Cork GAA are pleased to announce the appointment of Niall Twomey as our new Head of Games Development

Cork GAA are pleased to announce the appointment of Niall Twomey as our new Head of Games Development.

A former County Senior Football winner with Bantry Blues on two occasions, Niall has volunteered across several areas in Cork GAA over the past decade, as Cork Minor Football selector, U21 Football trainer, Senior Football Development Squad manager, Club Coaching Officer and Underage Chairperson with his adopted Ballinascarthy and as a facilitator for our urban club review pilot recently.

He previously served in the Irish Defence Forces, which included overseas missions in DR Congo, Lebanon, Kosovo and East Timor. Since 2012 he has worked as the Civil Defence Officer for Cork West, responsible for the management, training and deployment of personnel to respond effectively to emergency situations at local and regional level.

Niall will commence the role on July 24th.

Welcoming the appointment, Cork GAA Chairperson Marc Sheehan said, “We are delighted to have someone of Niall’s calibre to lead our Games Development department at a time of such growth. We have no doubt that he has the leadership and organisational skills to manage what will be a key pillar in the development of our games and we look forward to supporting his role.”

Cork GAA Secretary & CEO, Kevin O’Donovan said, “The appointment of additional coaching officers on the ground has been a long-held ambition and we are excited to see our plans finally come to fruition with thanks to Central Council, Munster Council and our own County Committee for the increased funding allocation. Niall’s appointment, followed by the increased staffing levels, will be organised in parallel with a full review of all areas of Games Development within the county across Clubs, Schools and County Development Squads.”

Cork GAA S&C course for Post-Primary School teachers

Torthaí Scór na bPáistí Chorcaí 2023

A wonderful occasion greeted the County Scór na bPáistí Finals on a staging in the Éire Óg GAA Pavilion, Ovens with Lisgoold’s Ailéin ó Faoláin compering proceedings as Fear a’Tí. Schools and GAA clubs right across Cork displayed their cultural talents in a showpiece acknowledged by an appreciative audience. The prizes presented by Cathaoirleach, Antón MacAmhlaoibh and Runaí, Mairéad Uí Faoláin.

Na Torthaí:

Rince Foirne
(1) Boherbue
(2) Aghada Ladies Football

Amhranaíocht Aonar
(1) Kate O’Connell (St. Catherines)
(2) Méabh Ní Dhonnabháin (Rosscarbery Ladies Football)

Aithriseoireacht
(1) Muireann Hurley (Ballinhassig Goggins Hill NS)
(2) Odhran Noonan (Shanballymore)

Ceol Aonar
(1) Ava Thornton (Derrinagree NS)
(2) Colm Dullea (Valley Rovers Knockavilla NS)

Rince Aonar
(1) Rebecca Twomey (Boherbue)
(2) Caoimhe Cosgrove (Ballygown NS)

Bailéad Ghrúpa
(1) Ballinhassig/Goggins Hill NS
(2) Clonakilty

Nuachleas
(1) Ballygown NS
(2) St. Catherines

Seanós
(1) Stephanie Carr (St. Catherines)
(2) Ronan Murphy (Derrinagree NS)

Ceol Uirlise
(1) Clonakilty
(2) Ballydesmond

Rince Seit
(1) Boherbue
(2) Ballygown NS

Tráth na gCeist
(1) Aghada Camogie
(2) Ballyhooly

Overall Shield for Best School/Club: Ballygown NS

Comhghairdeachas le gach éinne a ghlac páirt

 

Hamilton High School Bandon still punching above their weight

In attendance at the Masita All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Captains Call at Croke Park in Dublin were, from left, James Mahon and Evan O’Shea of Colaiste Naomh Cormac, Conor O’Sullivan and Evan O’Shea of Hamilton High School.

By John Harrington GAA.ie

Hamilton High School, Bandon, have a proud tradition of punching above their weight when it comes to Post Primary Schools GAA.

They’re a relatively small school of around 400 boys, and yet manage to consistently compete for top honours in both Gaelic football and hurling, winning provincial and All-Ireland honours in both.

They’re located in an area of Cork more traditionally know as a power-base of Gaelic football, but the school has always given equal billing to hurling and reaped the benefits of that approach as their presence in Saturday’s Masita GAA Post Primary Schools Senior ‘B’ Hurling Final attests to.

“We’re very much a dual school,” says Tiernan O’Driscoll, joint manager of the team that will play Coláiste Naomh Cormac from Offaly in Saturday’s Final.

“I suppose we’d be considered one of the best teams in West Cork in hurling. We feel it’s our duty to promote hurling and represent West Cork.

“It can be challenging to combine both codes, there’s no doubt about that. But, to be fair, we work well with the coaches of the football squad and our local clubs and find a way.

“The clubs are great in that respect. They help us out a lot in terms of releasing players for crucial games.

“I think it’s important for young fellas to experience a wide range of sports. Different sports can complement each other. Basketball is huge in Kerry and that obviously benefits their football.

“I think it can only be positive that they’re involved in different codes, different sports. They can bring all the positive aspects from those different sports to whatever they’re playing that day.

“When you come into Hammies you know it’s a very football and hurling oriented school. A lot of fellas would know that from their club backgrounds. They would know that and they want to excel at that.”

Hamilton High School have showed both class and grit on the way to this Final, overcoming Castletroy College after a ferocious battle in the Munster Final and then getting the better of Holy Rosary College of Mountbellew in the All-Ireland semi-final.

They’re up against another quality outfit now in Saturday’s Final in a Coláiste Naomh Cormac team that includes a number of the Offaly team that reached last year’s All-Ireland Minor Final, including Player of the Year, Adam SCreeney.

“There are some quality players there, there’s no doubt about that, but we’ll relish it,” says O’Driscoll.

“Obviously we want to play the best teams and if you get to an All-Ireland Final then you’re going to be playing the best team in your grade.

“So the lads are really looking forward to it and on the day they’re going to give it their best game. That’s all you can really ask for.”

Saturday, March 18

Masita GAA Post Primary Schools Paddy Buggy Cup (Senior ‘B’ Hurling) Final

Hamilton High School Bandon v Coláiste Naomh Cormac, Kilmallock, 2pm.

Mitchelstown CBS hope to end stellar year on a high

By John Harrington for GAA.ie

It’s always a good sign of a school if a former pupil returns to it as a teacher.

At the photo-call for the Masita Post Primary Schools All-Ireland Football and Hurling Finals, it was notable that many of the team mentors were former pupils themselves.

Most likely a combination of happy memories and a grá for Gaelic games as well as professional ambition drew them back to their old Alma Mater

Mitchelstown CBS teacher, Jason Walsh, was one of them, and there’s a nice circularity to his story.

He played on the Mitchelstown CBS team that won a Corn Risteard Ui Mhathuna Munster Senior Hurling ‘C’ title in 2004, and has now coached them to the first title in the grade since then 19 years later.

He’s not the only connection to that 2004 success. Willie Duggan was the manager back then and is also manager of this year’s team.

“Willie is leaving a real legacy,” says Walsh. “He’s done so much for the school, hurling-wise.

“There wasn’t even a hurling team until Willie set it up. I’d say it was back in the 1990s when he set up hurling in the school on his own and he’s been driving it ever since, fair play to him.

“There were days in my time hurling in the school when he’d be going to matches on his own with no help. He was the only teacher doing hurling and football at the time in the school. It’s a testament to him that he’s still doing it and still loves it.

“Being a former pupil and player and now being a teacher in the school and coaching the teams, of course it means a lot to me. It’s great to see the school doing well and around the community everyone is talking about it.

“You’re going to club matches at the weekend and fellas are asking you about it and talking to you about it so it’s great. It’s a real rural community so it’s very tight-knit, and even though it’s three different counties they really do have a love for the school, the clubs that are feeding into it. It’s exciting.”

It’s been a year of high achievement for Mitchelstown CBS who draw their pupils from Cork, Tipperary, and Limerick.

Not only have they reached an All-Ireland Hurling Final, they were also unfortunate to lose the Munster Senior ‘B’ football final to Abbey CBS.

They’ve had a hectic fixture schedule, but Walsh is happy they’re coming into Saturday’s All-Ireland Final against St. Mary’s Magherafelt in good shape, both physically and mentally.

“We’re going well to be fair,” he says. “It’s hard to get through playing Munster football and Munster hurling and getting to two finals and keep all the boys injury free but they are. They’re all in good nick and fit and ready for action.

“There’s a huge crossover between our football and hurling teams. You’d be talking 12 of the starters would be playing for both teams.

“It’s been an exciting year for us. Sometimes it can work to your advantage when you’re playing week in and week out but it can also take it’s toll on the body but thankfully our lads have done very well, we’re happy out with them.

“I actually think that losing the Munster football final might stand to them too. It’s tough to lose a Munster Final and I think they were a little bit nervous the last day at the start of the All-Ireland Hurling semi-final, they didn’t want to lose again, and the fear of losing can sometimes inhibit you.

“But, no, they seem to be mentally strong after losing the football. They’re mad to get down training again and push on again for the final.

“It would be great to get over the line and win it, especially as we’ve lost a good few finals in the last few years between football and hurling so it would be nice to bring some silverware to the school again.

“We won the Senior ‘C’ football a few years back as well in 2016 so it would be nice to go on now and also win a Senior ‘C’ hurling title.”

Saturday, March 18

Masita GAA Post Primary Schools Michael Cusack Cup (Senior Hurling ‘C’) Final

Mitchelstown CBS v St. Mary’s Magherafelt, GAA Centre of Excellence, Abbottstown, 2pm.