All-Ireland U14 Platinum final
Cork 5-9
Galway 2-13
(After extra time)
By Anthony Newman
Cork were crowned All-Ireland U14 Platinum final winners after a thrilling decider which went to extra-time at Nenagh Éire Óg GAA Club.
In a game that was close all through it took a late goal from Nell Kinsella to separate the sides after a great game.
It is Cork’s first win at this level since 2019 as they dethroned the defending champions.
Galway took the lead in the first minute when Siun Cullinane scored from a free as the title-holders were quick to settle.
They doubled their lead, this time Katie Brogan scoring from a free, to make it 0-2 to no score after four minutes.
Cork’s first real chance came after 12 minutes when Nell Kinsella played a long free in, which was caught by Kate O’Connell. She turned to shoot but her effort was well saved by Natalie Ni Churraoin.
It took until the 18th minute for the first score from play to arrive, with Sorcha Keane on target for Galway to increase their lead further.
Cork got off the mark after 22 minutes when Kinsella pointed, to make it 0-3 to 0-1.
The width of the bar denied Cork a goal after Laura O’Mullane beat several players but her effort hit the crossbar and the danger was cleared.
Kinsella got Cork’s second point with Torai O’Flynn replying at the other end, before Cork got a goal.
Just before half-time Grace O’Sullivan picked up the ball and beat several defenders before playing Kate O’Connell in to give Ni Churraoin no chance of saving.
This was the last score before the break as Cork led by 1-2 to 0-4 at half time.
Cork were quick off the mark in the second half when Kinsella was on target again, but Galway’s reply was significant as Ellie Harty O’Brien blasted to the back of the net to put her side back in front at 1-4 to 1-3.
Isabella Brosnan had the sides level again, before points from Brogan and Harty O’Brien put Galway two to the good.
They made it a three point lead when O’Flynn was on target again, before Cork were back on level terms.
A quick free from Kinsella found O’Connell and she scored her, and Cork’s second goal to make it 2-4 to 1-7.
With 42 minutes played Cork went in front when Kinsella scored but the lead didn’t last long, with Cullinane replying from a free for Galway.
Another from Kinsella restored Cork’s lead, to make it 2-6 to 1-8 after 47 minutes.
Again Galway hit back with Brogan pointing from another free to level it again.
Kinsella put Cork back in front again, to make it 2-7 to 1-9 with 52 minutes gone.
A good Cork move, involving O’Connell and Aoife Harte, set up Maria Humphreys to extend their lead to two, with five minutes to go.
But two late pointed frees from Mairead Mulkerrins saw the game go to extra time.
Kinsella got the first score in extra time, but Galway took a grip on the game when Alana Glynn drove forward to get their second goal, to make it 2-11 to 2-9.
Mulkerrins added a point from a free to put three between the sides, but Cork hit back.
A superb shot from Laura O’Mullane found the top corner for Cork’s third goal, to level it again, 3-9 to 2-12.
Another great run from Kinsella helped put Cork back in front as she played Fia Comerford in to score their fourth goal, 4-9 to 2-12.
A Mulkerrins free made it a two point game with four minutes left in extra time.
Again Kinsella replied for Cork with a thunderous shot to the back of the net, to make it 5-9 to 2-13.
That proved to be the final score as Cork ran out deserving winners after a top-class game.
Scorers – Cork: N Kinsella 1-7 (3f), K O’Connell 2-0, F Comerford, L O’Mullane 1-0 each, M Humphreys, I Brosnan 0-1 each.
Galway: E Harty O’Brien 1-1, M Mulkerrins 0-4 (4f), K Brogan 0-3 (3f), S Cullinane (1f), T O’Flynn 0-2 each, S Keane 0-1.
CORK: M.K. Hannon; C Ambrose, A McCarthy, S Erangey; G O’Sullivan, A Walsh, L Mylod; A O’Mullane, N Doyle; O Murphy, N Kinsella, I Brosnan; K O’Connell, L O’Mullane, A Harte. Subs used: F Comerford, M Moynihan, M Humphreys, M Allen, M Lawlor, L Howard, A Ni Scannlain, K Collins, T Browne.
GALWAY: N Ní Churraoin; K Jennings, A McCormack, A Feeney; A Glynn, T O’Flynn, C Lipscombe; K McNulty, C Osborne; C Flanagan, K Brogan, E Harty-O’Brien; S Keane, S Cullinane, L Casserly. Subs used: M Mulkerrins A Devine, A Gallagher, L Claxton-Rock, K O’Malley, E O’Donnell, R Byrnes-Humber, E Trayers.
Referee: Angela Gallagher (Dublin).
All-Ireland U-14 Silver final
Tipperary 3-8
Cavan 1-5
By Deniese O’Flaherty
Tipperary are the All-Ireland U14 Silver champions after defeating Cavan at Kinnegad GAA Grounds.
The Premier County took the game to Cavan right from the start and were the hungrier side throughout.
Tipperary dominated early proceedings and raced into a five point lead after 18 minutes of play, with Faye O’Dwyer (one free) and Roisin Browne getting two points each. Browne also forced Cavan keeper Caitlin Nolan into making a point blank save in the 18th minute.
Cavan got their opening score in the 21st minute, Pearl Gilmartin with a point. In the 25th minute Tipp’s Farrah Madigan took a shot from distance that ended up in the back of the net. Minutes later Madigan hit the crossbar with a powerful effort.
The Breffni County were back in the game just before half-time; Gilmartin pointed a free before Laila Cooney was fouled and a penalty was awarded. Cooney took the resulting kick and made no mistake to cut the deficit to three 1-5 to 1-2.
Tipp made the perfect start to the second half, with two minutes gone on the clock they got their second goal. Substitutes Anna Leahy and Klaudia Compa combined with Compa finishing to the net, she followed up with a point. In the 34th minute Tipp raised the green flag again through O’Dwyer.
In the 37th minute Riona Crowe’s effort was just inches away from getting a second goal for Cavan. They got their first point of the half in the 42nd minute through substitute Elsie McEvoy. Gilmartin (free) and another sub Katie Hughes followed up with much needed points for the Ulster county. They had chances after that but kicked wides after being put under pressure by the Tipp defence.
After 22 minutes without a point Compa kicked over a neat point in the 56th minute. Leahy sealed the win with a point near the end.
Scorers – Tipperary: K Compa 1-2, F O’Dywer 1-2 (1f), F Madigan 1-1, R Browne 0-2, A Leahy 0-1;
Cavan: L Cooney (1-0 pen), P Gilmartin 0-3 (2fs), E McEvoy, K Hughes 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: M Cummins; A Mason, M Grey, N Dunphy; L O’Connell, M Lonergan, P Marcinek; G-Mai Barrett, H Murphy; F O’Dwyer, F Madigan, R Browne; C Dennehy, S O’Sullivan, S Nugent. Subs used: K Compa, A Leahy, N Hyland, K Browne-Souza, E O’Shea, M Cody.
CAVAN: C Nolan; E Gilsenan, N McKenna, A Leddy; I Wynne, A Ford Peat, C Rudden; S Lyons, R Crowe; A O’Reilly, F Caffrey, L Cooney; P Gilmartin, A Harney, S McNulty. Subs used: E McEvoy, L Cosgrove, K Hughes, I Murphy, K McEnroe, L McDaid, L Ferguson
Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork).
All-Ireland U-14 Gold final
Dublin 4-6
Kerry 1-12
By Anthony Newman
Dublin were crowned All-Ireland U14 Gold champions thanks to a hard-earned win over Kerry at Nenagh Éire Óg GAA Club.
Three early second-half goals in an eight-minute spell turned the game in their favour and they never looked back as they took the title for the first time since 2007.
Both sides had some impressive displays with Kasey Deegan outstanding for the winners as she led by example from start to finish.
Kerry had the first real chance when Aoibhinn O’Driscoll’s shot was well saved by Lucy Bourke.
With five minutes gone they did find the back of the net when Emma O’Connor’s hit off the crossbar before bouncing into the net.
O’Connor added a point before Dublin had their first real chance when a shot from Deegan was well blocked by Anna Mangan as she was through on goal.
Dublin got off the mark after 10 minutes when Maisy Healy scored, with Holly Costelloe replying from a free at the other end.
Deegan got Dublin’s second point from a free before they were back on level terms.
A great team move, involving Ella Mae Burns and Ruby Cosgrove, put Deegan in to score a goal, making it 1-2 each after 16 minutes.
A free from Edie Corkery put Kerry back in front and Costelloe also pointed from another free, to make it 1-4 to 1-2, with 25 minutes played.
Neither side added to their tally as the Kingdom led by two points at half-time.
Just 30 seconds into the second half and Dublin were in front. Deegan picked up the ball and played a superb pass to Cosgrove as she scored their second goal to make it 2-2 to 1-4.
Healy added a point from the restart as Dublin started the second half much the better of the two sides.
Just four minutes in and they had their third goal, when Deegan found the back of the net again. Another soon followed from substitute Ellen Stafford, who was not long on the pitch, to make it 4-3 to 1-4.
Nessa Kirby pulled a point back for Kerry from a free, with Heidi McDonnell replying at the other end for Dublin.
Stafford added a point to her goal as Dublin were now playing some great football. Kirby and Stafford exchanged scores to make it 4-6 to 1-6 after 47 minutes.
Kirby pointed another free for Kerry as they finished strongly to narrow the gap. Two more from her, along with a point from Nicole Twiss, made it 4-6 to 1-11.
Anna Lenihan reduced the deficit further, but time ran out as Dublin ran out deserving winners.
Scorers – Dublin: K Deegan 2-1 (1f), E Stafford 1-2 (1f), R Cosgrove 1-0, M Healy 0-2 H McDonnell 0-1.
Kerry: E O’Connor 1-1, N Kirby 0-5 (5f), H Costelloe 0-2 (2f), E Corkery, D Sheahan, N Twiss, A Lenihan 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: L Bourke; S Leaney, M Conlon, M O’Keeffe; T Cowap, F Bolger, B Collins; S Malone, R Haran; M Healy, E Murphy, E.M. Burns; H McDonnell, K Deegan, R Cosgrove. Subs used: E Stafford, C Gorman, A Le Blanc, A Doherty, R Byrne, S Winkless, Z Caulfield, A O’Dea, V Wilserhun, E Ryan.
KERRY: E Lynch; A McNamara Moore; A Mangan, H Mulvihill; A Duffy, D O’Sullivan, L Keane; E Barry, H Costelloe; E O’Connor, E McCarthy, C Coffey; A O’Sullivan, A O’Driscoll, E Corkery. Subs used: S Slattery, N Kirby, D Sheahan, R Reidy, A Lenihan, N Twiss.
Referee: Declan Carolan, Down.
All-Ireland U-14 Bronze final
Armagh 3-10
Limerick 3-8
By Deniese O’Flaherty
Armagh claimed the All-Ireland U14 Bronze Championship title with a two point win over Limerick in an entertaining tie in Kinnegad.
The Orchard County made up for loss in the Gold final last year to overcame a gallant Limerick side.
Limerick created a goal chance inside the opening minute but Ciara McCarthy shot wide.
Grace Stewart got Armagh’s opening point in the second minute. Armagh keeper Niamh Jordan made a fine save from Eve Egan in the sixth minute.
Armagh got their second point in the ninth minute. Limerick had to wait until the 18th minute before they got their first score on the board; Emma Halley with a pointed free.
Gemma Marsden and Halley traded points before Ciara O’Reilly found the back of the net for the Orchard County in the 19th minute.
Stewart’s effort came off the butt of the post minutes later as Armagh went in search of further scores. Halley got her third point in the 25th minute to cut the gap to three points. A point from sub Pippa Mooney saw Armagh lead 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.
It was a one point game in the 32nd minute when substitute Eavan Lyons scored a fantastic goal. Eve Egan levelled matters two minutes later. In the 36th minute Limerick took the lead for the first time. It didn’t last long and 1-1 in the space of one minute saw Armagh in front again by three, with sub Alex Quinn getting the goal.
Jordan pulled off an excellent save in the 41st minute to deny Egan. In the 46th minute Armagh stretched their lead to seven points. Limerick, though, battled back and a goal from Halley in the 47th minute cut the deficit to four. Marsden replied with a point for Armagh before Halley palmed the ball to the net in the 50th minute to leave just two between the sides.
It was end to end stuff in the closing stages. In the 55th minute O’Reilly grabbed her second and Armagh’s third goal. Limerick got late points but Armagh held on for the win.
Scorers – Armagh: C O’Reilly 2-2, A Quinn 1-1, G Marsden 0-3, G Stewart 0-2, P Mooney, M Campbell 0-1 each.
Limerick: E Halley 2-4 (1f), E Lyons 1-1, E Egan 0-2, L Collins 0-1
ARMAGH: N Jordan; L Woods, S Lavery, J Donnelly; C Moriarty, A Reid, L Egan; A Coleman, E McCormack; G Stewart, G Marsden, M Campbell; K Cumiskey, C O’Reilly, A O’Neill. Subs used: P Mooney, M Campbell, A Quinn, C McElvanna, C Fegan, A Ormsby.
LIMERICK: E Culhane; E Dowling, C Bresnan, L Healy; M Kitson, K Riall, C Youta; K Williams, S Hanley; C McCarthy, M Conneely, L Stokes; E Egan, E Halley, S Lynch. Subs used: L Healy, L Collins, J Frawley, E Lyons, M O’Brien, N Reidy, A Carr, A McDonnell, A McNamara.
Referee: Anthony Campbell (Derry).
