Na Fianna delivered a masterclass to secure the All-Ireland Club Hurling title, overwhelming Sarsfields 2-23 to 0-20. Dominating from the start, they led 0-9 to 0-1 by the 16th minute and 1-16 to 0-7 by halftime. Tom Brennan starred with two goals, while AJ Murphy scored five from play, supported by a midfield duo of Brian Ryan and Seán Currie.
Their defense, led by Kevin Burke, stifled Sarsfields, who managed just one point from play in the first 19 minutes. Aaron Myers’ frees were Sars’ main scoring outlet. To their credit, Sars battled tirelessly until the final whistle, representing Cork with pride at the highest level.
T Brennan (2-1); C Currie (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65); AJ Murphy (0-5); D Burke (0-1 free), B Ryan (0-3); C Stacey (0-2); S Currie, J Meagher, P O’Dea (0-1 each).
A Myers (0-10, 0-8 frees); J O’Connor (0-5); D Kearney (0-3, 0-1 65); D Hogan, B Murphy (0-1 each).
J Tracey; S Burke, C McHugh, K Burke; P O’Dea, L Rushe, P Feeney; B Ryan, S Currie; J Meagher, D Burke, C Stacey; T Brennan, AJ Murphy, C Currie.
Subs: D Clerkin for Ryan (53); G King for Tom Brennan (56); D Ryan for P O’Dea (58); S Barrett for AJ Murphy (61); S Ryan for Meagher (62).
: B Graham; C Roche, C O’Sullivan, P Leopold; B Murphy, E Murphy, L Elliott; Colm McCarthy, Cillian McCarthy; D Kearney, D Hogan, C Darcy; J Sweeney, J O’Connor, A Myers.
Subs: S O’Regan for C Darcy, C Leahy for Elliott (both HT); L Healy for Colm McCarthy (40); K Murphy for E Murphy (45); E O’Sullivan for Sweeney (50).
: L Gordon (Galway).
Get Your Tickets for Cork’s Allianz Football League Opener Against Meath!
Cork footballers kick off their Allianz Football League Division 2 campaign this Saturday, with a highly anticipated clash against Meath at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Throw-in is at 5 PM, and it’s set to be a thrilling evening of football!
Tickets are now on sale, so secure yours today and be part of the action as the Rebels begin their league journey,
How to Get Your Tickets:
Ticket Prices:
Buying your tickets in advance is highly recommended to ensure smooth entry and avoid queues on the day.
For more information, stay tuned to Cork GAA social media channels
Allianz League Warm up Events 2025
Sars lose in All-Ireland Club Final
Na Fianna delivered a masterclass to secure the All-Ireland Club Hurling title, overwhelming Sarsfields 2-23 to 0-20. Dominating from the start, they led 0-9 to 0-1 by the 16th minute and 1-16 to 0-7 by halftime. Tom Brennan starred with two goals, while AJ Murphy scored five from play, supported by a midfield duo of Brian Ryan and Seán Currie.
Their defense, led by Kevin Burke, stifled Sarsfields, who managed just one point from play in the first 19 minutes. Aaron Myers’ frees were Sars’ main scoring outlet. To their credit, Sars battled tirelessly until the final whistle, representing Cork with pride at the highest level.
Scorers for Na Fianna: T Brennan (2-1); C Currie (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65); AJ Murphy (0-5); D Burke (0-1 free), B Ryan (0-3); C Stacey (0-2); S Currie, J Meagher, P O’Dea (0-1 each).
Scorers for Sars: A Myers (0-10, 0-8 frees); J O’Connor (0-5); D Kearney (0-3, 0-1 65); D Hogan, B Murphy (0-1 each).
Na Fianna: J Tracey; S Burke, C McHugh, K Burke; P O’Dea, L Rushe, P Feeney; B Ryan, S Currie; J Meagher, D Burke, C Stacey; T Brennan, AJ Murphy, C Currie.
Subs: D Clerkin for Ryan (53); G King for Tom Brennan (56); D Ryan for P O’Dea (58); S Barrett for AJ Murphy (61); S Ryan for Meagher (62).
Sarsfields: B Graham; C Roche, C O’Sullivan, P Leopold; B Murphy, E Murphy, L Elliott; Colm McCarthy, Cillian McCarthy; D Kearney, D Hogan, C Darcy; J Sweeney, J O’Connor, A Myers.
Subs: S O’Regan for C Darcy, C Leahy for Elliott (both HT); L Healy for Colm McCarthy (40); K Murphy for E Murphy (45); E O’Sullivan for Sweeney (50).
Referee: L Gordon (Galway).
Mascots Return for 2025!
We’re thrilled to announce that our mascots, a fan favorite from 2024, will be returning for our home league games in 2025! The mascots brought excitement and energy to our matches last year, and we can’t wait to see them back in action.
Have you got the mascot we want? This year, we’re giving YOU the chance to get involved with the fun. Details on how to join the mascot team will be revealed at 2 PM TODAY exclusively on our Instagram page. Make sure to follow @officialcorkgaa and @sportsdirectireland for all the updates!
Stay tuned and get ready for another exciting season with our mascots! Don’t miss out!
Jack O’Connor; ”It is Unreal”
Jack O’Connor grew up in an era when Sarsfields were delivering. Cork SHC titles were gleaned in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014 with final defeats suffered in 2009, 2013, and 2015.
Sars were relevant. That is exactly what they’re once more. So, the excitement is real as Sarsfields prepare for Sunday’s AIB All-Ireland Club SHC final against Na Fianna at Croke Park. “It is unreal,” O’Connor says.
“When I was growing up Sars were nearly in county finals every year, from 2008 until 2015, they were in a county final almost every year, bar one maybe. When I got into the panel in 2016, we had no success really up until last year.
“When you start off you’d be thinking I’ll be playing in county finals too, but that isn’t how it always works. The last two years have been great with the county final last year and the Munster success this year.”
The journey to this weekend’s showpiece, though, hasn’t been smooth. Imokilly beat Sars Leeside, but Johnny Crowley’s charges responded on the Munster stage. “I suppose the week after the county final, we thought that we had let ourselves down a small bit,” O’Connor reflects.
“We didn’t think we’d done ourselves justice with our performance because we do think we’re a better team than we performed on that day. I just think in the days that followed, we said we had a chance to knuckle down.
“We’ve nothing to lose here, there is no pressure on us. So, we tried to get something out of it. We got the win over Feakle, and then, obviously, Ballygunner, and things started rolling then. It has been great.”
Tradition is a help according to O’Connor. “Definitely, growing up, seeing some of the lads I’m playing with now, seeing them have all the success back then, it made players like me and other fellas my age want to grow up to have success with the club,” he replies.
“It is almost like a knock on effect in a way.”
Hurling talk is top of the agenda in Glammire. “It is unreal, even just looking back on it now, none of us would’ve thought that we’d be here preparing for an All-Ireland final on Sunday,” O’Connor beams. “So, there is a great buzz back home, it is unreal.
Crowley’s role in the Sarsfields story shouldn’t be underestimated either. “He is incredible, in fairness,” O’Connor says.
“I think it was 2010 when he was involved with Sars, he won a county and again last year. I think himself and the management team that he has brought, they’ve been so professional. They’ve been incredible in the last few years. It is a credit to him and everyone around him.”
There is a nice little history too with some members of both panels, who will participate in Sunday’s clash. Thirteen years ago, Na Fianna hosted Sarfields in the All-Ireland Féile na nGael. “When I was Féile, U14 in 2012, Na Fianna actually hosted the Féile back then,” O’Connor recalls.
“So, a lot of the players had to stay in the Na Fianna players houses at the time. It is a cool thing really that all these years later we’re playing them in an All-Ireland club final after staying in some of their houses back then.” The respect is mutual.