Cork beat Kerry in opening Munster SHL

Cork score facile win over Kerry to open Munster League campaign

Report By Therese O’Callaghan for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Cork 1-27 – 0-11 Kerry

The first game on Kieran Kingston’s return as Cork senior hurling manager was a victorious one at bitterly cold and sometimes wet Mallow tonight.

Youth and experience proved to be a winning combination as they gradually pulled away to see off their neighbours Kerry in the first round of the Co-Op Superstores Munster hurling league.

The straight-forward, and expected, victory in front of 250 spectators sets them up nicely for their final group game away to Waterford Sunday week.

When these two counties met last year in this competition, it resulted in a rare win for the Kingdom. However, there was never any hope of that being repeated.

The more familiar Rebel names of Shane Kingston, Luke Meade, Tim O’Mahony, Seán O’Donoghue and Damien Cahalane successfully backboned Kingston’s side – the manager made one change from the team announced earlier in the day with Shane Kingston replacing Conor Lehane.

Shane Kingston, Sean Twomey, Chris O’Leary, Robbie O’Flynn and Michael O’Halloran all rowed in in the point-taking stakes, while Ryan Walsh secured the only goal of the game six minutes into the second half.

Boss Kingston was obviously delighted with the result, and the overall display.

“We are happy, we had a very young team tonight, some of the lads who are not on our panel but were in for the night. We would have to be happy with their commitment and their attitude. They were trying to do the right thing which is all we can ask for.

“We scored 1-27 and had about 20 wides on top of that. We are a bit rusty. We are only back training a few weeks. We have a lot of gym work done, not a lot of hurling. From that point of view, you would have to be happy with a number of fellas who put their hand up tonight.”

Cork led 0-15 to 0-7 at the interval but they also shot 10 wides to Kerry’s seven. The visitors went toe-to-toe with the hosts for the first quarter, Kingston and Robbie O’Flynn were sharp for Cork while Shane Conway was the pick of the Kerry forwards

Twice Cork came near to goal on the run up to half-time, but Kerry custodian Martin Stackpoole denied Kingston both times. At the other end, Sean O’Donoghue did well to avert the danger near his goalmouth area.

Cork put some distance between the teams approaching the break. Sean Twomey rifling over a brace from distance and O’Flynn landing his third point to give the Rebels a half time lead of eight points.

It was Kerry’s turn to be wasteful in the second half as Cork piled on the pressure. They moved 0-16 to 0-7 ahead before Walsh got through for goal six minutes after the restart. Kerry only added another four points which was testament to a solid Cork rearguard that was headed up by O’Donoghue, O’Leary and Cahalane.

Both sides called in their replacements in the second half. And there was no let up from the winners with Cork’s Mark Coleman also getting in on the scoring act.

Scorers for Cork: S Kingston ( 0-5, 0-1 free), R Walsh (1-2), S Twomey, C O’Leary (0-2 frees) and R O’Flynn( 0-4 each), M O’Halloran (0-3), B Turnbull, M Coleman (0-1 free) (0-2 each), D Cahalane (0-1).

Scorers for Kerry: S Conway 0-7 (0-4 frees), S Nolan, D Collins, G Dooley and D O’Donoghue (0-1 each).

Cork: P Collins; D Lowney, E Murphy, S O’Donoghue; C O’Leary, T O’Mahony, D Cahalane (Capt); B Hennessy, R Walsh; R O’Flynn, S Kingston, S Twomey; L Meade, M O’Halloran, B Turnbull.
Subs: M Coleman for L Meade (half-time), S Óg O’Regan for S Kingston (45), C O’Callaghan for S O’Donoghue (50), E Roche for T O’Mahony (53 inj), B Roche for R O’Flynn (58).

Kerry: M Stackpoole; S Weir, B Murphy (Capt), E Murphy; D Shanahan, F Mackessy, T O’Connor; S Nolan, D Hunt; S Conway, D Collins, G Dooley; J Conway, M Leane, M Slattery.
Subs: P Lucid for D Shanahan (half-time), M Lenihan for S Nolan (half-time), S McElligott for M Slattery (52), D O’Donoghue for J Conway (58), F O’Sullivan for G Dooley (61).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Limerick)

Cork Team VS Kerry in Munster Senior Hurling League

Cork play Kerry tonight in Mallow at 7:30pm in their opening game of the Co-op Superstores Munster Senior Hurling League.

Cork Team to play

1. Patrick Collins Ballinhassig

2. David Lowney Clonakilty

3. Eoghan Murphy Sasrfields

4. Sean O’ Donoghue Inniscarra

5. Chris O’ Leary Valley Rovers

6. Tim O’ Mahony Newtownshandrum

7. Damian Cahalane St Finbarrs

8. Billy Hennessy St Finbarrs

9. Ryan Walsh Kanturk

10. Robbie O’ Flynn Erins Own

11. Conor Lehane Midleton

12. Sean Twoney Courcey Rovers

13. Luke Meade Newcestown

14. Michael O’ Halloran Blackrock

15. Brian Turnbull Douglas

16. Shane Hurley St Finbarrs

17. Conor O’ Callaghan Dromtarriffe

18. Eoin Roche Bride Rovers

19. Mark Coleman Blarney

20. Shane Kingston Douglas

21. Brian Roche Bride Rovers

Cork hurlers in action on Friday.

Cork’s 2020 hurling season will begin on December 20th.

This years Pre-season Munster Senior Hurling League competition will see six counties split into two groups. Cork are in Group B with Kerry and Waterford with Limerick, Tipperary and Clare in Group A.

Kieran Kingston’s side will take on Kerry in Mallow in our opening game with a 7:30pm start on Friday. Cork team will be named at 1pm on Friday.

After Christmas, we will travel to Dungarvan to play Waterford at 2pm on December 29th for our second game.

The top two sides from both groups will contest the final in early January.

Munster Senior Hurling League Fixtures

December 20th: Cork v Kerry, Mallow 7.30pm.
December 29th : Waterford v Cork, Fraher Field 2pm.

Win 2 Premium tickets in Pairc Uí Chaoimh

In order to mark the launch of our new Premium Level Ticket Packages which now start at €500, we are giving two lucky Cork GAA supporters the chance to experience the Premium match day experience at first hand. To be in with a chance of winning this thrilling prize, it is a simple as completing a raffle entry form. Please find your raffle entry form in the link below and attached in this email. Entries will be accepted until Monday December 23rd at 2pm. Winner will be announced on Christmas Eve.

Click on link below to enter.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFHcILkrL7fSR8izCnjxCy0gojQ0QVAS1j_RDYP5aEedFp3w/viewform

This competition prize will include 2 Premium Level Tickets to attend all 6 league games played at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the upcoming Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues 2020.

Allianz League Fixtures at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2020:

Saturday 25th January @ 6pm
Cork v Offaly
Allianz Football League

Saturday 1st February @ 7pm
Cork v Tipperary
Allianz Hurling League

Sunday 9th February @ 2pm
Cork v Down
Allianz Football League

Sunday 23rd February @ 2pm
Cork v Limerick
Allianz Hurling League

Sunday 1st March @ 2pm
Cork v Derry
Allianz Football League

Sunday 15th March @ 2pm
Cork v Louth
Allianz Football League

Safeguarding 2 Course

County board children’s officer, Des Cullinane has organised a Safeguarding 2 Course.

It will take place on January 13th in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7pm.

The event is aimed at newly appointed Club Children’s Officers.

Places are limited, any club or children’s officer wishing to book can do so by emailing Des Cullinane at childrensofficer.cork@gaa.ie

Safeguarding 2

A person appointed to the Club Children’s Officer position in a club must have completed the Child Welfare & Protection Basic Awareness workshop and should complete the NEW Club Children’s Officer 3 hour Training Course. This course will help the Club Children’s Officer to carry out the function of their role in the club and support the implementation of best practice in the club. Participants will also receive a Club Children’s Officer Action Planning document as part of the training.