2022 Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final Castlemartyr v Inniscarra

The Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final takes place this Sunday 16th October at 2:00pm.

Castlemartyr came through a tough Group C with two wins over Ballinhassig and Ballincollig, only to lose by 3 points again Kilworth. Their win over Ballinhassing proved vital to top the group and book their place in the Quarter Finals against Carrigaline. Jack McGann’s intended delivery for team mate Joe Stack which ended up in the Carrigaline goal proved the difference and sent Castlemartyr through to the Semi Finals. It was an all East Cork affair in the Semi Final, with Castlelyons facing off against Castlemartyr. This was an epic encounter throughout and it was only when the final whistle went that Castlemartyr knew they kept their remarkable championship record of 16 wins from their last 17 games going. The efforts of Barry Lawton, Daragh Moran and Mike Kelly proved influential throughout and eventually saw them into the Final by the slimmest of margins. Castlemartyr, having won the Lower Intermediate and Intermediate A Hurling Championships in the last two seasons will be looking to claim a third straight title this Sunday.

Inniscarra, notched up two wins and one draw during Group B to secure a safe passage to the Semi Finals where they faced Ballinhassig. A massive performance was produced by Inniscarra in what was a hard fought win, with Colm Casey’s late goal and Inniscarra’s three points in injury time putting the finishing touches on the game to get to their first county final since the old Intermediate Grade in 2003. Inniscarra have been part of the Premier Intermediate Grade since it inception in 2004, with appearances in multiple Quarter Finals and Semi Finals since then. They lost their last Semi Final back in 2019 to Kilworth by seven points. Having to over the Semi Final hurdle this time around, they will be hoping their experience at this grade will stand to them this Sunday.

The Referee for the game will be Shane Scanlon (Newcestown).

 

Tickets for the Co-Op Superstores PIHC Final Castlemartyr v Inniscarra are available now here https://www.universe.com/events/633c12f1e09e3400229603e6

2022 Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Junior Hurling Championship Final Ballygiblin v Tracton

The Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Junior Hurling Championship Final takes place this Saturday 15th October at 5:00pm, in what will be a first Championship meeting between Ballygiblin and Tracton.

Ballygiblin came through the Group stages with three wins out of three over Dripsey, Ballygarvan and Argideen Rangers. The impressive performances during the Group stages allowed for a safe passage straight to the Semi Final where they met Russell Rovers in what was a thriller with the sides level on 10 occasions by the end of normal time. Joseph O’Sullivan and Darragh Flynn were key to Ballygiblin with some inspired performances during the Semi Final, and the defence were very solid over the entire game. Last year’s Junior A winners will be hoping to build on their recent success and join the Intermediate A grade for the first time in their history for 2023.

Meanwhile, Tracton picked up two wins out of three in their journey through Group stages. Their final group game match saw them fighting for top spot with Russell Rovers, only to miss out by a margin of 5 points. This booked their place in the Quarter Finals where they faced a hard-working Milford side. Tracton were made to work extremely hard due to the enormous pressure from Milford in the second half, but two goals from Ronan Walsh saw Tracton through to the Semi Finals. Tracton then faced off against a spirited Kilbrittain side in the Semi Final with both sides leaving everything on the field, with the teams level on 15 occasions. It was again Ronan Walsh, who scored 1-12 for Tracton to help them outlast Kilbrittain and book their place in the Final. Tracton have had experience at Intermediate and Premier Intermediate grades in the past, and they will be striving to make it back to the Intermediate A grade for 2023.

The referee for the game will be William Wallace (Aghada).

 

Tickets for the Co-Op Superstores PJHC Final Ballygiblin v Tracton are available now here https://www.universe.com/events/633c18eccdb9060023086e4a

New Coaching Training Project

QQI Level 4 GAA Player & Coach Development:

  • New project first time to be done in Ireland
  • Open to all over 18, Male and Females, no previous experience required.
  • Great opportunity for anyone not sure what to do after finishing school with an interest in GAA
  • Get paid €220 weekly while training, plus all materials and equipment required will be provided
  • 12 month course, based in Farranferris, Cork
  • You will be a certified coach at Level 4 Fetec in Sport & Recreation
  • Certs in G.A.A. Level 1, Foundation, & Child Welfare Course.
  • Hands on supervised training of club underage teams & in a Schools Coaching programme training
    children
  • Please Note: The Closing date is Tuesday 1st November 2022

Please see more information below.

Co-Op Superstores Senior A Hurling Final Courcey Rovers v Fr O’Neills Match Report

Fr O’Neill’s Declan Dalton celebrates the win over Courcey Rovers in the Co-Op Superstores Cork senior A hurling championship final. Picture: Eddie O’Hare

 

Report by Denis Hurley of the Echo

Fr O’Neills 0-20 Courcey Rovers 2-12

IT was third time lucky for Fr O’Neills as they came good in the second half to see off Courcey Rovers in the Co-op SuperStores Cork SAHC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

Beaten finalists the last two years, the Ballymacoda/Ladysbridge side trailed by five points, 1-11 to 0-9, at half-time against the 2021 Premier IHC winners but the second period saw them take control of the game, not conceding until injury time, when Courceys almost salvaged something.

Ger Millerick was freed from his duty marking Seán Twomey, with Seán O’Connor taking over as the Cork star benefited from the more open prairie of the half-back line. Declan Dalton, with just one point – a 65 – to his name in the first half after being heavily policed by Fergus Lordan, began to find more latitude and the tone was set as his pass allowed Jason Hankard a shot at goal. His lobbed effort hit the crossbar and bounced wide, but they began to harness some momentum.

Two Dalton frees and one from play after a mazy run were followed by Billy Dunne’s second of the afternoon and they were level as Hankard set up Dalton for his fifth of the day. While Courceys goalkeeper Stephen Nyhan saved from Dunne, there was no stopping O’Neills, who pushed two points ahead through Joe Millerick and Billy Dunne.

Courceys hadn’t shot a wide in the first half but that tally began to build worryingly in the final quarter as Richard Sweetnam and Stephen Nyhan put balls wide while O’Neills were finding a lot more space in attack.

Dunne was proving a real handful, drawing a foul that led to Dalton’s sixth and then scoring his fourth of the game to make it 0-18 to 1-11 with 54 minutes on the clock. Dunne almost got the goal to make it safe but, under pressure from Martin Collins and Billy Mulcahy, he couldn’t get a shot in – and almost injured himself as he ran into the post.

Tomás Millerick and Dalton left six between the sides in injury time and two and a half of the four minutes had gone when Twomey was fouled for a Courceys free that was deposited to the net by netminder Nyhan.

There was time for one last, potentially levelling attack. When captain Tadhg O’Sullivan won the ball on the left, he passed to Sweetnam and his shot was well-hit but just too high and O’Neills were the champions.

The victors had begun in roaring form, with a pair of John Millerick points sandwiching one by Billy Dunne in the opening three minutes, but the rest of the first half saw them outscored by 1-11 to 0-6.

Courceys centre-back Fergus Lordan sacrificed his own game to follow Declan Dalton wherever he went, including a stint closer to goal, while midfielder DJ Twomey set the tone for them with his intensity-work around midfield.

Olan Twomey got them off the mark and four straight points followed. Seán Twomey, the focal point of their attack, had Ger Millerick for company in the first half, meaning that clean possession were rare but they still profited from the breaks after deliveries inside. One of them almost resulted in a Ronan Nyhan goal but they had the advantage and Richard Sweetnam made it 0-5 to 0-3.

At the other end, O’Neills might have had a goal as Courceys goalkeeper Stephen Nyhan was dispossessed but, in the slippery conditions, Cillian Broderick was unable to get shot away before the danger was cleared by Martin Collins. Even so, the East Cork side were level at 0-6 each on 19 after Tomás Millerick pointed following a turnover.

Courceys pushed on in the closing stages of the half, notwithstanding a Billy Dunne goal attempt for O’Neills that fizzed past the post. Sweetnam, Crowley and DJ Twomey were on target as they moved 0-10 to 0-7 in front. In the third second minute of injury time, the scoreboard read 0-11 to 0-8 when Crowley’s delivery towards Twomey ended up with the ball squirting loose for Nyhan to pull to the net.

Joe Millerick pulled one back for O’Neills before half-time but something big was needed on the resumption if they were to avoid a third consecutive final defeat. They certainly came up with that and now the premier senior grade awaits.

Scorers for Fr O’Neill’s: D Dalton 0-7 (0-3 f, 0-1 65), B Dunne 0-4, Joe Millerick, John Millerick 0-3 each, T Millerick 0-2, K O’Sullivan 0-1.

Courcey Rovers: R Sweetnam 0-5 (0-3 f), R Nyhan, S Nyhan (f) 1-1 each, DJ Twomey, O Crowley 0-2 each, C Roche 0-1.

FR O’NEILL’S: P O’Sullivan; M Millerick, G Millerick, S O’Connor; M O’Keeffe, D Harrington, R Kenneally; T Millerick, K O’Sullivan; J Hankard, D Dalton, Joe Millerick; John Millerick, C Broderick, B Dunne.

Subs: E Motherway for Kenneally (half-time), P McMahon for John Millerick (48), J Barry for M Millerick (60), P Hassett for Joe Millerick (60).

COURCEY ROVERS: S Nyhan; B Mulcahy, M Collins, C Daly; S McCarthy, F Lordan, C Roche; DJ Twomey. L Collins; B Ryan, T O’Sullivan, O Crowley; R Nyhan, S Twomey, R Sweetnam.

Subs: B Collins for McCarthy (28, injured), J O’Neill for Ryan (44), J McCarthy for Collins (47), D O’Donovan for R Nyhan (59).

Referee: C O’Regan (Ballyhea).

Co-Op Superstores Intermediate A Hurling Final Cloughduv v Dungourney Match Report

Dungourney captain Dylan Healy raises the Paddy Walsh Cup Picture: George Hatchell

 

Report By John Coleman of the Echo

Dungourney 1-16  Cloughduv 0-13

IT wasn’t the prettiest of affairs, but that won’t matter a jot in Dungourney as they savour the winning feeling after defeating Cloughduv in the final of the Co-op Superstores Cork IAHC in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on a wet Sunday afternoon.

In a game of six missed goal chances, it was Ryan Denny’s penalty just after half-time that sent Dungourney on their way to a famous victory.

The home of Jamesie Kelleher had many heroes on the day, Shane Hegarty hit 0-4, Ryan Denny covered every blade of glass while young Jack Leahy’s status continues to grow.

However, when the dust settles over the next few days it will be their goalkeeper, Paul Flynn who will receive the biggest accolades as he gave an exhibition of goalkeeping, saving from point blank range on four occasions across the hour, a contribution that will haunt Cloughduv over the winter.

The first half was a tale of steel over style, perspiration over inspiration and missed goal chances as both sides struggled with the greasy conditions.

Three of those goal chances fell to Cloughduv inside the opening eight minutes and on each occasion Dungourney Flynn, proved more than able, saving brilliantly from Aidan Murphy, Brian Verling and Mark Verling.

The Imokilly side grew in stature after each repulsion as they raced into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes. Jack Leahy had two of those points for Dungourney, John Ahern had the other while Brian Verling tapped over an important free for Cloughduv after missing two earlier efforts.

Shane Hegarty was everywhere for Dungourney at this stage, and two points from him and a Ryan Denny free gave them a 0-6 to 0-3 lead at the end of the first quarter, Verling and Mark Walsh with the scores for Cloughduv.

Gradually, however, the Muskerry side began to impose themselves on the game and three-in-a-row from Murphy, Mark Verling and Walsh levelled the game for the first time at 0-6 apiece.

A Brian Verling free then edged Cloughduv ahead, before the fourth goal chance of the game fell to Dungourney’s Leahy but unfortunately for him, Conrad Crowley saved brilliantly.

Nonetheless, Leahy soon added a free to level proceedings again before Hegarty and Brian Verling exchanged scores to leave the sides deadlock at 0-8 each at the break.

Dungourney moved Hegarty in to the edge of the square on the resumption and it was soon to pay a significant dividend.

Denny pushed his side ahead with a smart point from play before Paul Flynn once again saved brilliantly, this time from Brian Verling.

The miss was made more significant moments later when Hegarty gathered a long delivery from Cormac Griffin before being fouled for a penalty.

Captain Denny stepped up and crashed it home and suddenly Dungourney had the wind in their sails.

Leahy tapped over another couple of frees, with Hegarty winning one of them but Cloughduv showed their resolve, replying with three of their own, Stephen O’Donoghue with the pick of them to leave Denny’s golden goal between them with 15 to play.

It was all to play for now as two Leahy frees pushed Dungourney ahead before Cormac O’Driscoll and a Verling free brought Cloughduv within three again.

But it was Dungourney who finished in style with Leahy, Hegarty and Griffin landing the final scores of the game to secure them a place in next year’s PIHC.

 

Scorers for Dungourney: J Leahy (0-8, 6 f), R Denny (1-2, 1-0 pen, 0-1 f), S Hegarty (0-4), C Griffin and John Ahern (0-1 each).

Cloughduv: B Verling (0-6, frees), A Murphy and M Walsh (0-2 each), C O’Driscoll, M Verling and S O’Donoghue (0-1 each).

DUNGOURNEY: P Flynn; M Leahy, M McGrath, D Healy (c); S Rohan, S Motherway, C Padden; J Leahy, S Hegarty; James Ahern, B Forbes, John Ahern; N McGrath, N Flynn, R Denny.

Subs: C Griffin for N McGrath (h/t), C Flynn for N Flynn (41), W McCarthy for Rohan (47), C Canty for Mannix (48), N McGrath for James Ahern (58), C O’Doherty for M McGrath (inj, 61).

CLOUGHDUV: C Crowley; L Kelleher, B Ahern, Ó O’Driscoll; S Curzon, C O’Driscoll, E Clifford (c); A Murphy, W Ahern; M Walsh, E Moynihan, J Mannix; M Verling, B Verling, C Ryan.

Subs: S O’Donoghue for Moynihan (h/t), P Buckley Curzon (47), S O’Connor for Ryan (54), D Walsh for O’Driscoll (62).

Referee: Pat Lyons (Bishopstown).