Kinsale ladies claim first senior silverware

Nicole Quinn stars and Orla Finn kicks 1-10 in commanding county final win

KINSALE 2-16

INCH ROVERS 0-3

KINSALE romped to a Cork LGFA senior football B county final victory over Inch Rovers and claimed their third trophy in as many years at a blustery Bishopstown.

The winners delivered a commanding second-half performance to claim the title, getting the better of the strong wind that blew across the pitch.

Inch Rovers were held scoreless in the opening half and struggled in front of goal all afternoon because of poor shooting and a tenacious Kinsale defensive effort.

Cork forward Orla Finn finished with 1-10 and was the most accurate player on view but this latest county final success was built on the back of Nicole Quinn’s outstanding performance in the centre of the pitch. Quinn was assisted by equally impressive showings from Caoimhe O’Callaghan, Aideen Lynch, Aisling Lee, Faye Ahern and Lorraine Copithorne.

Kinsale must quickly turn their attention towards an upcoming Munster championship campaign but manager Michael O’Connor was happy with his players’ efforts in securing a convincing county B final success.

‘It is our club’s first ever ladies’ senior trophy since winning the junior two years ago and intermediate last year which represents great progress,’ O’Connor said.

‘It is great for the girls to win trophies three years in a row. It is hard going to achieve but when it comes down to it they are capable of playing great football and are improving all the time.

‘When we first came up to the senior grade and encountered the likes of Mourneabbey and St Val’s, I think we were guilty of standing off them in a bit of awe. I think we have learned a lot from playing in the top grade and that definitely stood to us today.’

A forgettable opening half saw Kinsale change ends 0-6 to 0-0 in front with both sides guilty of wasting a host of scoring chances and struggling to deal with a wind that made every scoring chance a difficult one. But Orla Finn showed her class during that first 30 minutes by kicking five points (three frees) and the excellent Faye Ahern adding another.

To their credit, Inch Rovers defended well and created plenty of turnovers but were unable to make any impression in the scoreboard despite Rose Goggin, Noelle O’Donovan and Annie Walsh’s best attempts. 

The second period proved a one-sided affair even though Rose Goggin managed to get Inch off the mark in the 31st minute. However, a booming Grainne Cowhig kick-out ended with Orla Finn gaining possession and billowing the net to make it 1-6 to 0-1.

Rose Goggin added Rovers’ second point but the third quarter was all Kinsale with Orla Finn (four) and Sadhbh O’Leary scores making it 1-11 to 0-2 heading into the final 15 minutes.

Driven forward by Nicole Quinn, Kinsale continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over with Nicole Quinn, Orla Finn, Lorraine Copithorne, Georgia Gould and Faye Ahern raising white flags.

It was left to Sadhbh O’Leary to cement a comprehensive Kinsale victory by firing low beyond Grainne Cowhig for her side’s second goal and final score deep into injury-time.

Scorers 

Kinsale: Orla Finn 1-10 (5f), Sadhbh O’Leary 1-1, Faye Ahern 0-2, Nicole Quinn, Lorraine Copithorne, Georgia Gould 0-1 each.

Inch Rovers: Rose Goggin 0-2, Annie Walsh 0-1f.

Kinsale: Grainne Cowhig; Emma O’Brien, Tracy McCarthy, Sophie Hurley; Caoimhe O’Callaghan, Aideen Lynch, Aisling Lee; Nicole Quinn, Lorraine Copithorne; Faye Ahern, Georgina Buckley, Sadhbh O’Leary; Aoife Keating (captain), Jenny Murphy, Orla Finn.

Subs: Juliette Cronin for A Keating (ht), Dara Tyner for A Lee (38), Ellen Murphy for G Buckley (50), Cara O’Dwyer for C O’Callaghan (55), Georgia Gould for J Murphy (55).

Inch Rovers: Karen Walsh; Emma Cosgrove, Aoife Walsh, Aoibhe Joyce; Daniella O’Shea, Jessica O’Shea, Aoife Higgins; Lydia Williams, Rebecca Walsh; Ciara Barry, Annie Walsh, Ciara Daly; Rachel Fogarty (captain), Noelle O’Donovan, Rose Goggin.

Subs: Aisling Fitzgerald for L Williams (8, inj), Áine O’Driscoll for R Fogarty (38), Catriona Scannell for R Goggin (55), Kerri Brosnan for R Walsh (58), Katie Scannell for N O’Donovan (60).

Referee: AJ Cronin (Mayfield).