WEST Cork players had important roles in Cork’s 2026 Munster LGFA Minor A Championship victory away to Waterford.
The opening weekend of this year’s provincial minor championship didn’t disappoint. Reigning Munster and All-Ireland U18A champions Cork travelled to Waterford for a tricky opening round clash on Saturday.
Clonakilty’s Róisín Duggan donned the number one jersey, played well and was unfortunate to concede a late goal. Kinsale’s Caoimhe O’Donnell was named at wing-back and scored a point.
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Ellen Connolly also impressed in her half-forward role. Another Kinsale player, Áine Kearney, started in the full forward line. Anna Kelleher, Hannah Deasy (both Kinsale), Caoimhe Foley (Courcey Rovers), Evelyn McCarthy (Bandon) and Katie Murphy (Rosscarbery) were also part of Cork’s match day panel.
The Rebels dealt superbly with poor weather conditions, a heavy pitch and defensively-minded Waterford to build a 0-6 to 0-1 interval advantage.
The concession of a late goal didn’t affect the outcome as a patient Cork team ran out convincing 0-10 to 1-2 winners.
Mourneabbey’s Laura Walsh top scored with 0-5. Naomh Abán’s Róisín Ní Liatháin added 0-3 in a game Ballincollig’s Sarah O’Connor and Kinsale’s Caoimhe O’Donnell (0-1 each) also scored.
‘We were 0-10 to 0-1 ahead with only a few minutes remaining,’ Cork minor manager Kieran O’Shea told The Southern Star.
‘There was a bit of additional injury-time played when Waterford got what was a lucky goal. That late goal came out of the blue as we had defended really well for the entire match. It was also Waterford’s first score in the second half.
‘They converted a free right near the end but we restricted them to a single point from open play. That was very pleasing from our (management) point of view as defending is something the girls have been working really hard on.
‘We thought Waterford would offer more from an attacking point of view but they got numbers behind the ball and tried to make things difficult for us. This match was very similar to our game with them last year.’
Next up for Kieran O’Shea’s Cork minors is a trip to Clare on Sunday. Elsewhere in the Munster Minor A Championship, Limerick edged Clare 1-8 to 1-6 in Mungret St Paul’s GAA Grounds. Kerry beat Tipperary 1-7 to 2-3 in Brosna.
This weekend also sees the Cork U16A and U16B squads in Munster LGFA first round action. Ioannis O’Connell’s U16A’s host Limerick on Saturday. The Cork U16Bs also face Limerick in their opening game of the Munster U16 Sharon O’Keefe tournament on the same afternoon.
