DOHENYS GAA will pull out all the stops as the club hosts a Munster LGFA junior semi-final against Kerry champions Cromane this Saturday.
The Dunmanway team, fresh from winning the Cork junior A title, jumped the first hurdle in Munster last weekend when they defeated Limerick champions Fr Casey’s – and the reward is a home semi-final on Saturday (2pm).
It promises to be a huge occasion for the club, its supporters and the town of Dunmanway.
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‘Everyone we meet is wishing us well and there are flags and bunting up around the town,’ Dohenys' mentor Miriam Forbes told The Southern Star.
‘We had brilliant support in Abbeyfeale last weekend considering it is a four-hour round trip. The fact we have earned a home semi-final is fantastic.
‘It will give us a chance to showcase Dohenys ladies football. These opportunities don’t come around all that often so we want to make the most of what is going to be a big occasion.’
Against Fr Casey’s last Sunday afternoon, scores from Melissa Duggan, Ciara Galvin and Ava O’Donovan had Dohenys one point clear before Fr Casey’s netted a 13th-minute goal to lead 1-2 to 0-3.
Abbie McCarthy, Rachel McCarthy and Ava O’Donovan (free) scores helped the Cork junior A county champions build a narrow 0-7 to 1-3 interval lead.
The Dunmanway side moved four clear when Cork inter-county star Melissa Duggan punched the ball into the net two minutes after the restart.
When Fr Casey’s were temporarily reduced to 14 players after a yellow card offence, their opponents took full advantage. Mairead Crowley missed a goal chance before Rachel McCarthy sealed a famous 2-13 to 1-8 Dohenys victory by raising a second Dohenys green flag three minutes from the end.
Ava O’Donovan (0-7), Rachel McCarthy (1-2), Melissa Duggan (1-1), Ciara Galvin, Abby McCarthy, Kellie Ann Buttimer (0-1 each) all scored in a fantastic Dohenys’ win.
‘It’s great to be competing in a provincial competition as it’s uncharted territory for us because it’s the club’s first time fielding a team in Munster,’ Miriam Forbes added.
‘Our goal at the start of the year was to win the Cork junior A county because we just were so disappointed with our performance in last year’s final against Midleton.
‘We knew we were better than that. We just didn’t show it on the day. So, this year, we had a point to prove to ourselves, and our supporters as well, that we can play better than that.'
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The Naomh Abán juggernaut shows no sign of slowing down either following the Ballyvourney club’s terrific Munster LGFA intermediate quarter-final defeat of Waterford’s St Anne’s at Kill GAA grounds on Sunday.
Playing into a strong wind, the concession of an early goal did not derail Naomh Abán’s ambitions.
An early Lydia McDonagh point was added to by a thunderous Annie Maher finish into the top corner before the Cork champions changed ends 1-6 to 1-3 in front.
Roisín Ní Liathain, Lydia McDonagh and Annie Maher kept the scoreboard ticking over throughout the final quarter as Naomh Abán ran out convincing 3-18 to 1-5 winners.
Lydia McDonagh top scored for the winners with 1-8 on an afternoon Annie Maher added 1-2. Grace Murphy (0-4), Roisín Ní Liathain (0-3), Rosie Corkery (1-0) and Clíona Vaughan (0-1) completed the Ballyvourney club’s tally.
Tipperary’s Moycarkey Borris overcame Limerick’s St Ailbe’s 4-8 to 1-14 in last weekend’s other provincial intermediate quarter-final. Naomh Abán will visit Moycarkey Borris this Sunday (3pm) with a place in the Munster IFC decider on the line.
‘Goals win games, that’s an old statement but it’s a fact,’ Naomh Abán manager Noel McDonagh said.
‘It was great to get them today and we’re beginning to find a bit of a rhythm now.
‘Annie (Maher) got a great goal early on. In the second half, the other two goals came late in so they weren’t as important but, obviously, that early goal was the key to the game.
‘It actually settled down the team a lot once that goal went. We really kicked on from there.’
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Last weekend saw the Cork LGFA senior A and B champions, Éire Óg and Glanmire, on the road in their respective Munster LGFA championship quarter-finals.
There was disappointment for Éire Óg, who, despite a valiant effort, went down 1-12 to 2-5 after extra-time away to Waterford champions Comeragh Rangers.
Amid difficult conditions at Molleran’s GAA grounds, a low scoring opening half ended with the sides tied 0-4 apiece.
Rangers, with the benefit of the wind, moved 0-8 to 0-4 ahead before an Éire Óg goal brought the Cork side back into contention. It ended 0-8 to 1-5 ahead of extra-time where Comeragh again moved clear only for a second Éire Óg goal to keep Peter McGoldrick’s side in the game.
It took a Geraldine Power green flag to finally break the Leesiders' resolve however, as the only score of the second period of extra-time won it for the Waterford champions.
Sadbh McGoldrick (1-1), Shauna Cronin (1-0), Laura Cleary, Emma Cleary (0-2 each) and Orlaith Cahalane (0-1) were on target for a battling Éire Óg.
There was better news in Cahir where Glanmire got the better of the home team in the Munster LGFA senior B quarter-finals, emerging deserving 2-12 to 2-8 winners.

