Bandon GAA Club Wins Cork GAA Sustainable Club Competition

Kilmichael and Newmarket GAA clubs also recognised in the Cork GAA Sustainable Club Competition, in partnership with PepsiCo.

Bandon GAA Club has been named the overall winner of the Cork GAA Sustainable Club Competition, receiving a €6,000 grant to support sustainability projects within the club and its community.

Newmarket GAA Club and Kilmichael GAA Club were also recognised among the top three, receiving grants of €3,000 and €1,500, respectively.

The competition, delivered in partnership with PepsiCo through the Positive Action Partnership, invited clubs across the county to showcase initiatives in areas including energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable travel, waste reduction, biodiversity and community action.

Ten clubs were shortlisted following a strong response to the competition, with entries highlighting the positive environmental work taking place across Cork GAA.

Bandon GAA Club Named Overall Winner

Bandon GAA Club impressed the adjudication committee and PepsiCo with the quality of its submission, the proposed use of the funding and the measurable impact of its sustainability initiatives to date. Its entry demonstrated a strong balance between environmental benefits and positive outcomes for the wider community.

Kilmichael and Newmarket GAA clubs also submitted impressive entries, showcasing projects already completed and ambitious plans in areas including biodiversity, energy reduction and water conservation.

PepsiCo Congratulates Winning Clubs

Speaking at the announcement of the winners, Evan Norton, GM & SVP, PepsiCo Ireland, said:

“Congratulations to the three winning clubs and to all ten shortlisted clubs for the outstanding work they are doing in their communities. The creativity and commitment on display throughout this competition has been inspiring. We’re proud to partner with Cork GAA on an initiative that celebrates local leadership and supports positive action. These projects show how communities can make a lasting difference when they come together with a shared purpose.”

Brian Colgan, Supply Chain Operations Director, PepsiCo Ireland, said:

“PepsiCo and Cork GAA are delighted to announce that the winner of the Sustainable Club Competition is Bandon GAA Club. The adjudication committee and PepsiCo were very impressed with the quality of the submission, the proposed use of funding and the impacts that the club has already made in terms of sustainability, including strong metrics. There was a great balance across environmental and community benefits which were well illustrated throughout.”

Cork GAA Acknowledges Clubs and Partnership

Kevin O’Donovan, CEO of Cork GAA, said:

“It is fantastic to see clubs from across Cork enter the Sustainable Club Competition, with ten shortlisted and three recognised for their outstanding work and commitment to sustainability. This competition demonstrates the positive impact our clubs can have, not just within their own facilities but throughout their wider communities. I would like to congratulate Bandon, Kilmichael and Newmarket on their success and thank PepsiCo for their continued support through our Positive Action Partnership. Together, we are showing how small actions can make a big impact for future generations.”

Supporting Sustainable Projects

The three winning clubs will also receive support from a sustainability expert through two advisory calls to help them develop and progress their projects. The grant funding will support the sustainability projects identified by each club.

Cork GAA would like to thank PepsiCo for its continued support through the Positive Action Partnership and acknowledge Daniel Coleman, Patrick Callnan, Sean Sirr and Brian Colgan for their time and contribution to the competition’s judging panel.

Cork GAA also thank

MTU Cork and UCC in Munster Third Level Action This Week

MTU Cork and UCC have four games between them in the GAA Third Level Colleges leagues this week. All four are against UL.

Tuesday: MTU Cork camogie at home

MTU Cork’s camogie team open the week at home on Tuesday evening, 27 October. They host UL in Camogie Division 2, with throw-in at 6:30pm at MTU Cork.

Thursday: three games in Limerick

The rest of the week’s action is in Limerick on Thursday, 29 October.

MTU Cork’s freshers footballers travel to face UL in Freshers Football Division 1, with throw-in at 7pm at UL Maguires 1 4G.

UCC then have two games at UL that evening. The UCC ladies footballers meet UL in the O’Connor Ladies Football League at 7:30pm on Maguires Grass. After that, UCC’s camogie team take on UL in Camogie Division 1 at 8:30pm on Maguires 1 4G.

This Week’s Fixtures

Date Competition Fixture Venue Throw-in
Tue 27 Oct Camogie Division 2 UL v MTU Cork MTU Cork 6:30pm
Thu 29 Oct Freshers Football 1 UL v MTU Cork UL Maguires 1 4G 7:00pm
Thu 29 Oct O’Connor Ladies Football UL v UCC UL Maguires Grass 7:30pm
Thu 29 Oct Camogie Division 1 UL v UCC UL Maguires 1 4G 8:30pm

Supporters should check venues with their college before travelling.

McCarthy Insurance Group Cork premier senior football final

Nemo Rangers 1-19 (1-2-15) St Finbarr’s 2-12 (2-1-10)

By Stephen Barry, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Nemo Rangers washed away three years of hurt as they dethroned city rivals St Finbarr’s to win their 24th Cork SFC title.

The record winners had lost the past three deciders, but 0-8 from Mark Cronin was enough to get them over the line.

Kieran Histon held Steven Sherlock scoreless, while the midfield pairing of Alan O’Donovan and Briaín Murphy were able to break even with Ian Maguire and Brian Hayes. They will host Loughmore-Castleiney in the Munster quarter-final on November 8th.

It was a painful loss for the Barrs, who reached both hurling and football finals, but suffered defeat twice in a week. Injuries to defenders Alan O’Connor and Fionn Crowley were costly blows.

In front of a 7,054 crowd, this final got off to a sluggish start. A Cronin free was the only score in the first 10 minutes.

Nemo did show signs of getting inside the Barrs cover, but Sam Ryan clawed the ball to safety.
The Trabeg side were spurred on and showed their hunger for breaking ball to cultivate that momentum. Backed by the wind, they reeled off six points in five minutes to lead 0-7 to nil after the opening quarter.

Jack Horgan was influential in assisting Ronan Dalton and Alan O’Donovan points, while also claiming a kick-out mark that resulted in a Ross Corkery goal chance, which flew over.

Nemo should’ve had a penalty in between as Bryan Hayes was bundled over by Colm Scully. Referee David Murnane spotted the foul as occurring just outside the square. Cronin slotted that free and then nailed a two-pointer from play.

Led by the ball-winning abilities and creative powers of Maguire and Brian Hayes, the Barrs finally began to make headway.

They got off the mark in the 18th minute with the first of three points from defender Enda Dennehy. John Wigginton-Barrett also had a brace, including one goal effort tipped over by Micheál Aodh Martin.

It looked like Nemo might only take a three-point lead into the break, but they doubled it in stoppage time. Playing with advantage, Mark Cronin’s two-point attempt dropped short, where his older brother, Nemo captain Stephen, had read the flight of the ball. He squared for Luke Horgan to palm in for a 1-8 to 0-5 cushion.

Enda Dennehy and Luke Hannigan wiped two points off that lead after the break, but Nemo kicked on with five of the next six points.

Briaín Murphy, who was keeping tabs on Brian Hayes, won a kick-out mark, charged forward with advantage, and hooked over a two-pointer into the breeze to make it 1-13 to 0-8.

The Barrs needed a break and moving Brian Hayes into full-forward was their crucial move. Rickey Barrett lobbed in a high ball and though Mark Hill initially appeared to be breaking out with possession, the ball came loose for Hayes to rattle the net.

Substitute Cillian Myers-Murray tacked on a two-pointer and suddenly it was a one-score game.
A Cronin free and Ronan Dalton appeared to settle Nemo, but Hayes was out in front to create another goal, with Ciarán Doolan teeing up Wigginton-Barrett for the finish.

Myers-Murray and William Buckley twice narrowed the gap to one point, but Nemo made the final move. Corkery split the posts before Cronin tapped over two frees which were advanced to the 14-metre line.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: Mark Cronin 0-8 (5f, 1tp); Luke Horgan 1-0; Ronan Dalton 0-3; Alan O’Donovan, Briaín Murphy (tp), Ross Corkery 0-2 each; Conor Shalloe, Bryan Hayes 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: John Wigginton-Barrett 1-2; Brian Hayes 1-0; Enda Dennehy, Cillian Myers-Murray (1tp) 0-3; William Buckley 0-2; Ian Maguire, Luke Hannigan 0-1 each.

NEMO RANGERS: Micheál Aodh Martin; Kieran Histon, Mark Hill, Colin Molloy; Jack Horgan, Kevin O’Donovan, Stephen Cronin; Alan O’Donovan, Briaín Murphy; Mark Cronin, Luke Horgan, Conor Shalloe; Ross Corkery, Ronan Dalton, Bryan Hayes. Subs: Neville O’Shea for J Horgan (46), Conor Horgan for Shalloe (49), Dara O’Sullivan for L Horgan (55).

ST FINBARR’S: Darragh Newman; Sam Ryan, Dylan Quinn, Enda Dennehy; Conor Dennehy, Ciarán Doolan, Colm Scully; Ian Maguire, Brian Hayes; Luke Hannigan, William Buckley, Thomas Egan; John Wigginton-Barrett, Rickey Barrett, Steven Sherlock. Subs: Cillian Myers-Murray for Egan (39), Fionn Crowley for C Dennehy (47), Bill O’Connell for Scully (60+1).

Referee: David Murnane (Macroom).

McCarthy Insurance Group and Co-Op Superstores County Junior A & B Hurling and Football Championship Quarter-Finals

McCarthy Insurance Group and Co-Op Superstores County Junior A & B Hurling and Football Championship Quarter-Finals, as ratified by the CCC.
All games listed will be played under Winner-on-the-Day regulations.
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Canovee hold firm to claim Premier JFC title against Cobh

Canovee 0-10 (0-0-10) Cobh 0-9 (0-2-5)

Canovee once again showed their resilience under pressure to secure a narrow victory over Cobh in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Junior Football Championship final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Having suffered the disappointment of conceding a late goal to neighbours Kilmurry in the 2024 final, Canovee were determined not to let another opportunity slip away. This time, their collective defensive effort proved decisive, with full-back and joint-captain Liam Kelleher producing a crucial turnover in the closing stages to deny Cobh a final chance of finding an equaliser.

In difficult conditions, with a strong wind making life challenging for both teams, Canovee’s dominance during the third quarter ultimately proved the difference. They created several promising goal opportunities during that spell but had to settle for points as they gradually took control of the contest.

Cobh had enjoyed the advantage of the elements in the first half and led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval. Evan Cummins extended that advantage shortly after the restart, but Canovee responded impressively, taking the game to their opponents and gradually turning the tide.

Daire McMahon opened their second-half account with a fine point before substitute Seán O’Connor delivered an excellent pass towards the same player. McMahon’s lay-off found Evan Dodd in a promising position, but the forward was unfortunate to spill possession over the end line when a goal appeared there for the taking.

Canovee continued to threaten. James Moynihan set up Jack Kelleher for an equalising point, while influential wing-back Eoghan Lehane came close to a goal, only for his effort to be blocked on the line by Cobh captain Seán Cummins.

The resulting 45 was converted by Evan Dodd, and Canovee came close to raising a green flag again when McMahon’s low effort from the left drifted just wide, leaving Odhran O’Driscoll unable to turn the ball in at the far post.

Their pressure eventually translated into a three-point advantage, with corner-back Patrick Buckley and wing-back O’Driscoll landing excellent scores within a minute of each other. Those proved to be Canovee’s final points, but they had done enough to put themselves in a commanding position.

Cobh, who had gone 18 minutes without scoring, finally ended that barren spell through an Eoin Cullimore free. Adam McCarthy then brought the margin back to a single point, setting up a tense finish.

However, Canovee remained composed under pressure, with Kelleher’s decisive intervention helping to preserve their lead and secure the Donal Hurley Cup.

Earlier, Cobh had struggled to make the most of the strong wind in the opening stages, with four early long-range attempts drifting wide. Canovee gradually established a foothold around midfield, where Aidan Murphy was particularly influential, and began to find openings through the Cobh defence.

James Moynihan threatened to create a goal opportunity, but determined defending from George Keating prevented him from getting through. Canovee continued to move the ball well, and a clever pass from Lehane allowed McMahon to put them 0-3 to 0-1 ahead before Conor O’Neill added another point around the quarter-hour mark.

Cobh responded through Timmy Wilk, whose two-point score brought them back within one. Lehane replied for Canovee, who almost opened up a five-point lead when a well-worked move presented Murphy with a close-range opportunity. Ed Walsh produced an excellent save to keep Cobh in the contest.

Cobh then rallied. Adam Doran pointed following a counter-attack before Cullimore struck from approximately 50 metres to give his side a 0-6 to 0-5 half-time advantage.

Cummins added another point after the restart, but Canovee took control thereafter, producing the decisive spell that ultimately secured the championship.

With their defence standing firm in the closing moments, Canovee had the satisfaction of completing the job this time around and lifting the Premier Junior Football Championship title.