One Cork Supporters Club – Join Now!

NEW CORK GAA PROGRAMME LAUNCHED TO SUPPORT CLUBS AND COUNTY

One Cork Supporters Club – Join Now!

Cork GAA has launched its One Cork membership programme for 2022. The initiative was launched at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening by the children of Ballintemple National School, former all Ireland winners Ronan Curran and Paul Kerrigan, as the rebels started their inter-county season.

One Cork was formed in 2020 as a steering group to support all facets of Cork GAA, and this new membership programme is envisaged as being a major element of that work.

By becoming a One Cork Member, supporters can back Cork GAA financially but also enjoy exclusive benefits as a member.

One Cork Members and their families will have opportunities to meet with Cork inter-county players during the season and will also receive a distinctive One Cork gift.

Other benefits include discounts with partner brands and entry into exclusive competitions to win match tickets and other prizes.

Cork GAA has always enjoyed huge support across the county and further afield, and this membership is an opportunity for those supporters to be part of Cork’s journey towards an even more successful future.

Applications for One Cork Membership can be made online by visiting https://gaacork.ie/onecorkmembership/

Speaking at the launch of One Cork Membership, All-Ireland winning hurler Ronan Curran said “Cork supporters truly are the difference for the teams out on the pitch, but also in the supports that players need to get them to the top. One Cork membership is a way in which that they can show that support and get something back in return.” 

Paul Kerrigan, All-Ireland winning Cork footballer also took part in the launch and said, “We often have four generations of fans at games and every Cork player knows the pride they feel when they pull on the red jersey. We have a duty to future generations to ensure they have every opportunity to succeed, and by supporting One Cork, players and fans are helping future inter county stars to achieve their ambition.”

Cork Senior Football team to play Clare in Allianz Football League

Cork Senior Football manager Keith Ricken has announced his team for this weekends game. Cork play Clare on Saturday evening at 7pm in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh as part of a double header with the hurlers.

 

  1. Míchéal Martin, Nemo Rangers
  2. Kevin O’Donovan, Nemo Rangers
  3. Kevin Flahive, Douglas
  4. Tadhg Corkery, Cill na Martra
  5. Rory Maguire, Castlehaven
  6. Sean Powter, Douglas
  7. Matthew Taylor, Mallow
  8. Shane Merrit, Mallow
  9. Colm O’Callaghan, Eire Óg
  10. Daniel Dineen, Cill na Martra
  11. Blake Murphy, St. Vincents
  12. John O’Rourke, Carbery Rangers
  13. Mark Buckley, Dohenys
  14. Brian Hurley, Castlehaven
  15. David Buckley, Newcestown
  16. Christopher Kelly, Eire Óg
  17. Cian Kiely, Ballincollig
  18. Paudie Allen, Newmarket
  19. Paul Ring, Aghabullogue
  20. John Cooper, Eire Óg
  21. Joe Grimes, Clonakilty
  22. Fionn Herlihy, Dohenys
  23. Eoghan McSweeney, Knocknagree
  24. Mark Cronin, Nemo Rangers
  25. Cillian Donovan, Macroom
  26. Luke Fahy, Ballincollig

 

Cork Senior Hurling Team to play Clare in Allianz League

 

Cork Senior Hurling manager Kieran Kingstown has announced his team for this weekends game. Cork play Clare on Saturday evening at 5pm in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh as part of a double header with the footballers.

  1. Patrick Collins, Ballinhassig
  2. Niall O’ Leary, Castlelyons
  3. Ger Millerick, Fr. O’Neills
  4. Sean O’Donoghue, Inniscarra
  5. Tim O’Mahony, Newtownshandrum
  6. Mark Coleman, Blarney
  7. Robert Downey, Glen Rovers
  8. Ciaran Joyce , Castlemartyr
  9. Darragh Fitzgibbon, Charleville
  10. Conor Lehane, Midleton
  11. Seamus Harnedy, St. Itas
  12. Sean Twomey, Courcey Rovers
  13. Shane Kingston, Douglas
  14. Alan Cadogan, Douglas
  15. Shane Barrett, Blarney
  16. Ger Collins, Ballinhassig
  17. Cormac O’ Brien, Newtownshandrum
  18. Damien Cahalane, St Finbarrs
  19. Daire O’Leary, Watergrasshill
  20. Sam Quirke, Midleton
  21. Conor Cahalane, St Finbarrs
  22. Luke Meade, Newcestown
  23. Robbie O’ Flynn, Erins Own
  24. Jack O’ Connor, Sarsfields
  25. Patrick Horgan, Glen Rovers
  26. Padraig Power, Blarney

 

Mark Keane ready to give his all for club and county

Mark Keane celebrates after scoring a dramatic last gasp goal for Cork.

As he prepares for Ballygiblin’s AIB All-Ireland Club Junior Hurling Final against Mooncoin, Mark Keane is a very contented man.

He made some headlines in January when he decided to end his career in the Australian Football League with Collingwood and move back home to Ireland.

As difficult a decision as it was to make, he knows in his heart it was the right one.

For as long as he was in Australia he was always thinking about home, and the ambition to play Gaelic games with club and county was one that never left him.

“Yeah, I suppose I always wanted to come home and play for Cork in either hurling or football,” he admits.

“I just felt like it was the right time to come home. I went back over for five or six weeks for a pre-season. When I came home I just wasn’t ready to go back. Just in my own head, I’ve always went back without a bother but this time I just felt it wasn’t the same and wasn’t ready to go back and commit to it.

“When I was over there I was always invested in it. Whenever I was training, I trained to the best of my ability and stuff like that, but in the back of my mind GAA was always there. I’ve tried loads of time to ignore the GAA back here at home but unfortunately I couldn’t get it out of my head.”

Even while contracted to Collingwood, Keane always played football and hurling on his holidays back home in Ireland and famously scored a match-winning goal for the Cork senior footballers against Kerry in the 2020 Munster senior football semi-final.Mark Keane celebrates after scoring a dramatic last gasp goal for Cork.

The common presumption was that when he severed his ties with Collingwood he would join up with the Cork footballers again, but instead the accomplished dual player has opted for the county hurlers.

“I’ve a Munster medal and All-Ireland medal in hurling from U15 and U16 under John Meyler. I played hurling all the way up as well,” says Keane.

“Football was always kind of my love. I played minor and U20 football, would’ve played both if I could have. I just thought it was the right time to give hurling a go.

“It’s a dream for everyone really to play both codes, play Cork hurling and football. Since I’ve done the football, I just wanted to give hurling a go. I just feel like it’s the right time.”

He has been very impressive for Ballygiblin during their run to Saturday’s All-Ireland Final, but accepts making the step-up to the pace of senior inter-county hurling will be a challenge, especially as he never eveb picked up a hurley for the first 18 months he was in Australia.

“Yeah I wouldn’t be used to it (the pace of inter-county hurling). Playing junior hurling is obviously a few steps down from inter-county hurling. It’s something I’m trying to get used to at the moment but it’s definitely going in the right direction.

“I’ve been working closely with the selectors above in Cork senior hurling. They’ve been great and very supportive, trying to get the best out of me.”

He hopes to get some game-time with Cork during the Allianz Hurling League, but for now he’s fully focused on Saturday’s All-Ireland Final with Ballygiblin.

It’s his first time to play a match in Croke Park, and he never imagined he’d achieve that long-held ambition with his club rather than county.

“It’s unbelievable in fairness, it’s only a small country club outside of Mitchelstown,” says Keane of Ballygiblin.

“It can goes from the top down. I couldn’t speak highly of Brian Molan and Liam Doc (O’Doherty), our chairman and secretary, they’ve been unreal. They’re just great characters and you just want to play and win for them any day of the week.

“It’s everyone’s dream to be in Croke Park with your club. It’s definitely a dream to be there with your county but being there with your club is even better.”

Kingston Keen to Build Resilience 

Kieran Kingston’s Cork senior hurlers begin their Allianz League campaign with a home game against Clare on Saturday evening at 5pm in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, part of a double-header which also sees the two counties meeting in football at 7pm. 

Following the retirements of Eoin Cadogan, Bill Cooper and Colm Spillane, Kingston has added a number of new faces to the panel, and also some not-so-new ones. “A number of the U20s have joined the squad from the last two All-Ireland winning teams. Conor Lehane is back and Mark Keane has joined the squad as well, albeit we haven’t seen much of Mark yet because of his club involvement. It’s a very young squad which is great for now and the future of Cork hurling.” 

Like his football counterpart, Keith Ricken, Kingston takes the long view, and injuries to a number of key players will provide opportunities for others to stake a claim. “Jack O’Connor and Robbie O’Flynn haven’t trained in a while, they’re just coming back now. Declan Dalton, Niall Cashman, Alan Connolly are long-term injuries, o obviously there’s a rehab process here, then there’s getting back onto the field with us, then there’s getting up to match practice so it’ll be a challenge to get back during the league. Niall is just back doing a little bit with us and Alan is out, he dislocated his shoulder and again is rehabbing from that, so we haven’t seen him either. They’re difficult injuries to gauge.” 

 

Kingston is very clear on his expectations for the league this year. “It’s a precursor to the Championship, we have the split season this year, it’s the first time we’re back to the round robin since 2019 and given the short gap between the league and championship,  it’s very important that we are really, really competitive every time we take the field – that’s not a cliché, that’s what we want to be. Whilst obviously we want to give guys a chance and give them some game time, especially when we’ve so many young players, at the same time we need to be really competitive in every game we play. After making the progress we made last year and coming so close in the league and having a disappointing All-Ireland final, we need to continue to build resilience in this young squad.” 

It’s likely to be a challenging campaign, with players also involved in the Fitzgibbon Cup and freshers’ competitions, but Saturday’s double-header is an ideal opportunity to get off to a good start on home turf. 

NB: All tickets must be purchased online in advance at https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/ Tickets will not be on sale at the venue.