By Martin Nally

Annaghdown (Galway) 1-12
O’Donovan Rossa (Cork) 1-9

A strong second half performance saw 2016 champions Annaghdown reach the AIB All-Ireland IFC club final after a hard-fought win over reigning champions O'Donovan Rossa at Cregg pitch in Annaghdown.

Left half back Bronagh Quinn struck a goal three minutes into the second half for the Galway champions and it proved the decisive score as her side held on for a memorable win.

There was little to choose between the sides in a first half where scores were at a premium. It was one of their heroes of that victorious 2016 team, Jemma Burke, who got the scoring underway with a fine point from play.

Cork minor Èabha O'Donovan levelled with a seventh minute free before points by Emma Keane and Riona Quinn put the Galway side two ahead. 

O'Donovan Rossa then hit five consecutive wides while Ciara Haverty converted a free for Annaghdown to leave it 0-4 to 0-1 with five minutes of the opening half remaining.

O'Donovan Rossa finished the half strongly as Fionnuala O’Driscoll struck their first point from play in the 26th minute before O'Donovan got her second of the afternoon.

However, Quinn's goal after the restart put the Connacht champions on the front foot with Quinn, Hegarty and Ciara McCarthy all adding points to stretch the home side's lead.

There was no doubt the reigning All-Ireland junior champions were rocked by Annaghdown’s fast start to the new half but their cause wasn't helped by their mounting wides. They ended with eleven wides in total.

Their captain Laura O'Mahony did get them up and running and the lively Fionnuala O'Droscoll chipped in with two points as the Skibereen club tried to claw their way back into contention.

Nonetheless, McCarthy added two brilliant points from play before Burke got her second of the day as the tie looked all but over.

However, points by O'Donovan and O’Driscoll along with an injury time Allie Tobin goal set up a grandstand finish but the Galway champions saw the game out to book their place in the decider against Bennekerry/Tinryland on Saturday, December 14.

Scorers – Annaghdown: B Quin 1-2, C McCarthy 0-3, C Hegarty 0-3 (2f), J Burke 0-2, E Keane, R Quinn, 0-1 each.

O’Donovan Rossa: É O'Donovan 0-5 (3f), F O'Driscoll 0-3, A Tobin (1-0), L O'Mahony 0-1.

Annaghdown: E Lynch; R Fahy, I Claffey, M Canavan; Chelsie Crowe, Chloe Crowe (capt.), B Quinn; S O’Grady, R Naughton; R Quinn, C Hegarty, J Burke; E Keane, C McCarthy, B Naughton. Subs: C O'Neill for B Naughton (33), I Killilea for R Naughton (35), C Nally for E Keane, (52).

O’Donovan Rossa: E Hayes; M Donnellan, A Whooley, A Tobin; F Leonard, S Hurley, E McCarthy; L O’Mahony (capt.), T Murphy; J Beechinor, K O’Donovan, L Harte; E O’Donovan, F O’Driscoll, M O’Neill. Subs: A O’Driscoll for M O’Neill, (37), S Farrell for E McCarthy, (42), E Byrne for J Beechinor, (52).

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow)

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