WEST Cork LGFA’s representatives helped Cork capture the 2026 Munster U16A Championship title following victory over Kerry.

Banteer was the venue for last Sunday’s Munster LGFA U16 A final. A game played out amid humid conditions was locked at two points apiece before Isabelle O’Callaghan and Niamh O’Connor edged Cork 0-4 to 0-2 in front after 10 minutes.

An O’Callaghan goal extended the Rebels’ advantage and Cork continued to push forward and built a 2-7 to 0-3 interval lead after Shauna Keane raised another green flag.

Abbie Ni Scannlain, Niamh O’Connor and Maria Humphreys points ensured Ioannis O’Callaghan’s side enjoyed a commanding 10-point half-time advantage.

Unsurprisingly, Kerry upped the tempo in the second period. Aideen Dwyer split the posts and Casey Shanahan found the net to further reduce the deficit.

Four unanswered Shanahan points plus an additional Ellen Barry white flag made it 2-9 to 1-9 after 48 minutes as a rejuvenated Kerry enjoyed their most productive spell.

It took an Orla O’Brien goal to restore Cork’s superiority nine minutes from the end. Kerry replied with two late points but that wasn’t enough to prevent their opponents from registering a 3-9 to 1-11 win.

Shauna Keane (1-2), Niamh O’Connor (0-4), Isabelle O’Callaghan (1-1), Orla O’Brien (1-0), Abbie Ní Scannlain and Maria Humphreys (0-1 each) were on target for Cork.

‘We started like a freight train,’ Cork LGFA U16A manager Ioannis O’Connell informed The Southern Star.

‘We went after Kerry and built a strong half-time lead. The girls got some cracking scores, including Shauna Keane’s goal. Everyone knew Kerry would come at us in the second half. They certainly did and managed to cut our lead to three points at one stage.

‘A breakaway ended with us getting the ball to Orla O’Brien who fired it into the corner of the net. 

‘We never looked like losing the game. The girls showed great character and resilience, especially in the second half.

‘It was great to get over the line and I’m thrilled for the girls. We go again for an All-Ireland semi-final now in June.’

The West Cork LGFA representatives on this year’s Cork U16A Munster LGFA winning panel include Nell Kinsella (Kilmacabea), Aoife Harte, Aoife Walsh, Mairead Whelton (all Ibane Ladies), Ailbhe Byerley (Clonakilty), Aoife McCarthy, Roisin O’Sullivan (both Castlehaven) and Lucy Kelleher (Kinsale).

Claiming the 2026 Munster title is a fantastic achievement for a Cork U16A squad that awaits the outcome of Meath and Kildare’s upcoming Leinster final.

The winners of that provincial decider, scheduled for the May Bank Holiday weekend, will face Cork in this year’s All-Ireland U16A semi-final on Thursday, June 25th.

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The Cork U16Bs took on Tipperary in last Saturday’s Munster LGFA Sharon O’Keefe tournament final at Banteer.

Cork had the better of the opening exchanges and led 1-4 to 0-3 following Michaela Moynihan’s (Beara) goal just shy of the quarter-hour mark. Tipp hit back and levelled matters via a converted penalty before a Méabh Ní Chéilleachair point sent the Rebels in 1-5 to 1-4 ahead at the short whistle.

Another Moynihan goal pushed Cork 2-8 to 1-6 clear with a quarter of an hour remaining but that was Tipp’s cue to roar back into contention. Róisín Browne’s 1-1 left a point in it and although Cork rallied, an injury-time winner saw Tipp edge the result 2-10 to 2-9.

‘I am really proud of the whole squad and the way they represented the Cork jersey this year,’ Cork U16B manager John Callaghan said.

‘We just fell short in the Munster final against a fine Tipperary side. They kept coming back at us and got a few late scores to nudge ahead of us in injury-time. Congratulations to Tipperary, but we could not have asked anymore of our girls.’

West Cork and Beara’s representatives on this year’s Cork U16B panel include Niamh Doyle, Kate Collins (Ibane Ladies), Michaela O’Sullivan (Beara), Sally McAuley (Clonakilty), Kate O’Mahony (Bandon) and Grace O’Sullivan (Tadhg MacCárthaigh).

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The Cork minors returned to action with a Munster LGFA Championship victory away to Tipperary last Saturday.

Leading by five points at the break, the Rebels registered their fourth victory in as many round-robin championship outings thanks to a 1-16 to 0-5 success. That outcome qualified Cork for this year’s Munster final, on May 9th, with a game to spare.

Lauren Finnegan, Roisín Ní Liatháin, Laura Walsh (0-4 each), Sarah O’Connor (1-0), Autumn Deveraux (0-2), Lauren O’Connor and Katie Murphy (0-1 each) scored for the winners.

‘We were a bit flat in the first half probably due to not having played a championship match within the last seven weeks,’ Cork LGFA minor manager Kieran O’Shea said.

‘It felt like we were starting out all over again. Our players are involved in a lot of other activities at the moment for their particular age group.

‘They are out training and playing five or six nights a week and it is hard to manage that. We have had 15 injuries since the Kerry match, which was seven weeks ago.

‘Our performance levels were a lot better in the second half, where we kept Tipperary scoreless. That was pleasing. We have Limerick next Saturday and there is a very competitive squad still fighting for places.’

Ellen Connolly (Castlehaven), Katie Murphy (Rosscarbery Ladies), Evelyn McCarthy (Bandon), Róisín Duggan (Clonakilty), Caoimhe Foley (Courcey Rovers), Hannah Deasy, Caoimhe O’Donnell, Áine Kearney and Anna Kelleher (all Kinsale) are West Cork’s players on the Cork minor panel.