DOHENYS 1-12

BANTRY BLUES 1-4

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

THE bridesmaids had their big day – and they deserved it.

Dohenys will mix it at intermediate level in 2026 after winning the Cork LGFA junior A title at the expense of West Cork rivals Bantry Blues in Aughaville on Saturday. But the context here explains the opening line.

In late October 2019, Dohenys faced a fourth consecutive junior B county final appearance. Defeats in each of the three previous years had raised the stakes ahead of a showdown with Midleton. But amid awful conditions in Kilmichael, the Dunmanway club emerged 0-9 to 0-8 winners and finally gained promotion to the junior A grade.

Dohenys captain Michelle Duggan raises the trophy after the Dunmanway team's victory over Bantry Blues in the Cork LGFA junior A final at Aughaville.

Fast forward six years to Saturday’s county decider with Bantry Blues. Having lost three of the four previous junior A finals, would history repeat itself and Dohenys eradicate the pain of those previous losses? Absolutely they would.

A controlled and determined performance ensured the Dunmanway club deservedly reached the promised land of the intermediate grade.

For the second time in their recent history, three county final loss heartbreaks were replaced by the elation of lifting a Cork LGFA trophy.

No squad, supporters or club deserves it more.

Bantry Blues' Bernadette O'Flynn defending against Ava O'Donovan of Dohenys.

‘We were fed up with being bridesmaids and never being the bride,’ Dohenys mentor Miriam Forbes told The Southern Star.

‘So, even though we had a lot of hurt these last few years, that is what has made the players and the team what we are today. The confidence of the team was just excellent against Bantry.’

Forbes’ sentiments were echoed by team captain Michelle Duggan.

‘Oh God, you could see it in all the girls' faces. As soon as we went out on the pitch, everybody was just concentrated, focused and wanted to win this so badly, especially after losing by two points in last year’s final,’ the Dohenys captain explained.

‘We were raring to go today. We weren’t going to leave it behind. No way.

‘I can’t believe it. I was walking off the pitch and couldn’t even think about what I was going to say in my speech. This is what we all train for. This is what we all work for. It’s just great to become an intermediate club.’

The winners had heroes all over the pitch. None more so than Abbie McCarthy, Ava O’Donovan, Alison Hayes and Margaret Collins.

Add human dynamo throughout the 60 minutes, Melissa Duggan, to that list. The Cork senior was in tears at the final whistle.

Dohenys' Kellyann Buttimer is challenged by Bantry Blues' Sarah Bishop.

‘Always being the bridesmaids, never the bride, that’s what we were known as,’ Duggan said.

‘This win means so much as it was our fourth final in five years. We have young players, we have old players, we have people playing in their first final and we’ve people who played in six or seven finals.

‘That’s why this win just means so much to everybody.’

As for runners-up Bantry Blues, last year’s county semi-finalists could have no complaints. Eve Murphy, Sarah Bishop, Laura O’Sullivan and Clíodhna O’Shea played their hearts out. A young Bantry panel, although about to lose some key players to emigration, is capable of challenging once again in 2026.

Aided by a gale win that would prove a huge factor in the final, Dohenys moved 0-4 to 0-0 ahead inside the opening 11 minutes. Ava O’Donovan (three, two frees) and Margaret Collins fired over, while Bantry struggled to get out of their half. That was until the 13th minute when Sarah Bishop’s shot was saved by Kate Corcoran.

The Blues’ next attack yielded a desperately-needed goal when Eve Murphy fired low into the net.

Dohenys, who introduced three subs inside the first 20 minutes, refused to panic.

Dominating the second quarter, Abbie McCarthy (two) and Melissa Duggan scores made it 0-7 to 1-0. Ava O’Donovan (free) and Kellyann Buttimer ensured their team changed ends six points ahead, 0-9 to 1-0.

The Dohenys team celebrates their victory in the Cork LGFA junior A final at Aughaville.

Bantry restarted with the aid of an unrelenting wind. Eve Murphy and Sarah Bishop (free) reduced the deficit before their opponents reasserted control.

Melissa Duggan walloped over a morale-boosting score before Bantry were temporarily reduced to 14 players when Zara Barry was yellow carded.

Taking full advantage, Rachel McCarthy and Ava O’Donovan (free) scores made it 0-12 to 1-2 with 11 minutes remaining. Then came the match-clinching score as Abbie McCarthy, who had a fine game, billowed Bantry’s net.

Lucy Coakley and Sarah Bishop (free) tacked on late scores but it mattered little as the Dunmanway club and its supporters celebrated an eight-point victory.

Dohenys, bridesmaids no more.

Scorers 

Dohenys: A O’Donovan 0-5 (5f); A McCarthy 1-2; Melissa Duggan 0-2; M Collins, K Buttimer, R McCarthy 0-1 each.

Bantry Blues: E Murphy 1-1; S Bishop 0-2 (2f); L Coakley 0-1.

Dohenys: K Corcoran; A Hayes, C Hurley, Michelle Duggan; M Collins, A Duggan, L Farr; Melissa Duggan, M Crowley; E O’Donovan, A O’Donovan, G O’Mahony; C Galvin, M Love, A McCarthy.

Subs: R McCarthy for M Love (15), C Aherne for C Hurley (15, inj), K Buttimer for C Galvin (19), H McCarthy for G O’Mahony (43), K Crowley for A McCarthy (60).

Bantry Blues: S O’Sullivan; B O’Flynn, K McCarthy, K Coakley; C O’Shea, A Coakley, L O’Sullivan; L Coakley, Dempsey; S Bishop, E Murphy, M O’Sullivan; C O’Mahony, M Downey, R Murphy.

Subs: Z Barry for C O’Mahony (36), A Kingston for L Dempsey (45), E McCarthy for R Murphy (52), H Martin for J Coakley (55), A O’Sullivan L Coakley (59).

Referee: John O’Driscoll (Ilen Rovers).