Official Sponsor
Bord Gais Energy Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship Final
CORK 1-16 TIPPERARY 1-14
By Denis Hurley at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh via www.gaa.ie
A late surge from Cork, which put them six points clear of Tipperary, was enough to secure the Bord Gáis Energy Munster Under 20 title at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, despite the visitors giving themselves hope with a goal at the death.
While Cork had led by 0-13 to 0-11 as the second-half water-break, points just before and just after the stoppage from Andrew Ormond tied matters for the first time since the opening half. It asked a question of Cork but they had the lead again thanks to a superb point from Shane Barrett, his fifth, and Daire Connery’s free from distance restored the two-point advantage.
In the 58th minute, they were five clear as a low ball across goal from sub Seán Twomey was picked up by another replacement, Brian O’Sullivan, and though his shot was saved by Aaron Browne, a third sub, Jack Cahalane, was on hand to fire the rebound to the net.
When Cahalane landed a free in injury time, it was 1-16 to 0-13, the biggest lead of the game up to that stage but Tipp, the defending Munster and All-Ireland champions, didn’t give up easily. After Ormond got his third point of the night, he struck for a goal in the 63rd minute following Eoin Davis’s stop to deny Keith Ryan, but no further chances presented themselves for Tipp.
Cork – beaten by Tipp in the last Under 21 final in 2018 and the first Under 20 decider in 2019 – are now in a third straight final, awaiting Leinster champions Dublin or Galway, with January 9/10 the scheduled date.
They were able to afford a slow start here, with Devon Ryan putting Tipp 0-2 to 0-0 ahead early on, but Cork soon found their rhythm and Darragh Flynn and Barrett had them level with a pair of well-worked points and Alan Connolly put them ahead with a pair of frees.
With Eoin Carey impressing in midfield, they moved 0-8 to 0-4 in front when Colin O’Brien got his second point in the 22nd minute but Tipp came back well, led by the long-distance free-taking of captain Eoghan Connolly.
It was 0-10 to 0-9 for Cork at half-time and they couldn’t shake free of Tipp in the third quarter – in fact, Tipp should probably have had a goal but Kevin Maher was penalised for over-carrying when he was through and Ormond was denied by a Davis save.
In the closing stages, Cork made their push and, ultimately, it was sufficient to ensure the win.
Scorers for Cork: Shane Barrett 0-5, Alan Connolly 0-4 (4fs), Jack Cahalane 1-1 (1f), Colin O’Brien 0-3, Brian Roche, Daire Connery, Darragh Flynn 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tipperary: Andrew Ormond 1-3, Devon Ryan 0-5 (3fs), Eoghan Connolly 0-4 (4fs), Kian O’Kelly, Conor Bowe 0-1 each.
CORK: Eoin Davis; Conor O’Callaghan, Eoin Roche, Aaron Walsh Barry; Daire Connery, Ciarán Joyce, Daire O’Leary; Tommy O’Connell, Eoin Carey; Brian Roche, Darragh Flynn, Brian Hayes; Colin O’Brien, Alan Connolly, Shane Barrett.
Subs: Shane O’Regan for Connolly (41), Jack Cahalane for Hayes (44), Seán Twomey for Flynn (45), Brian O’Sullivan for Carey (50), Pádraig Power for O’Brien (56).
TIPPERARY: Aaron Browne; Éanna McBride, Darragh Flannery, Johnny Ryan; Conor Whelan, Eoghan Connolly, Ray McCormack; Kevin Maher, Kevin McCarthy; James Devaney, Andrew Ormond, Kian O’Kelly; Gearóid O’Connor, Devon Ryan, Conor Bowe.
Subs: Seán Ryan for O’Kelly (48), Max Hackett for Devon Ryan (49), Keith Ryan for McCarthy (60).
REFEREE: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
In 2021, Rebel Óg plan, in accordance with National Policy, to run their main age grades at Fé13, Fé15 and Fé17. As 2021 will be a transition year to these new main age grades, we will also organise competitions at Fé12, Fé14, Fé16 and Fé18. We will organise minor championships in both Fé17 and Fé18 to ensure that players with their 18th birthday in 2021 have a minor championship.
Rebel Óg are currently working on a revised fixture plan for 2021 taking into account the new situation with regard to main age grades, the decision to play both Fé17 and Fé18 championships in 2021, the requirement to provide a comprehensive and appropriate games programme for all players and feedback received from clubs. The exact programme of games will depend on the level of entries in each age grade and category. Clubs will be asked to submit an application on an online portal, indicating the age grades and the number of teams the club intends affiliating for 2021. Clubs will also be asked to indicate what grades they believe are most appropriate for their teams. We hope to have this portal available for entries on 4th January and entries will close on 9th January.
As the directive to change the main age grades came very late, at a stage where plans for 2021 were well advanced, the time available for grading and fixture planning is now quite tight so we appeal for co-operation from all clubs with the timeline.
We set out below, in broad outline, the provisional plan for each age group; all plans are subject to change depending on the Covid restrictions that may be in place during 2021:
Organising Committees:
Regions; There are 4 regional committees in Rebel Óg; East, Mid-South, North, West.
These committees will organise Fé12, Fé13, Fé15, Fé17 and Fé18 competitions in the regions.
Rebel Óg County; This committee will organise Premier 1, Premier 2, County, Fé14, Fé16, C3 and competitions for second and third teams (Divisions 4, 5 and 6)
Fé6 to Fé11;
Fe6, Fe7, Fe8, Fe9, Fe10 & Fe11 will continue along the same lines as other years with the GDA’s running blitzes for Fe7 – Fe8 with Mini leagues for Fe9 – Fe 11 in all regions under the control of Rebel Óg Coaching and the GDA’s.
Main age grades, Fé13, Fé15, Fé17;
Fé13 Hurling and Football;
Rebel Óg County will organise Premier 1, Premier 2, C3 plus Div 4, Div 5 & Div 6 Leagues for second, third teams etc.
The Regions will organise Div 1, Div 2 & Div 3.
All Leagues will include semi-finals and finals.
As there are no calendar constraints for this age grade, competitions will run from March to October approx., exact details will depend on number of entries, grading etc.
Fé15 Hurling and Football;
Rebel Óg County will organise Premier 1 and Premier 2 (League and Championship), County Championships, C3 Leagues plus Div 4, Div 5 & Div 6 (League and Championship) for second, third teams etc.
The Regions will organise Div 1, Div 2 & Div 3 competitions (League and Championship).
All Fé15 Leagues will be run as Féile Leagues from March to mid-May; National Féile will be held on 26th June (hurling) and 3rd July (football).
Championships will run from July to October approx.
Fé17 Hurling and Football;
Rebel Óg County will organise Premier 1 and Premier 2 (Championship only), County Championships, C3 Leagues plus Div 4, Div 5 & Div 6 (Championship only) for second, third teams etc.
The Regions will organise Div 1, Div 2 & Div 3 competitions, (Championship only).
Championships will run from March to July with an exam break from mid-May to mid-June approx.
Fé18 Hurling and Football;
Rebel Óg County will organise Premier 1 and Premier 2 (Championship only), County Championships, Div 4, Div 5 & Div 6 (Championship only) for second, third teams etc.
The Regions will organise Div 1, Div 2 & Div 3 competitions, (Championship only).
Clubs entering this age grade must also enter Fé17. Championships will run from July to October.
C3 Leagues or Super 10 Competitions may be organised at Fé18 from July to October if there are sufficient entries to run viable competitions.
Note;
Clubs with sufficient player numbers can enter as many teams as they wish at Fé13, Fé15 and Fé17. These teams will play in Divisions 4, 5 and 6 which are exclusively for second, third and, where applicable, fourth teams. Rebel Óg recommends that clubs take up this option in order to provide adequate games opportunities for all players.
Secondary age grades, Fé12, Fé14, Fé16: Clubs that wish to enter Fé12 must enter Fé13. Clubs that wish to enter Fé14 must enter Fé13 and Fé15. Clubs that wish to enter Fé16 must enter Fé15 and Fé17. Clubs that wish to enter Fé18 must enter Fé17.
Fé14 and Fé16 competitions are restricted to players “on the age”.
Fé12 Hurling and Football;
Div 1, Div 2 & Div 3 leagues will be run by the Regions. Exact games programme will depend on the level of entries but it will be similar to previous years.
Fé14 Hurling and Football;
Rebel Óg County will organise Leagues at this age grade for clubs that can field “on the age”, i.e in 2021, boys born in 2007. Championships will be organised in the later part of the year if fixture planning for Fé13 and Fé15 allows. This will be clarified when the exact level of entries is known.
As there are no calendar constraints for this age grade, competitions will run from March to October approx., exact details will depend on number of entries, grading etc.
U16 Hurling and Football;
Rebel Óg County will organise Leagues at this age grade for clubs that can field “on the age”, i.e in 2021, boys born in 2005. Clubs entering this age grade must enter Fé15 and Fé17. Championships will be organised in the later part of the year if fixture planning for Fé15, Fé17 and Fé18 allows. This will be clarified when the exact level of entries is known.
Competitions will run from March to October approx. with an exam break from mid-May to mid-June approx. Exact details will depend on number of entries, grading etc
The provisional plan for the scheduling of games is as follows;
Monday – Fé12 & Fé15 games
Wednesday – Fé14 & Fé17/Fé18 games
Saturday – Fé13 & Fé16 games
This programme of games is intended to promote player retention and development; the good player will always get plenty of games but the weaker player may not, this programme will help all players to get adequate game time if the clubs plan accordingly. It is up to the clubs to lead by example. Clubs should enter sufficient teams to ensure that all of their players have a good programme of games without overusing the strong player or underusing the weaker player. “Games for all” needs to be our aim.
U21 to Adult level will be run in 2021 by the Senior Board as normal.
