have won the last three TG4 All-Ireland Senior titles.

Both teams came through tough semi-finals to make it to the Gaelic Grounds, with Mourneabbey accounting for old foes Donaghmoyne, while Kilkerrin-Clonberne defeated Foxrock-Cabinteely.

In 2015 and 2018, Mourneabbey and Kilkerrin-Clonberne met at the All-Ireland semi-final stage, with Mourneabbey winning on both occasions.

On Sunday, November 24, it’s the turn of the Junior Finalists, namely CL MacHale Rovers (Mayo) and Donoughmore (Cork), who will meet at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe at 2pm.

In the Junior Final, two-time All-Ireland Senior Champions Donoughmore are looking to follow in the footsteps of Aghada in 2017 and Glanmire last year by bringing the Junior silverware back to Cork.

This is the fifth successive year that a Cork club has contested the All-Ireland Junior Club Final, as Glanmire (2018), Aghada (2017), Kinsale (2016) and Bantry Blues (2015) all appeared on the big day in previous seasons.

For Mayo Ladies Football, this is also a big day as it marks the first time since 2017, when Carnacon claimed Senior honours, that a team from the county has contested an All-Ireland Club decider.

The CL MacHale Rovers team is graced by Rachel Kearns, who claimed a TG4 All Star award at the Citywest Hotel last Saturday night.

Captains Marie Larkin, CL MacHale Rovers, left, and Eileen Lyons, Donoughmore, pictured ahead of the All-Ireland Junior Club Final 

No Mayo team has ever won the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship, although Knockmore did contest the 2008 Final.

At Captains Day, Mourneabbey were represented by Eimear Meaney, while Louise Ward was present from Kilkerrin-Clonberne.

Club captain Áine Tubridy made the trip from Antrim on behalf of Naomh Pól, while Naomh Ciarán were represented at the event by Amy Gavin Mangan.

The Junior Club Finalists, CL MacHale Rovers and Donoughmore, were represented by captains Marie Larkin and Eileen Lyons respectively.

Donoughmore All Ireland final details.

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On Sunday, November 24, it’s the turn of the Junior Finalists, namely CL MacHale Rovers (Mayo) and Donoughmore (Cork), who will meet at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe at 2pm.

In the Junior Final, two-time All-Ireland Senior Champions Donoughmore are looking to follow in the footsteps of Aghada in 2017 and Glanmire last year by bringing the Junior silverware back to Cork.

This is the fifth successive year that a Cork club has contested the All-Ireland Junior Club Final, as Glanmire (2018), Aghada (2017), Kinsale (2016) and Bantry Blues (2015) all appeared on the big day in previous seasons.

For Mayo Ladies Football, this is also a big day as it marks the first time since 2017, when Carnacon claimed Senior honours, that a team from the county has contested an All-Ireland Club decider.

The CL MacHale Rovers team is graced by Rachel Kearns, who claimed a TG4 All Star award at the Citywest Hotel last Saturday night.

Captains Marie Larkin, CL MacHale Rovers, left, and Eileen Lyons, Donoughmore, pictured ahead of the All-Ireland Junior Club Final 

No Mayo team has ever won the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship, although Knockmore did contest the 2008 Final.

At Captains Day, the Junior Club Finalists, CL MacHale Rovers and Donoughmore, were represented by captains Marie Larkin and Eileen Lyons respectively.

Cork ALL Stars 2019

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Cork All Stars For 2019

Congratulations to Melissa Duggan and Orla Finn on picking up All Star award at a Banquet in Citywest last Saturday.

 

Champions Mourneabbey march on into another All Ireland Final

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ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CLUB FOOTBALL SEMI-FINAL

 

Mourneabbey (Cork)  2-13

Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) 1-10

By DIARMUID SHEEHAN

Mourneabbey will get the chance to retain their All Ireland Ladies Senior Football Club title after a hard fought win over Monaghan’s Donaghmoyne in Mourneabbey this afternoon.

Goals from Laura Fitzgerald and Doireann O’Sullivan in the first-half kept the All-Ireland champions in touch and they kicked on in the closing stages to claim a spot in the final for the third year in a row.

Mourneabbey got off to a dream start with a goal from Fitzgerald inside two minutes. Brilliant work from Doireann O’Sullivan and Noelle Healy set the corner forward in on goal and Fitzgerald finished in style.

A point from Doireann O’Sullivan followed moments later before the Monaghan side got going with a tasty score from corner back Hazel Kingham.

Mourneabbey responded with a point from Doireann O’Sullivan but for the next 12 minutes the visitors took control, landing 1-4 without reply – the goal coming after a long range free from Catriona McConnell which somehow found its way to the Munster champions’ net.

Mourneabbey levelled things up on the 26th minute with another goal, this time from the ever dangerous Doireann O’Sullivan. However Donaghmoyne showed just why they are one of the top sides in the country as they bagged three points in three minutes to again lead by three. Ciara O’Sullivan scored a late point for Mourneabbey but Donaghmoyne would lead at the break by 1-9 to 2-3.

The second-half was dominated by the home side as they battled to keep the ball in hand and with the expertise of Doireann and Ciara O’Sullivan and a dogged defensive pack they were able to seal the deal with all of six points to spare.

Scorers – Mourneabbey: D O’Sullivan 1-8 (6f), L Fitzgerald 1-0; N Healy 0-2, C O’Sullivan 0-2, K Coakley 0-1. Donaghmoyne: C McConnell 1-3 (1-1f), L Kerley 0-3 (2f), R Courtney 0-2, C Courtney 0-1, H Kingham 0-1.

 

MOURNEABBEY: M O’Sullivan; A O’Sullivan, E Meaney, S Conroy; K Coakley, R O’Sullivan, E Harrington; M O’Callaghan, N O’Sullivan; C O’Sullivan, B O’Sullivan, N Healy; l Fitzgerald, D O’Sullivan, S O’Callaghan. Subs: E Jack for N O’Sullivan (36), A Ryan for Harrington (36), A Cronin for S O’Callaghan (54), A Walsh for B O’Sullivan (63).

 

DONAGHMOYNE: L Martin; J Geoghegan, F Courtney, H Kingham; J Courtney, S Courtney, E Treanor; A Finnegan, C Courtney; L Garland, R Courtney, L Kerley; A Garland, C McConnell, N Callan. Subs: A Keenan for A Garland (55), R Finnegan for L Kersley (60).

 

Referee: J Murphy (Carlow).

Buckley’s goals see Donoughmore reach Junior Final

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ALL IRELAND JUNIOR CLUB FOOTBALL SEMI-FINAL

 

Donoughmore (Cork) 3-13

Navan O’Mahonys (Meath) 3-12

By JOHN TARRANT

Early goals from Rena Buckley and Aileen Buckley proved crucial as Donoughmore managed to withstand the intentions of a brave Navan O’Mahonys in a thrilling All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship Semi-Final.

At the end of the hour, victory belonged to the more accomplished side, as the greater experience of Donoughmore saw them past the gallant effort of the Meath club.

Fiercely contested, Navan were devastated to lose, and after conceding early goals, they stretched Donoughmore to the absolute limit in an epic second-half, only to fall short at the final whistle.

Navan got off to an encouraging start, boosted by a well taken Meghan Collins point. Once they settled, Donoughmore enjoyed a lucrative eight minutes with three goals netted in a spell binding spell of football.

Initially, Aileen Buckley assisted namesake Rena Buckley to goal, before provider Aileen Buckley then blasted home a pair of goals to put daylight between the two sides.

Those scores illustrated Donoughmore had operated with the greater authority early on, as the play of Aisling Barrett, Linda McCarthy and Michelle Dilworth caught the eye in defence, while former Cork captain Rena Buckley and Claudia Keane commanded the midfield region.

There was much to admire to Navan O’Mahonys game. They hit the woodwork on three occasions before a Jacinta Maher goal narrowed the arrears 3-7 to 1-7 at the break.

On the restart, Navan brought a high level of intensity to the contest that earned reward with goals from Orlaith Maher and a marvellous Collins strike to leave the minimum between the sides.

As the game teetered on a knife edge, Navan came ever so close to forcing parity. But Donoughmore relied on second-half points from] midfielders Rena Buckley and Keane to hang on by the slenderest of margins, which sees them book a place in the Junior decider against CL MacHales of Mayo.

Scorers – Donoughmore: R Buckley 1-6 (6f), A Buckley 2-3, C Keane 0-4. Navan O’Mahonys: O Mallon 1-4 (2f), J Maher 1-1, M Collins 1-1, L McDermott 0-2, Aoibheann Leahy 0-2 (2f), Ailbhe Leahy 0-1, C Clynch 0-1.

DONOUGHMORE: C O’Connell; Aoife Barrett, Aisling Barrett, L McCarthy; A Quigley, M Dilworth, D Dineen; R Buckley, C Keane; E O’Reilly, N Lohan, A Greene; J Brew Dinan, E Lyons, A Buckley.

NAVAN O’MAHONYS: C Blake; D Forde, H Heskin, A O’Toole; C Clynch, S Powderly, A Devlin; T Fay, L McDermott; O Mallon, Aoibheann Leahy, E Fay; M Collins, J Maher, Ailbhe Leahy. Sub. E Callan for A Devlin (42).

Referee: K Phelan (Laois).