Official Sponsor
Event: Training for New and Existing Umpires
Date: Wednesday, 26th June
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Media Room, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Join the Cork GAA Referee committee for a training session designed for both new and existing umpires. This session will cover essential skills, updates on the latest rules, and practical tips to enhance your officiating performance.
Book below
All-Ireland SHC Preliminary Quarter-Final
Cork 4-25 Offaly 3-19
By Paul Keane at Glenisk O’Connor Park
With just 15 minutes to go in Tullamore, and only six points between the teams, Offaly wing-forward Oisin Kelly bore down on the Cork goals.
A three-pointer would have cut the deficit in half and with momentum on their side, who knows how the closing quarter hour or so may have panned out for underdogs Offaly.
Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins saved superbly though and about 60 seconds later Pat Horgan had the ball in the net at the other end of the pitch, propelling Cork nine points clear.
That was the margin that ultimately separated the teams and while three more goals flew in after that Horgan strike, two from Offaly in stoppage time, it was the veteran Glen Rovers man that once again gave his team room to breathe.
Horgan finished with 1-10 while Shane Barrett, Brian Hayes and Robbie O’Flynn also got among the goals for the All-Ireland hopefuls, helping them to secure a win that guarantees a quarter-final shot at Dublin next weekend.
Manager Pat Ryan described the performance as ‘sloppy’ though and a significant improvement will be required against the Dubs.
Offaly, meanwhile, can be proud of their efforts and will pull the shutters down on a successful season, one they signed off on with stoppage time goals from Jack Clancy and the excellent Killian Sampson.
The hosts may have hoped to capitalise on Cork ring rustiness with four weeks having passed since Ryan’s Rebels locked down third position in the Munster table by beating Tipperary.
Offaly, meanwhile, were still exhibiting an afterglow from their breakthrough McDonagh Cup success at Croke Park last weekend, catapulting them back into the Leinster SHC for 2025 having not featured there since 2018.
Hayes suggested with a stunning third minute Cork goal that there weren’t going to be any cobwebs for the 2021 All-Ireland finalists to clear away.
The St Finbarr’s man burst through the centre of the Offaly defence before cleverly shortening the hurl and batting the sliotar beyond Mark Troy.
Yet Offaly were shortly back on level terms at 0-3 to 1-0 and they gave the home supporters plenty to get excited about in an entertaining first-half.
All-Ireland U-20 winner Dan Bourke nailed two nice points and both Sampson and Eoghan Cahill punished turnovers in the Cork defence with Offaly scores. One of those turnovers came from Mark Coleman coughing a ball up with little cover behind and the Blarney man fired three first-half wides too.
But that Hayes goal and another from the excellent Barrett in the 22nd minute still left Cork 2-15 to 0-13 up at the interval.
The eight-point lead flattered Cork though they were certainly the better team, even if goal-king Alan Connolly had been largely tied up by full-back Ciaran Burke.
Back in March, when Cork hammered Offaly in the National League and put 5-28 on the board, Connolly sniped a hat-trick, adding two more since in league and Championship.
Barrett stood up this time as the chief Cork attacking threat, finishing the first-half with 1-3.
Horgan, who began the day 23 points behind TJ Reid in the all-time Championship scoring charts, drilled seven first-half points and, perhaps with Reid in mind, tried for a cheeky goal from a 20th minute free that was blocked out for a 65.
Aside from Burke shaping up to Connolly, Offaly detailed Ben Conneely to track Hayes and Cathal King for man-marking duties on Horgan.
The 1998 All-Ireland winners breathed fresh life into the contest seven minutes after the restart when Oisin Kelly pulled first time and netted following Killian Sampson’s ball across goals.
That left just five points between them and the margin, a concerning one from Cork’s perspective, remained in place entering the final quarter, 2-20 to 1-18.
A turning point arrived at that stage, Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins superbly denying Kelly with a goal and Horgan then exchanging passes with Hayes and striking to the net at the other end.
Suddenly, Cork had moved 3-21 to 1-18 clear and their large contingent of supporters finally breathed out.
There was still plenty of drama to come though and Offaly closed out their 2024 inter-county season with a smile following those two goals in the 73rd and 74th minutes.
Scorers for Cork: Pat Horgan 1-10 (7fs, 2 65s), Shane Barrett 1-4, Brian Hayes 1-1, Declan Dalton 0-4 (1f), Robbie O’Flynn 1-0, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-3, Niall O’Leary 0-1, Conor Lehane 0-1, Shane Kingston 0-1.
Scorers for Offaly: Killian Sampson 1-3, Eoghan Cahill 0-5 (4fs), Brian Duignan 0-5 (3fs), Oisin Kelly 1-0, Jack Clancy 1-0, Dan Bourke 0-2, David King 0-1, Cillian Kiely 0-1, Charlie Mitchell 0-1, Jason Sampson 0-1.
Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O’Donoghue; Tim O’Mahony, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman; Ciaran Joyce, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Conor Lehane; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.
Subs: Shane Kingston for Connolly 44, Luke Meade for Barrett 55, Padraig Power for Lehane 63, Jack O’Connor for Hayes 64, Robbie O’Flynn for Dalton 67.
Offaly: Mark Troy; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke, Cathal King; David King, Cillian Kiely, Donal Shirley; Jason Sampson, Ross Ravenhill; Killian Sampson, Brian Duignan, Oisin Kelly; Charlie Mitchell, Eoghan Cahill, Dan Bourke.
Subs: Eimhin Kelly for Cahill h/t, Jack Clancy for Ravenhill 47, Sam Bourke for Kelly 61, Dara Maher for Kiely 64, Luke Watkins for D Bourke 70.
Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin).
All-Ireland SFC Group Three
Tyrone 1-18 Cork 0-17
By Paul Keane at Glenisk O’Connor Park
Ben Cullen’s 48th minute goal was the decisive score as Tyrone made it back-to-back wins in their All-Ireland SFC group – but it still wasn’t enough to secure top spot in Group 3.
The 2021 All-Ireland winners were full value for their Tullamore win with 10 different scorers on the day including Darragh Canavan who helped himself to 0-5.
Goalkeeper Niall Morgan was terrific again too, striking 0-3, including a point from open play, while the ultra experienced Mattie Donnelly maintained his strong form with another lion-hearted display.
Despite the win, Tyrone have still finished in second position in the group, meaning they will contest an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final next weekend – though they will at least have home advantage.
Donegal, Tyrone and Cork all finished tied on four points at the head of the table, but Donegal’s superior scoring difference has clinched top spot for them, the reward for which is qualification for a quarter-final.
As for Cork, they have finished third and they will be away next weekend when they contest a preliminary quarter-final.
As things stand, Tyrone will be without powerful midfielder Conn Kilpatrick for next weekend’s Omagh clash due to a red card in the closing minutes here.
But the side jointly managed by Brian Dooher and Fergal Logan will take huge heart from their second-half performance, bouncing back from a one-point half-time deficit to outscore Cork by 1-9 to 0-7.
Cork’s hopes of securing at least the draw required to finish as Group 3 winners following victories over Limerick and Tipperary were hit by the loss of captain Brian Hurley.
The Castlehaven man was named to start but a reported hamstring injury ruled him out with Cathail O’Mahony taking his place in the matchday squad.
Steven Sherlock came into the lineup for Hurley, scored 0-8 overall and was heavily involved in an entertaining opening half, shooting three points and drilling a wide.
Cork led 0-10 to 0-9 at half-time but wides and wasteful play were a theme of the half with those 10 points collected from 17 shots, five of which went wide while another dropped short and Chris Og Jones struck a post.
Jones did redeem himself with three points from play in an opening half that was level seven times.
Sherlock was picked up by Padraig Hampsey while Cork full-back Daniel O’Mahony went head to head with Tyrone dangerman Darragh Canavan.
That was a thrilling tussle and while Canavan hit two points from play, O’Mahony broke at least even in that opening half while Canavan’s younger brother, Ruairi, delivered two important points also. Darren McCurry, such a scoring threat for Tyrone, was tracked by Tommy Walsh.
Both teams conceded a portion of their kick-outs, opting to retreat and get their defensive shape set with so much on the line at the midlands venue.
When they did press the kick-outs, some excellent scores accrued with Jones’ fifth minute point for Cork coming from a terrific Chris Kelly delivery to Kevin Flahive who was racing up the right wing and immediately fed Jones.
Ruairi Canavan’s 15th minute point for Tyrone came from a similar source, Red Hands stopper Morgan finding a white jersey with a long drive. Morgan played his usual sweeper ‘keeper role and assisted a terrific Kilpatrick score in the 31st minute with a sumptuous diagonal pass.
Tyrone stamped their authority on the game in the third quarter, capitalising on the 43rd minute black carding of Cork’s Jones for a trip on Morgan.
The game was level at 0-11 apiece when Jones left and when he returned 10 minutes later, Tyrone were 1-13 to 0-13 ahead.
Cullen did brilliantly for his goal, exchanging a series of passes with Ciaran Daly down the right before cutting in and firing to the net.
Darragh Canavan and McCurry added points to leave Tyrone five clear though Kilpatrick’s 63rd exit had the potential to halt their momentum.
The Edendork man was sent to the line following an off the ball incident though Tyrone took the setback in their stride, tagging on points from Morgan, Michael McKernan and McCurry to win with four to spare and, in truth, never looked like being reeled in.
Scorers for Tyrone: Darragh Canavan 0-5 (1f), Niall Morgan 0-3 (1f, 1 45), Ben Cullen 1-0, Darren McCurry 0-3 (0-1f), Ruairi Canavan 0-2, Conn Kilpatrick 0-1, Sean O’Donnell 0-1, Michael O’Neill 0-1, Niall Devlin 0-1, Michael McKernan 0-1.
Scorers for Cork: Steven Sherlock 0-8 (6fs), Mark Cronin 0-4 (2fs), Chris Og Jones 0-3, Brian O’Driscoll 0-2.
Cork: Christopher Kelly; Kevin Flahive, Daniel O’Mahony, Tommy Walsh; Maurice Shanley, Rory Maguire, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan; Sean Powter, Paul Walsh, Brian O’Driscoll; Mark Cronin, Steven Sherlock, Chris Og Jones.
Subs: Ruairi Deane for Powter 49, Conor Corbett for Walsh 54, Sean Meehan for Flahive 66, Cathail O’Mahony for Cronin 68, Killian O’Hanlon for O’Driscoll 70.
Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Niall Devlin, Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan; Ben Cullen, Mattie Donnelly, Aidan Clarke; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Ciaran Daly, Ruairi Canavan, Michael O’Neill; Darren McCurry, Darragh Canavan, Sean O’Donnell.
Subs: Peter Harte for O’Neill h/t, Cathal McShane for Ruairi Canavan 64, Shea O’Hare for O’Donnell 68, Cormac Quinn for Cullen 69, Tiernan Quinn for Darragh Canavan 73.
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).
Statkraft: Renewing the way the world is powered
Since 2018, Statkraft, Europe’s largest energy producer, has been a vital part of Ireland’s renewable energy landscape. The team has tripled in size, now employing over 130 people. Headquartered in Cork, it specialises in developing, owning, and operating renewable energy projects across various technologies, including onshore wind, offshore wind, solar, battery storage, and grid services.
Cork: A national hub for renewables
Statkraft is committed to Cork and believes the region is playing a pivotal role in supporting Ireland’s climate action targets. It sees Cork as a national hub for renewable energy, and its recent partnership with Cork GAA and SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh highlights both organisations’ commitment to a greener future.
Renewable energy is virtually limitless. It allows us to harness energy from the sun, wind, and other sources.
Here are some interesting facts about renewable energy in Ireland:
Ø Cork, the renewable energy hub: With over a dozen clean energy companies, Cork has the potential to become a major renewable energy hub.
Ø Wind farms galore: There are over 400 wind farms on the island of Ireland with a total installed capacity of almost 6,000MW. *
Ø A major contributor: In 2023, wind farms provided 35% of Ireland’s electricity. *
Ø A European leader: Per capita, Ireland ranks second in Europe for wind and solar energy production. **
Ø Cost savings: Every time a wind turbine generates electricity, this leads to a decrease in wholesale energy prices. *
Ø Ideal for offshore wind: Ireland has over 3,000km of coastline, making it an ideal location for offshore wind. ***
Ø Solar power in all weather: Solar panels do not need direct sunlight to work and can still produce electricity on cloudy days. ****
Ø Longevity: A wind turbine and solar panel can generate power for up to 30 years. *****
Ø Economic impact: Wind energy saved Ireland €918 million in 2023, revenue that would have been spent on gas. *
Statkraft: Powering a Brighter Future for Ireland
Headquartered in Cork, Ireland’s capital of renewable energy development, Statkraft is at the forefront of this green revolution. Since 2018, when Statkraft, Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy, acquired the Irish and UK wind development businesses of the Element Power Group, our team has more than tripled.
We’ve invested approximately €450 million into the Irish business, making us one of the biggest renewable energy developers in Ireland and driving our plans to build 3GW of onshore, offshore, solar, battery, and grid services projects by 2030.
Statkraft is not just a significant player in Cork; we’re committed to the region. For example, earlier this year, we announced a partnership with Cork GAA. This partnership focuses on promoting Cork as a national hub for renewable energy generation, foster careers in the local renewable energy industry along with supporting SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s efforts to work towards a greener future.
Global Wind Day: Experience renewable energy
You can witness the power and potential of renewable energy for yourself. On June 15th, celebrate Global Wind Day by visiting your local wind farm—completely free of charge! Witness renewable energy in action, connect with nature, and learn about wind energy. Check out the Wind Energy Ireland website to find wind farms near you.
You can learn more interesting facts about renewable energy in Ireland and how Statkraft is powering a brighter future for Cork here
*Source: Wind Energy Ireland **Source: IDA Ireland ***Source: Gov.ie **** Source: Solar Energy Industries Association *****Source: Office of EERE
Games Development Coordinator post 14th June
