All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship final now the focus for Glanmire

Glanmire (Cork) 1-7 Na Fianna (Meath) 0-6

Glanmire will contest the 2023 currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship final after defeating Na Fianna at the Mallow GAA Sports Complex on Sunday.

Both sides struggled throughout the opening half and Na Fianna’s Leah Devine’s converted free was the only score of the opening 10 minutes after both teams wasted several chances.

Michelle Dullea brought parity with a free, before Kerrie Cole made space and fired over a terrific score to edge Na Fianna back in front.

The Cork and Munster champions’ attempts to seize control were thwarted by repeated turnovers and their opponents took advantage. Maire Kirby and Meabh Downey (free) made it 0-4 to 0-1 prior to another Michelle Dullea free bringing the curtain down on a disappointing first half.

SECOND HALF COMEBACK

Glanmire, trailing by 0-4 to 0-2 at the break, were a team transformed immediately after the restart. Substitute Riona Crowley made an instant impact by splitting the posts, before Orlaith Roche did likewise a minute later.

Roche went one better shortly after, slicing through the Na Fianna defence to net a fantastic goal and make it 1-4 to 0-4.

Abbie O’Mahony extended Glanmire’s advantage prior to Riona Crowley converting a free as Na

Fianna struggled to get out of their own half.

Leah Devine kicked over two late frees either side of another Roche point, but it proved academic as Glanmire held on to win by 1-7 to 0-6 and will now meet Ballinamore Seán O’Heslins from Leitrim in the final at Croke Park on Saturday, 16 December (3pm). Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins defeated Steelstown Brian Ógs by 1-10 to 1-8.

Glanmire: A Carey; A Fitzgerald, M Barry, K O’Connor; C O’Donovan, Ellen Twomey (captain), E Dillon; A O’Mahony 0-1, E Murphy; Ally McCarthy, N McAllen, Ava McCarthy; Evie Twomey, O Roche 1-2, M Dullea 0-2 (0-1f). Subs: R Crowley (0-2 – 0-1f) for N McAllen (h-t), L Greene for M Dullea (46), M Sheehan for C O’Donovan (53), C Murphy for Ava McCarthy (58), A

Lehane for Ally McCarthy (60).

Ref was Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).

(Photo: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile) The Glanmire team before the Currentaccount.ie LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship semi-final match versus Na Fianna, Meath, at Mallow GAA Grounds on Sunday.

Sportsfile) (Photo: Eóin Noonan/ Glanmire manager, Vincy Barry, during the Currentaccount.ie LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship semi-final match versus Na Fianna, Meath in Mallow.