Glanmire and Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins get proceedings underway at Croke Park on Saturday in the 2023 currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship final.
Both teams are appearing in their first Intermediate deciders. However, Cork club Glanmire know what it’s like to win an All-Ireland title, having been crowned junior winners in 2018.
That 1-22 to 3-11 victory over Sligo’s Tourlestrane was a memorable day in Glanmire’s history. Five-years-on, they have the chance to win the Intermediate crown and on the hallowed Croke Park sod.
Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins will fly the flag for Leitrim. Ballinamore are just the second club from the county to contest an All-Ireland decider. Back in 1997, Aughawillan appeared in a Junior Final but Kerry’s Beaufort got the better of them on the day.
While Cork clubs have won Junior, Intermediate and Senior All-Ireland club titles, victory for Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins would be history in the making for Leitrim.
An intriguing fixture lies in store between two clubs who had to battle hard in their respective semi-finals.
Ballinamore needed a late, late show, including a dramatic winning goal from Aoibheann Flynn, to secure a 1-10 to 1-8 victory over Derry’s Steelstown Brian Ógs.
In their semi-final, Glanmire secured a 1-7 to 0-6 victory over Meath opponents Na Fianna to book their place in the final. Orlaith Roche leading the way in the scoring charts with a 1-2 haul.
The last Cork club to contest an All-Ireland Intermediate Final was Kinsale back in 2017. Dunboyne getting the better of Kinsale. While you have to go back to 2007 to find the last Cork team to win this competition. Mourneabbey beating Derry side Glen in the final.
Cork with good footballing history
Mourneabbey, of course, went on to achieve huge success too at senior level and that is the potential pathway that can open up for clubs successful in the junior and Intermediate ranks who make the step up.
Other Cork winners of the Intermediate title were Inch Rovers (2006), Naomh Abán (2003), Rockbán (2002) and Rockchapel in 2000.
In what is the first of two Munster v Connacht All-Ireland finals on Saturday, Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins will aim to bring the Intermediate crown back to the Western province for the first time since Galway’s Annaghdown were victorious in 2016.
Ballinamore captured the county Senior B title with victory over St Mary’s and then progressed successfully through Connacht, defeating Mayo’s MacHale Rovers before getting the better of Sligo’s Eoghan Rua in the Final.
Róisín McHugh, The Croke Park/LGFA Player of the Month award winner for November, claiming the Player of the Match award. McHugh was in excellent scoring form again in the All-Ireland semi-final, notching 0-8. However, it was Flynn’s late heroics that made national headlines.
Glanmire, meanwhile, beat Naomh Abán in the Cork Final before they landed the Munster title with a gritty Final victory over Limerick opponents Monagea. Glanmire had beaten Tipperary’s Boherlahan-Dualla at the semi-final stage.
They had to work hard in London against Tir Chonaill Gaels in the All-Ireland quarter-final, before latterly seeing off Na Fianna in Mallow.
Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins: L Flynn; D McGourty, A Sweeney, E Honeyman; L Maguire, M Murphy, G Prior (c); M McGovern, C O’Dowd, L O’Dowd, R McHugh, L Moran; A Flynn, S McLoughlin, L Murphy.
Glanmire: A Carey; E Dillon, M Barry, K O’Connor; C O’Donovan, Ellen Twomey (capt.), A Fitzgerald; A M’Mahony, E Murphy; A McCarthy, N McAllen, A McCarthy; Evie Twomey, O Roche, M Dullea.
Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins (Leitrim) v Glanmire (Cork)
2023 currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final
Croke Park
Saturday December 16, 3pm
