\n Cork 0-11 Roscommon 0-7\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Cork retained the ZuCar All-Ireland U18 A title at Glenisk O\u2019Connor Park, Tullamore, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Kieran O\u2019Shea and his management team deserve immense credit for building on the success of defeating Dublin in last year\u2019s decider.<\/p>\n
The Rebels carried that momentum all the way through the 2026 campaign, adding another provincial crown and a consecutive national title.<\/p>\n
Cork\u2019s 14th All-Ireland minor success owed much to their patient approach in a final dominated by massed defences as this competition incorporated the old GAA rules.<\/p>\n
![\"25](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5170255_1_articleinline_3521693.jpg\" "\\"25")
25 July 2026; Cork players celebrate with the trophy after their side’s victory in the LGFA ZuCar All-Ireland U18A Championship final match between Cork and Roscommon at Glenisk O\u2019Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Seb Daly\/Sportsfile<\/p>\n
As for Roscommon, playing in their first U18 A decider since 1991, the Connacht champions gave a fine account of themselves. Backed by a huge travelling support, the runners-up were unable to match Cork\u2019s scoring ability in a tense, tight matchup.<\/p>\n
Cork began with the aid of a strong wind but struggled to find their range by kicking three early wides. Placing thirteen players behind the ball, Roscommon set out their stall and looked to counter-attack whenever possible.<\/p>\n
The opening score arrived from one such breakaway as Isobel Kenny split the posts after 7 minutes. Cork\u2019s response was immediate as Caoimhe O\u2019Donnell got her team on the scoreboard shortly after.<\/p>\n
Dominating possession and territory, the Rebels remained patient until Lauren Finnegan fired over from distance. The Connacht champions levelled for a second time however, as Laura Glennon\u2019s free found the target.<\/p>\n
Cork\u2019s cause wasn\u2019t helped by Ellen Connolly\u2019s yellow card and temporary sin-binning for a high tackle on Glennon at the quarter-hour mark. Undeterred, Cork maintained their shape and moved 0-3 to 0-2 ahead once Laura Walsh won and converted a free.<\/p>\n
Yet, Kieran O\u2019Shea\u2019s side\u2019s inaccuracy, kicking seven wides in the opening half, ensured Roscommon remained in touch.<\/p>\n
![\"25](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5170258_1_articleinline_3521535.jpg\" "\\"25")
25 July 2026; R\u00f3is\u00edn N\u00ed Liath\u00e1in of Cork in action against Georgia Gerrity of Roscommon during the LGFA ZuCar All-Ireland U18A Championship final match between Cork and Roscommon at Glenisk O\u2019Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Seb Daly\/Sportsfile<\/p>\n
Aoife Creevy and Walsh (free) swapped scores before two consecutive blocks kickstarted a move that ended with Sarah O\u2019Connor extending her side\u2019s advantage. R\u00f3is\u00edn N\u00ed Liath\u00e1in, Cork\u2019s fifth different scorer, made it 0-6 to 0-3 courtesy of a fine curling effort to end the half.<\/p>\n
It was Roscommon\u2019s turn to enjoy the benefit of the wind at the beginning of the second period. Isobel Kenny took full advantage to fire over an excellent point following a flowing move.<\/p>\n
Cork\u2019s ability to win primary kick-out possession proved crucial and resulted in Laura Walsh floating over her third free.<\/p>\n
R\u00f3is\u00edn N\u00ed Liath\u00e1in evaded two defenders and scored to make it 0-8 to 0-4 after 40 minutes. The Naomh Ab\u00e1n player continued to shine and notched her third of the afternoon as Cork began to dominate.<\/p>\n
A converted Lauren Glennon free kept the Rossies in touch but their opponents\u2019 ability to remain patient in possession wore down the clock and the Connacht champions\u2019 resolve.<\/p>\n
Lauren Finnegan was fouled and her Mourneabbey club mate Laura Walsh made no mistake to edge Cork 0-10 to 0-5 clear with 10 minutes remaining.<\/p>\n
Another Walsh free heaped further misery on an overworked Roscommon defence before the latter broke from deep and forced Cork net-minder Rois\u00edn Duggan into a fine stop.<\/p>\n
Cork lost Caoimhe O\u2019Donnell to a yellow card and Laura Glennon capitalised, scoring two late points.<\/p>\n
It proved academic as Cork saw out the remaining time and claimed back-to-back All-Ireland minor titles.<\/p>\n
\n Scorers for Cork: L Walsh 0-5 f, R N\u00ed Liath\u00e1in 0-3, C O\u2019Donnell, L Finnegan, S O\u2019Connor 0-1 each.<\/p>\n
\n Roscommon: L Glennon (0-3 f) 0-4, I Kenny 0-2, A Creevy 0-1.<\/p>\n
\n CORK: R Duggan (Clonakilty); A Kelleher (Kinsale), A Collins (Nemo Rangers), M Barrett (Erin\u2019s Own); \u00c9 Walsh (Mourneabbey), A Coughlan (Aghada), C O\u2019Donnell (Kinsale); C N\u00ed Mhoch\u00e1in (Naomh Ab\u00e1n), S O\u2019Connor (Ballincollig); L Finnegan (Mourneabbey), L Walsh (captain, Mourneabbey), E Connolly (Castlehaven); A Devereaux (Youghal), L O\u2019Connor (Inch Rovers), R N\u00ed Liath\u00e1in (Naomh Ab\u00e1n).<\/p>\n
\n Subs: A Treacy (Glanmire) for L O\u2019Connor (41), \u00c1 Kearney (Kinsale) for A. Devereaux (49).<\/p>\n
\n ROSCOMMON: L Finneran; E Halpin, M Finneran, A McCormack; C Trautt, L McSharry, G Gerrity; S Jane O\u2019Connor, R Higgins; L Glennon, R Flynn, A Creevy; V Gannon, I Kenny, S McGrath (captain).<\/p>\n
\n Subs: S Meghan for R Flynn (39), A Nugent for I Kenny (43), A Rogers for V Gannon (52), C Mulryan for S McGrath (52).<\/p>\n
\n Referee: Eddie Cuthbert (Down).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cork 0-11 Roscommon 0-7\u00a0 Cork retained the ZuCar All-Ireland U18 A title at Glenisk O\u2019Connor Park, Tullamore, on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":568347,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[43268,42,43,40,38,41,39],"class_list":["post-568346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-ladies-football","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=568346"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568346\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/568347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=568346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=568346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=568346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}