CLONAKILTY, Bandon, Dohenys, Ilen Rovers and Kilmacabea all got their county league football campaigns off to winning starts.

An O’Donovan Rossa and Clonakilty West Cork derby kickstarted Division 1 Group 1 in Skibbereen on Sunday. The visitors led by a point at the break and maintained that advantage throughout the second period before emerging 2-7 to 1-5 winners.

Sinead O’Donovan and Aoife O’Flynn Meade each notched 1-1 for a Clonakilty team that also had Cork senior Katie O’Driscoll, Aisling Moloney and Siofra Pattwell on their scoresheet.

Éabha O’Donovan proved a handful for Clon’s defence and scored all five of O’Donovan Rossa’s points. Ellen Healy raised the Skibbereen club’s solitary green flag.

In the same group, Carrigaline and Glanmire couldn’t be separated following a high scoring 4-7 to 2-13 draw.

Castlehaven travelled to St Val’s for the West Cork club’s Division 1 Group 2 opener and put in a terrific display before losing a shootout, 6-8 to 6-7, by a single point.

Amy McCarthy (2), Áine Daly, Mairead O’Driscoll, Ellen Connolly and Shelley Daly found the net for a battling Castlehaven.

Elsewhere in Group 2, Naomh Abán and Aghada served up a cracker in Ballyvourney. The visitors led 2-7 to 1-4 at the short whistle before going on to win by two points, 2-10 to 1-1. Abigail Ring (1-2), Brianna Smith (1-1), Lauren Lenihan (0-3), Kaitlin Smith (0-3), Mary Leahy and Clare Walsh (0-1 each) were on target for Aghada. Lydia McDonagh was on top form for the hosts, scoring eight points. Joanne Kelly netted Naomh Abán’s goal with Clíona Vaughan, Amy McDonagh and Allanagh Hoare also contributing.

The Clonakilty team that defeated O'Donovan Rossa.

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Bantry Blues suffered defeat in their Division 2 Group 1 league opener away to Bishopstown. The city side proved too strong, scoring seven goals en route to victory. Despite the defeat, Megan McSweeney (1-1), Ella McCarthy (1-0), Aoife Kingston and Myra Downey (0-2 each) provided some excellent Bantry scores. Ali O’Sullivan, Kate McCarthy and Ann Coakley also impressed for the Blues. Douglas defeated Bride Rovers 3-7 to 0-4 in the same group.

Valley Rovers also suffered a loss in their Division 2 Group 2 fixture. Inch Rovers defeated the Brinny club 2-11 to 1-3 in Killeagh.

A West Cork derby between Bandon and Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh produced a cracking Division 3 contest. Tied 2-6 apiece at the interval, the Lilywhites won 3-9 to 2-10 thanks to scores from Hannah Buckley (2-1), Clodagh Barry (1-0), Rachel O’Donovan, Evelyn McCarthy, Ava Long (0-2 each), Caoimhe Foley and Laura Cummins (0-1 each).

Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh contributed much to an entertaining encounter with Emma Hegarty twice finding the net. Maureen Keating, Rachel Leonard, Jennifer Collins, Ruby O’Donovan, Ellen Hurley and Helena Collins were also on the Caheragh club’s scoresheet.

Dohenys’ Division 3 opener at home to Donoughmore resulted in a 1-9 to 0-4 victory for the West Cork club. Kellie Ann Buttimer top scored with 1-4. Clara Duggan (0-2), Claire Hurley, Michelle Love and Mairead Crowley (0-1 each) also featured prominently. Elsewhere in Division 3, Erin’s Own defeated Araglen Desmonds Buí 3-15 to 1-7.

Dohenys proved too strong for Donoughmore in Division 3.

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Beara hosted Kilshannig at MTU in the opening game of the Division 4 county league on Friday evening. Despite a battling effort, Beara lost 1-10 to 1-7. Shannon Hanley Murphy (1-1), Anna Downing (0-2), Clare O’Shea, Michelagh Murphy, Ciara Murphy and Ellie O’Sullivan (0-1 each) all scored for Beara.

Ibane Ladies and Clann na nGael enjoyed home advantage for their first Division 5 county league fixtures of the season last weekend. Ibane and Youghal’s clash ended in a 0-10 to 1-4 loss for the hosts despite Roisin Ní Bhuchallaha scoring 1-1. Grace Flynn, Alice O’Leary and Ellen O’Riordan were also on target for Ibane.

Clann na nGael entertained Lisgoold and were unlucky to lose 1-12 to 2-7. Kathlyn McCarthy (1-1), Roisin O’Driscoll (0-4), Katie O’Driscoll (1-0), Laura Deasy and Niamh McCarthy (0-1 each) scored for the West Cork club.

Ilen Rovers are up and running in Division 6 thanks to a victory at home to Macroom last Sunday. The West Cork club racked up five first-half goals before winning 8-15 to 2-4. Ilen’s scorers included Kate Carey (3-3), Carla O’Regan (2-4), Emma Hurley (2-2), Maria Connolly (1-2), Keelin Murphy and Clare Collins (0-2 each). In the same division, Courcey Rovers edged Naomh Fionnbarra 4-11 to 4-8.

St Colum’s first Division 7 Group 1 county league game of the season ended in defeat, losing 3-10 to 2-5 away to Passage. Ella Downey (1-4), Abbie O’Sullivan (1-0) and Molly Harrington (0-1) scored for Colum’s.

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It proved an historic day for West Cork club Kilmacabea who marked their first-ever adult county league appearance with a 6-11 to 3-12 victory over Ballygarvan in Group 1 of Division 8. Kellyann French (2-5), Lauren O’Donovan (2-2) and Nell Kinsella (1-3) provided the bulk of Kilmacabea’s scores with Mary O’Donovan, Mags O’Neill and Mary Rose Shanahan also contributing. This was a fantastic result for a fledgling ladies football club who will be a match for any club in the league this year.

Elsewhere in Division 8, Keelnameela overcame Ballycastle 4-7 to 1-4 in their first Group 2 match of the new season.