Compiled by Jackie Cahill

John Cleary’s Cork are through to a sixth successive All-Ireland Minor A Ladies Football Final – and they’ll meet Monaghan in the August 5 decider.

Cork, who won three-in-a-row from 2015-2017, avenged last year’s final defeat to Galway in a gripping semi-final at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, on Sunday, running out 3-13 to 1-13 winners.

Katie Quirke scored 1-7 and Fiona Keating contributed 1-4 in a player of the match display as both sides served up an excellent contest despite poor weather conditions at the Tipperary venue.

By the 17th minute, goals from Claudia Keane and Quirke had Cork 2-3 to 0-2 clear and in a commanding position.

Lorraine Meehan’s goal brought 2018 champions Galway back into contention and at half-time, the Westerners trailed by 1-6 to 2-8.

Cork settled again after the break and a quickfire 1-1 from Keating had them 3-11 to 1-13 clear with 11 minutes remaining.

Galway kept plugging away but Cork, with Keating and Quirke keeping the scoreboard ticking over, held out for a six-point win.

The Munster representatives will face Monaghan in the final – in what will be the first ever decider in this grade between the two counties.

Monaghan booked their place in a first All-Ireland Minor A Final in 20 years as they scored a 3-16 to 3-12 victory over Meath in Kingscourt.

Meath had an astonishing haul of 2-10 from senior star Emma Duggan but Monaghan’s Hannah Sherlock was in excellent form, collecting 1-5 on the day as the Ulster stars upped the ante in the second half.

Monaghan led from the start and had enough to hold off Meath in the second period.

Monaghan’s bright start had them 2-3 to 0-1 clear after ten minutes, the goals coming from Amy Garland and Aine Loughman.

Duggan netted as Meath made a real game of it but Sherlock converted a penalty goal to keep Monaghan in the ascendancy.

Duggan responded in kind with a penalty goal but Monaghan had crucial scores from Loughman and Lauren Garland, and they led by 3-6 to 2-6 at the break.

Monaghan appeared to be on their way to a comfortable win but late on, Susie O’Rourke’s goal breathed fresh life into the Meath challenge.

It was a nervy finish for Monaghan but they hung on to claim a final spot for the first time in two decades.

Scorers:

Cork: K. Quirke 1-7 (0-5f); F. Keating 1-4; C. Keane 1-0; J. Murphy 0-2.

Galway: L. Meehan 1-2 (0-2f); A. Trill 0-4f; A. O’Rourke 0-3; N. McPeake, S. Healy, M. Hynes and A. Morrissey 0-1 each.

Meath: Emma Duggan 2-10 (1 pen, 6F), Susie O’Rourke 1-0, Meadhbh Byrne and Seona Lynch 0-1 each.

Monaghan: Hannah Sherlock 1-5 (1 pen, 4F), Amy Garland 1-3, Aine Loughman 1-1, Jayne Drury 0-4, Lauren Garland, Aisling McAnespie & Michaela Linden 0-1 each.

Tweet

Most Read Stories