THIS WEEKEND COULD potentially be an incredible one for three Cork ladies football clubs who are contesting All-Ireland finals.
Aghada will kick off proceedings on Saturday as the go into battle against Monaghan side Corduff in the All-Ireland junior decider. [Throw-in, 2pm Crettyard]
Sunday will see Kinsale face Dunboyne of Meath in the intermediate final[Throw-in, 1.45] followed by the senior final between Mourneabbey and Mayo champions Carnacon. [Throw-in 3.45]
Both of those fixtures will take place in Parnell Park in Dublin.
All three sides will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Cork clubs Donoughmore (senior), Naomh Abán (intermediate) the and Gabriel Rangers (junior) whose combined victories produced a clean sweep of All-Ireland victories for the county in 2003.
Aghada won their first county championship title this year, which was followed by a first Munster crown and indeed, a first appearance in an All-Ireland final.
Kinsale contested the 2016 All-Ireland Junior final, where they lost out to Dublin side St Maur’s.
They will be looking to impressive Cork forward Orla Finn for scoring power on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Mourneabbey have previously featured in the 2014 and 2015 senior finals where they suffered defeats against Donegal’s Termon and Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) respectively.
They fell at the All-Ireland semi-final hurdle last year and will be hoping to avenge that hurt against five-time All-Ireland champions Carnacon.
They also carry the memory of club stalwart Ted Linehan, who passed away recently following a kayaking accident.
Speaking in a video published on Ladies Football TV, Timmy O’Callaghan of Mourneabbey said:
“The place was in a bad place and at a low ebb before the semi-final, we buried him the week of the semi-final. We’re hoping next Sunday will be the start of a healing process and getting over the absolute shock that Ted’s loss was to us.
“He’s closely related to eight players on the team and he’s gone and we’re hoping that he might look down on us and give us a helping hand on Sunday. Certainly the players will be out there doing their very best for him.”
The video, composed by Denis Vahey on behalf of the LGFA, also features interviews with Seán O’Callaghan of the Kinsale and Aghada’s Barry Moran explaining their own club’s journey to the All-Ireland final.
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