All square in thrilling U16 All-Ireland final

All-Ireland U16 'A' Championship final

Cavan 1-9

Cork 0-12

Aideen Coyle

Ulster champions Cavan took on last year’s beaten All Ireland finalists Cork with their eyes set on winning the county’s first U16 ‘A’ title since 1977. Manager Mick Flynn is no stranger to All-Ireland glory having previously led Cavan U14s to the top prize in 2015 and 2018. Cavan advanced to the final after a two-goal victory over Mayo while the Munster champions had a one-point victory over holders Dublin.

The two sides served up a thriller last Sunday in Bretland Park, Clara, Co Offaly with a draw a fair result on the day. Cork were the more clinical side in the opening half with leading scorer Eabha O’Donovan firing them to a three-point lead at the break. However, Cavan came out fighting in the second half and a Kate Fegan strike late in the tie looked to have given Cavan the win but a late equaliser from the Cork girls forced a replay.

Cavan started the game with the opening score, a point from Mia Lynch after an excellent pass from Clodagh Clarke. With the game in the early stages there were shouts for a penalty from the large Cavan crowd after a foul on Kate Fegan but match referee Paul McCaughey waved play on. Cork responded with the equaliser in the fifth minute from full-forward Laura Walsh. Cavan were forced into an early change as Ciara Hegarty left the field of play after picking up an injury with Kaitlyn Cahill taking her place.

It took 11 minutes for the next score of the game which came from the boot of Laura Walsh as Cork began to find their rhythm. The Rebels kicked three more on the bounce from Eabha O’Donovan (two) and Eabha Nagle to take a four-point lead with five minutes left in the half.

The deficit could have been greater but for an outstanding block from full-back Cora McDonnell on Cork’s Eabha Nagle who had the only goal chance of the half. Cavan’s sole scorer of the half, Lynch, pointed a double as O’Donovan converted a free to leave the Munster champions ahead by three at the break, 0-6 to 0-3

Cavan started the second half with intent and two points from Cavan Gaels girl Katie O’Meara had the minimum between the sides with seven minutes gone. O’Meara’s opening score came straight from the throw-in won by the excellent midfield duo of Emilia Mussi and Lauren Miney.

Cork’s Walsh opened her side’s second-half account moments later before Lynch pointed another free after a foul on Caitlin Crowe who made a superb driving run up the field. At the other end, a vital block from captain Reilly denied a certain score from Catherine Murphy.

Two more points from sharpshooter O’Donovan left Cork 0-10 to 0-7 ahead with five minutes of normal time remaining. Cavan never gave up and a sixth point from the reliable Lynch after Kristina Grigorenko intercepted Nagle ended a 12-minute scoreless spell for the Breffni girls to set up an exciting conclusion.

Goal chances were hard to come by for both sides but a moment of magic from Mullahoran’s Kate Fegan stole the headlines. An excellent ball in from Clodagh Clarke found Fegan on the 40 with a sea of red in front of her.

Fegan glided through the Cork defence before calmly hitting the bottom corner of the net to put Cavan ahead by one.

The large crowd erupted but the celebrations were short lived as O’Donovan levelled matters moments later. With the tie in injury time, Ella Sheridan made no mistake, converting a close-range free for Cavan.

However, there was time for one more attack. Cork’s Maisie McRea won the kick-out and O’Donovan pointed her eighth of the game to leave the sides level at the final whistle of a terrific final.

The replay is fixed for Friday July 28, details TBC.

Cavan: Fainche Higgins, Ciara Hegarty, Cora McDonnell, Kristina Grigorenko, Ailbhe Kennedy, Katie Mai Reilly (C), Caitlin Crowe, Emilia Mussi, Lauren Miney, Ruby Gilmartin, Ella Sheridan (0-01, 1f), Kate Fegan (1-00), Mia Lynch (0-06, 3f), Clodagh Clarke, Katie O’Meara (0-02)

Subs: Niamh McCaffrey for R. Gilmartin, Holly McPhillips for K. Fegan

Cork: Andrea Toye, Eimear Walsh, Ally Tobin, Aisling O’Sullivan (capt), Rachel Breen, Maisie McRea, Megan Barrett, Johanna Foskin, Kate McEntee, Catherine Murphy, Eabha O’Donovan (0-08, 4f) Caoimhe Horgan (0-01), Eabha Nagle, Laura Walsh (0-03, 1f) Kate Carey

Subs: E. Burns for c. Horgan, A. Sheehan for E. Nagle, K. Ferns for C. Murphy and S. Barry for A. O’Sullivan

Ref: Paul McCaughey