Encouraging times for Cork Football

Electric Ireland Minor Football Championship Final

CORK 3-20 GALWAY 3-14 By Cian O’Connell at Croke Park

These are encouraging times for Cork football with the Electric Ireland Minor title added to the collection at GAA headquarters.

A compelling encounter was decided by the remarkable resilience demonstrated by a Conor Corbett inspired Cork, who delivered with substance and style to secure a memorable extra-time success.

Having already tasted EirGrid Under 20 glory in 2019 this was another pleasant afternoon for Cork.

Ultimately Galway left reflecting on what might have been. Seconds away from triumphing Galway were beaten by a determined Cork, who were cool and calculated under duress.

Tight, tense, and tactical the opening period was satisfactory for Galway, who departed at the break armed with a 0-8 to 0-5 advantage.

That was chiefly due to the damage inflicted by a smart full forward line which glimmered with potential throughout.

The splendid Tomo Culhane was surrounded by two lively attackers in Nathan Grainger and Daniel Cox, who were motoring smoothly as Donal O’Fatharta’s outfit set the agenda.

At the opposite end Cork captain Conor Corbett did mine three first half points causing Galway problems with his considerable ability.

While neither team register a score until the eighth minute Galway went on to enjoy a productive burst prompted by Culhane.

Cork were struggling to contain the Salthill-Knocknacarra clubman, who clipped four points to edge Galway 0-4 to 0-2 ahead by the 16th minute.

When the interval rolled around the gap was extended to three with Culhane briskly adding two frees either side of a Patrick Campbell effort.

 

Galway had moved 0-10 to 0-6 in the ascendancy, but were then rocked by a Cork spell of supremacy which yielded 1-2 without reply.

Cork’s goal arrived in the 37th minute when Jack Cahalane rattled the Galway net following a Michael O’Neill pass.

Suddenly Cork only trailed by one and they were back trading on parity when Darragh Cashman thumped over a point.

A subsequent Corbett score had Cork 1-8 to 0-10 in front, but Nathan Grainger levelled in the 43rd minute ensuring the issue was delicately poised entering the last quarter.

It remained gripping until the end of normal time as the lead switched hands on numerous occasions.

Daniel Cox’s thunderbolt goal in the 57th minute had Galway 1-12 to 1-11 ahead but Michael O’Neill equalised from a free.

Culhane steered Galway in front. Cork’s response was a Luke Murphy point. The drama continued when Galway substitute Niall Cunningham slammed a goal in the third minute of additional time.

Once more Cork came swinging with Corbett replying with the major required; 2-13 each. Culhane had a last gasp opportunity with a free from an awkward angle. It was waved wide. Extra-time was required.

Cork started with energy and intent as a Ryan O’Donovan goal was quickly followed by a point from the crafty Corbett and when O’Neill added two more Bobby O’Dwyer’s side were six to the good.

Even though the bustling Cunningham blasted a goal in the dying embers, Galway couldn’t recover.

Scorers for Cork: Conor Corbett 1-7, Michael O’Neill 0-6 (3fs), Jack Cahalane 1-1, Ryan O’Donovan 1-2, Darragh Cashman 0-2, Patrick Campbell and Luke Murphy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Tomo Culhane 0-10 (7fs), Niall Cunningham 2-0, Daniel Cox 1-2, Nathan Grainger 0-2.

CORK: Cian O’Leary; Daniel Peet, Neil Lordan, Joseph O’Shea; Adam Walsh Murphy, Daniel Linehan, Darragh Cashman; Eoghan Nash, Jack Lawton; Hugh Murphy, Patrick Campbell, Kelan Scannell; Michael O’Neill, Jack Cahalane, Conor Corbett.

Subs: Sean Andrews for Peet (35), Nathan Gough for O’Shea (46), Luke Murphy for Nash (51), Ryan O’Donovan for Cahalane (60), Tadhg O’Donoghue for Walsh Murphy (69), Jack Cahalane for Campbell (76), Eoghan Nash for Lawton (76).

GALWAY: Donie Halleran; Jonathan McGrath, Ruairí King, Liam Tevnan; Cian Hernon, Ethan Fiorentini, Kyle O’Neill; James McLaughlin, Daniel O’Flaherty; Evan Nolan, Warren Seoige, Dylan Brady; Nathan Grainger, Tomo Culhane, Daniel Cox.

Subs: Conal Gallagher for O’Flaherty (52), Niall Cunningham for Grainger (56), Darragh Kennedy for Nolan (56), James Webb for Hernon (57), Mark Colleran for Brady (65), Daniel McNulty for O’Neill (76), Alan Naughton for Cox (76).

REFEREE: Noel Mooney (Cavan).

Recrational GAA is back!!!

Recreational GAA is restarting on the Astro in Pairc ui Chaoimh on Thursday 19th September from 8-9pm.

What is Recreational GAA: Recreational GAA is a modified Hurling and Football game designed to offer players who may not longer be playing competitively or retired from playing with their clubs, a chance to continue playing GAA in a social setting with like minded players. It is essentially a GAA version of “5 a side soccer” or “Tag Rugby”.

Who is it for?: It is for any males who are over the age of 30 (we are lenient with this) who wish to continue playing Hurling/Football but may not have the physical capacity to play competitively with their club or may no longer have a club to play with. Last year, we had a wide demographic of participants ranging from 31 to 54 years of age, ranging from very fit to very unfit, ranging from former senior hurlers to players who hadn’t played since primary school.

Where did it come from?: GAA is the highest participated sport competitively in Ireland with more members of clubs that any other sport. However, Soccer and Rugby offer an excellent avenue for recreational games such as 5 a-side soccer on Astros and Tag Rugby. If a GAA player stops playing for their club (due to age, other commitments, etc) there is no avenue for players to stay active within the GAA as a participant (other than Coaching/Administration). This idea has been bandied about for years and some clubs in Dublin have had a Social games ongoing for years which probably came from LGFA excellent Gaelic for Mothers & Others program. Last year, we experimented in Cork and had a huge take up with between 60-80 turning up for the pilot program. Local clubs in Cork such as Carrigaline have a Social GAA program running nearly year round and Blarney have held one off blitzes around Christmas. From the number of participants in Cork, we are rolling out the program again for the 2019 Winter.

What are the Rules?: It is basically normal GAA rules except modifications such as only “one hop, one solo” in football. We use Size 4 footballs and tennis balls for Hurling (due to the small pitch, these don’t travel as far). We use small sized pitch usually 65m long. Games usually last about 15 minutes long with each team playing 3 matches each night, so plenty of time for breaks to catch your breath. Lastly, it is a non contact game (there will be incidental contact which is allowed but no aggressive tackling is permitted) as everyone has a job to get up to in the morning and those who enjoy the cut and thrust of full contact can still be catered for a local club level.

Why should someone take part? For Fun, enjoyment and to be healthy. For all the participants who took part in 2018/19, feedback was that it was very enjoyable. Players got to play a game that they loved and in a fun setting. In the pilot program, we also held Health talks and gave the participants some healthy tips on topics such as Strength & Conditioning for the older man, Healthy Eating and Mindfulness.

How do i take part?: Simply Register your interest on the form here and you will be on the correspondence list for the coming months and you will be updated on all upcoming events https://forms.gle/HvyGYBRWdxUXaGV1A

Any queries please contact Colm Crowley 086 3687799