14-man Cork edged out in Munster U20 opener

Cork 0-22 Tipperary 1-21

Cork’s Munster U20 Hurling Championship campaign began with a narrow defeat to Tipperary, despite a hugely spirited performance in difficult circumstances at FBD Semple Stadium.

The Rebels were reduced to 14 men just before half-time but still managed to take a 0-12 to 0-11 lead into the break. Barry Walsh was central to Cork’s challenge throughout, finishing with an impressive 0-14, including 13 frees, as he kept the scoreboard ticking during a tightly contested opening half.

Cork showed tremendous character after the restart. Despite the numerical disadvantage, they played some of their best hurling, with Walsh continuing his accuracy from placed balls while Johnny Murphy and Zach Biggane added valuable scores from play. That surge saw Cork open up a six-point lead, 0-19 to 0-13, and put them firmly in control entering the final quarter.

However, the turning point came on 42 minutes when Jamie Ormond pounced on a rebound to fire to the net for Tipperary, cutting the deficit and swinging momentum. From there, Cormac Fitzpatrick’s accuracy from frees helped draw the sides level.

Cork continued to battle, with late points from Johnny Murphy and Barry O’Flynn levelling the game, but Tipperary finished stronger, edging ahead through Fitzpatrick before Oisín O’Donoghue added the final score in stoppage time.

While defeat is disappointing, Cork can take real positives from a determined and resilient display.

Scorers for Tipperary: C Fitzpatrick 0-11 (0-8 f), S Tobin 0-6, J Ormond 1-0, O O’Donoghue 0-2, E Doughan, D Costigan 0-1.

Cork: B Walsh 0-14 (0-13 f), Z Biggane, Johnny Murphy 0-2 each, B O’Flynn, F O’Brien, MT Brosnan, John Murphy 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: P McCormack; C O’Reilly, E Morris, S Ryan; D Ryan, E Murray, S Rowan; T Ryan, S Cleary; A Ryan, S Tobin, D Costigan; C Fitzpatrick, O O’Donoghue, J Ormond.

Subs: E Doughan for A Ryan (half-time), P Ryan for S Ryan (45), J Hackett for Cleary (58), J Hayes for Costigan (60).

CORK: O Walsh (Youghal); D Heavin (Russell Rovers), M Barrett (Carrigtwohill), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers); MT Brosnan (Glen Rovers), D O’Leary (Ballincollig), Ben Walsh (Killeagh); John Murphy (Mallow), Conor Noonan (Kanturk); Z Biggane (Charleville), Barry Walsh (Killeagh), Jack O’Brien (Douglas); Johnny Murphy (Dromina), B O’Flynn (Sarsfields), F O’Brien (Erin’s Own).

Subs: C Garde (Lisgoold) for Ben Walsh (45), C O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh) for Biggane (48), James O’Brien (Cloyne) for Jack O’Brien (55), C Deane (Killeagh) for Noonan (57).

Referee: N O’Toole (Waterford).

New Hurling Rules

Please see below the new Hurling Rules that were passed at Congress in February.
They are effective from March 28th at adult and underage.

U20 team to play Tipperary on Wednesday has been announced.

Cork will face Tipperary this Wednesday evening as the Noel Furlong and his management team confirm their starting fifteen and matchday panel for their opening championship game.

Supporters are encouraged to get behind the team and show their support on the night.

Tickets for the game can be purchased below.

No. Player Club
1 Óisín Walsh Youghal
2 Darragh Heavin Russell Rovers
3 Denis Fitzgerald Bride Rovers
4 David O’Leary Ballincollig
5 Michael T Brosnan Glen Rovers
6 John Murphy Mallow
7 Matthew Barrett Carrigtwohill
8 Ben Walsh Killeagh
9 Jack O’Brien Douglas
10 Barry Walsh Killeagh
11 Barry O’Flynn Sarsfields
12 Johnnie Murphy Dromina
13 Finn O’Brien Erin’s Own
14 Zach Biggane Charleville
15 Conor Noonan Kanturk
16 Tom Walsh Aghada
17 Rian O’Riordan Blackrock
18 Colm Garde Lisgoold
19 Johnnie Galvin Éire Óg
20 Jayden Casey Youghal
21 James O’Brien Cloyne
22 Craig O’Sullivan Na Piarsaigh
23 Cormac Deane Killeagh
24 Diarmuid Wall Glen Rovers
Additional Panel Members
— James Murray St Finbarr’s
— Jack Counihan Watergrasshill
— Eoghan O’Shea Ballinhassig
— Cillian O’Callaghan Dungourney
— Peter Barrett Midleton
— Mark O’Brien Douglas

Footballers promoted following victory

Cork promoted following victory

 

Allianz Football League Division Two

Cork 0-22 Tyrone 0-19

By Francis Mooney at O’Neill’s Healy Park

Cork’s ten-year absence from Division One was brought to an end in glorious fashion at O’Neills Healy Park, where they clinched promotion with victory over Tyrone.

John Cleary’s outfit still have a league title to play for when they take on Meath at Croke Park next weekend.

The first half graft which saw them take a slender lead into the interval after playing into the lead stood to the Munster men as they faced a resurgent Red Hand after the restart, with the sides level on five occasions before Brian Hurley came off the bench to drive it home.

 

Cork faced into a gusting breeze, but established a platform around midfield with an aggressive press on the Tyrone kcik-out, easing ahead through Mark Cronin, Colm O’Callaghan, and Stephen Sherlock.

Tyrone got off the mark in the ninth minute through Ethan Jordan, but they were reeling in the face of their opponent’s direct running, with O’Callaghan, Brian O’Driscoll and Tommy Walsh always ready to take on defenders.

O’Callaghan powered through for his second score, and they came close to grabbing a goal, Sean McDonnell getting on the end of a move involving Ian Maguire and Cronin to fire in a shot that was well saved by Oisin O’Kane.

Tyrone responded with a Jordan two-pointer, but the Munster men went five clear by the end of the opening quarter as they reeled off three scores in a row.

The Red Hands managed to turn the midfield battle around as Brian Kennedy made a couple of bit fetches, closing the gap through Mattie Donnelly, who was also involved in the move, along with Darragh Canavan, that ended with Darren McCurry crashing a fierce shot against the crossbar.

Feeding off turnovers, they maintained a strong finish to the half, Darragh Canavan and Donnelly narrowing the gap to a single point, with Cork taking a 0-9 to 0-8 lead into the interval.

In the opening moments of the second half, substitute Eoin McElholm got through to force Cork ‘keeper Patrick Doyle into a save,

Tyrone briefly led through Donnelly, but Cork, breaking at pace, regained the lead as O’Callaghan stroked over his third of the afternoon.

The advantage changed rapidly as Canavan and Donnelly struck again, but Cork, with dynamic wing backs Brian O’Driscoll and Luke Fahy making ground along the flanks, regained control.

When Steven Sherlock sent over a brilliant two-pointer, followed by a free, they led by three moving into the final quarter.

While Donnelly kept the Red Hands in touch, bringing his tally to six from play, it was Cork who had the finishing power, Hurley seeing a long range effort bounce over for a two-pointer, and a late fisted effort to seal victory.

Scorers for Cork: S Sherlock 0-5 (2f, 1tp), B Hurley 0-4 (1tp) C O’Callaghan 0-3, C Og Jones 0-2, M Cronin (1f), S McDonnell 0-2 each, T Walsh, I Maguire, D Sheedy, L Fahy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tyrone: M Donnelly 0-6, E Jordan 0-5 (2f, 1tp), D Canavan 0-4 (f), D McCurry 0-2, C Daly, C Kilpatrick 0-1 each

Cork: P Doyle; M Shanley, D O’Mahony, S Meehan, B O’Driscoll, T Walsh, L Fahy; C O’Callaghan, I Maguire; P Walsh, M Cronin, S McDonnell; C Og Jones, D Sheedy, S Sherlock.

Subs: B Hurley for Sheedy (58), R Deane for Walsh (60), K O’Donovan for Fahy (61), S Walsh for McDonnell (67), D Buckley for Maguire (70).

Tyrone: O O’Kane; J Clarke; P Teague, C Quinn; B Cullen, N Devlin, S O’Donnell; B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick; B McDonnell, R Cassidy, M Donnelly; D McCurry, D Canavan, E Jordan.

Subs: E McElholm for Jordan (h-t), F Burns for McDonnell (38), C Daly for Cassidy (54), M McKernan for Cullen (60), C Bogue for McCurry (67).

Referee: M McNally (Monaghan).

Hurlers finish strong with a win in our final home league game

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

Cork 6-26 Offaly 0-20

Goalscoring power helped Cork to ease clear of Offaly at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night as they booked a spot in a second successive Allianz HL Division 1A final.

A clash with Limerick in a fortnight gives the Rebels the chance to retain the title they were waiting 27 years to win; they knew that a win or a draw here would guarantee them passage – as things transpired, they would have advance with a loss, but a home defeat was never likely.

They were set on their way with an early Barry Walsh goal, but it took time to get on top as Offaly contended well, with Dan Ravenhill impressing for them. With 22 minutes gone, it was 1-5 to 0-6, but Alan Connolly’s frees pushed Cork into a seven-point advantage before two goals coming up to half-time allowed them to solidify the advantage.

First, Hugh O’Connor’s delivery was deftly met by Brian Hayes in the air to divert the ball past Liam Hoare, who had earlier helped to prevent a couple of other Cork goal chances. Cork were fortunate in that a third goal arrived immediately after, with Darragh Fitzgibbon gifted a loose ball close ball close to goal before firing home.

A 3-10 to 0-7 advantage with the wind to come meant the outcome was inevitable and Cork found a greater attacking fluency in the second half, under-pinned by the impact of subs William Buckley and Declan Dalton, showcasing the competition for places.

Just after Dalton slung over a lovely ball from the left, they had a fourth goal as Mark Coleman’s pass allowed Hayes to demonstrate super ball control before a batted finish; as in the opening period, a goal from him was followed by one from Fitzgibbon to make it 5-15 to 0-10.

Their sixth goal came not long after, Tim O’Mahony with a crashing finish, and though Offaly’s Adam Screeney did keep their tally ticking over, the visitors never threatened a goal.

Cork sub Pádraig Power marked his return to action after 14 months out with a pair of points while another replacement, Robbie O’Flynn, almost had another goal at the death, but Hoare diverted his shot over the bar.

Scorers for Cork: Alan Connolly 0-8 (8fs), Darragh Fitzgibbon 2-2 (1f), Brian Hayes 2-1, Mark Coleman 0-3, Barry Walsh, Tim O’Mahony 1-0 each, Shane Barrett, Pádraig Power, Declan Dalton (1f), William Buckley 0-2 each, Eoin Downey, Brian Keating, Hugh O’Connor, Robbie O’Flynn 0-1 each.

Scorers for Offaly: Adam Screeney 0-7 (4fs), Dan Ravenhill 0-4, Brian Duignan 0-3, Daniel Bourke 0-2, Sam Bourke, Brecon Kavanagh, Ross Ravenhill, Jack Clancy 0-1 each.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Ciarán Joyce, Seán O’Donoghue; Eoin Downey, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman; Tim O’Mahony, Tommy O’Connell; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Barrett, Hugh O’Connor; Barry Walsh, Alan Connolly, Barry Hayes.

Subs: Declan Dalton for Connolly, William Buckley for Walsh (both half-time), Robbie O’Flynn for Hayes (48), Pádraig Power for Fitzgibbon (53), Brian Keating for O’Mahony (59).

Offaly: Liam Hoare; Cathal King, Ben Conneely, Brecon Kavanagh; Ross Ravenhill, Killian Sampson, Donal Shirley; Eimhin Kelly, Dan Ravenhill; Ter Guinan, Daniel Bourke, Conor Doyle; Oisín Kelly, Brian Duignan, Adam Screeney.

Subs: Colin Spain for Eimhin Kelly, Luke Nolan for Oisín Kelly (both half-time), Sam Bourke for King (46), Jack Clancy for Doyle (54), Eoghan Cailll for Guinan (62).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).