Report from Denis Hurley The Echo
St Catherine’s 2-14
Feenagh-Kilmeedy (Limerick) 1-15
St Catherine’s added themselves the long list of AIB Munster junior hurling champions as they edged out Feenagh-Kilmeedy at Mallow on Saturday.
Never trailing at any stage, Catherine’s had two goals from Eoin Condon while teenager Seán O’Donoghue scored nine points. As well as the attack operated, this was a victory built on character, with their Limerick opponents never allowed to lead.
Leading by 2-8 to 1-8 at half-time in this meeting of two clubs beaten in their county finals, Catherine’s conceded four of the first five points of the second half as the free-taking of Diarmuid Coleman helped to draw the Limerick side level. However, the East Cork side had reason to be aggrieved with the awarding of one of those as goalkeeper Eoin Davis reacted to a late hit after a clearance.
Coleman’s seventh of the day, a huge effort from behind his own 65, left it 2-9 to 1-12 but Catherine’s never panicked. Led by Oisín Fitzgerald at centre-back and Shane Cotter and Kyle Wallace at midfield, they drove on again and scored four consecutive points, all from the stick of O’Donoghue – three frees and the other a great team score involving Rory Galvin and Brian Mulcahy.
With Coleman in such impeccable dead-ball form, Feenagh-Kilmeedy – beaten by Kilmurry in the football equivalent last weekend – were going to be fully shaken off. Galvin almost made the game save in the closing stages with a goal effort but Gerard O’Gorman’s brilliant hook denied him.
A tenth point from Coleman left two in it with four minutes of normal time left. Catherine’s passed up chances to buttress the lead and, in the 64th minute, Coleman stood over a free at halfway. He dropped the ball in but the defending was stout and the whistle brought sweet relief.
Set on their way in the first half by a second-minute free from distance by goalkeeper Davis, Catherine’s had their first goal immediately after, albeit in fortuitous circumstances. Condon’s point attempt fell short but goalkeeper Michael Bergin couldn’t cleanly claim possession and the ball squirted down behind the line.
The four-point lead barely lasted a minute, however, as Feenagh-Kilmeedy’s first score arrived in the shape of a Ruairí O’Connor goal, the corner-forward crashing home a shot from a John O’Gorman lay-off. Good scores from Kyle Wallace and Seán O’Donoghue restored the Catherine’s cushion but midway through the half the Limerick side hit a rich vein of form.
After a third free from Diarmuid Coleman, they had their first point from play through Maurice Fitzgibbon and then Luke Ryan tied the match at 1-5.
Foreshadowing what was to come later, Catherine’s ensured that they didn’t fall behind. An O’Donoghue free had them in front again and, though David Boyce levelled again with a fine Feenagh-Kilmeedy point, the second Catherine’s goal was not long in coming.
Davis provided the delivery from behind his own 45 and Condon rose to meet the sliothar perfectly and send it to the net. That made it 2-6 to 1-6 and the four remaining points of the half were evenly shared, though Condon was unlucky not to add a third Catherine’s goal in injury time.
The three-point lead was wiped out early in the second half, but Catherine’s were able to respond and Munster glory was theirs.
Scorers for St Catherine’s: S O’Donoghue 0-9 (0-5f), E Condon 2-0, E Davis (0-1f), K Wallace, K O’Donoghue, B Mulcahy, K Barry 0-1 each.
Feenagh-Kilmeedy: D Coleman 0-10 (0-9f), R O’Connor 1-0, D Boyce 0-2, M Fitzgibbon, L Ryan, S Kelly 0-1 each.
ST CATHERINE’S: E Davis; E O’Riordan, F O’Connell, L O’Connor; K O’Donoghue, O Fitzgerald, K Neville; K Wallace, S Cotter; S O’Donoghue, R Galvin, W Leamy; B Mulcahy, E Condon, M Mulcahy.
Subs: O Wallace for O’Connor, G O’Brien for Leamy (both 42), K Barry for M Mulcahy (51)
FEENAGH-KILMEEDY: M Bergin; B Donegan, K Murphy, S Murray; D Boyce, B Hannigan, J O’Regan; C O’Connor, S Kelly; D Coleman, M Fitzgibbon, L Ryan; R O’Connor, N Irwin, J O’Gorman.
Subs: G O’Gorman for Irwin (36), J O’Sullivan for O’Gorman (46), P O’Doherty for Kelly (51), R O’Connor for Ryan (58).
Referee: N O’Toole (Waterford).
One Cork Worldwide Roadtrip heads to Boston
Cork GAA Delegation Kicks off U.S. Tour in Boston as part of One Cork Worldwide Roadtrip.
On Friday afternoon, the Cork GAA delegation arrived in Boston, marking the start of their American tour. The group, led by Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan, included Cork Senior football manager John Cleary, Tony Nation, Tomás Mulcahy, Eithe Duggan, and Valerie Mulcahy.
The Fox and Hound Tavern was the perfect venue for their first roadshow, providing an ideal setting for an evening of celebration and camaraderie. As the delegation entered the bustling atmosphere of the tavern, the excitement among attendees was palpable, setting the stage for an engaging and memorable roadshow.
Check out the photos from the event below.
St Catherines win Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship 2023
Report from Denis Hurley The Echo
St Catherine’s 2-14
Feenagh-Kilmeedy (Limerick) 1-15
St Catherine’s added themselves the long list of AIB Munster junior hurling champions as they edged out Feenagh-Kilmeedy at Mallow on Saturday.
Never trailing at any stage, Catherine’s had two goals from Eoin Condon while teenager Seán O’Donoghue scored nine points. As well as the attack operated, this was a victory built on character, with their Limerick opponents never allowed to lead.
Leading by 2-8 to 1-8 at half-time in this meeting of two clubs beaten in their county finals, Catherine’s conceded four of the first five points of the second half as the free-taking of Diarmuid Coleman helped to draw the Limerick side level. However, the East Cork side had reason to be aggrieved with the awarding of one of those as goalkeeper Eoin Davis reacted to a late hit after a clearance.
Coleman’s seventh of the day, a huge effort from behind his own 65, left it 2-9 to 1-12 but Catherine’s never panicked. Led by Oisín Fitzgerald at centre-back and Shane Cotter and Kyle Wallace at midfield, they drove on again and scored four consecutive points, all from the stick of O’Donoghue – three frees and the other a great team score involving Rory Galvin and Brian Mulcahy.
With Coleman in such impeccable dead-ball form, Feenagh-Kilmeedy – beaten by Kilmurry in the football equivalent last weekend – were going to be fully shaken off. Galvin almost made the game save in the closing stages with a goal effort but Gerard O’Gorman’s brilliant hook denied him.
A tenth point from Coleman left two in it with four minutes of normal time left. Catherine’s passed up chances to buttress the lead and, in the 64th minute, Coleman stood over a free at halfway. He dropped the ball in but the defending was stout and the whistle brought sweet relief.
Set on their way in the first half by a second-minute free from distance by goalkeeper Davis, Catherine’s had their first goal immediately after, albeit in fortuitous circumstances. Condon’s point attempt fell short but goalkeeper Michael Bergin couldn’t cleanly claim possession and the ball squirted down behind the line.
The four-point lead barely lasted a minute, however, as Feenagh-Kilmeedy’s first score arrived in the shape of a Ruairí O’Connor goal, the corner-forward crashing home a shot from a John O’Gorman lay-off. Good scores from Kyle Wallace and Seán O’Donoghue restored the Catherine’s cushion but midway through the half the Limerick side hit a rich vein of form.
After a third free from Diarmuid Coleman, they had their first point from play through Maurice Fitzgibbon and then Luke Ryan tied the match at 1-5.
Foreshadowing what was to come later, Catherine’s ensured that they didn’t fall behind. An O’Donoghue free had them in front again and, though David Boyce levelled again with a fine Feenagh-Kilmeedy point, the second Catherine’s goal was not long in coming.
Davis provided the delivery from behind his own 45 and Condon rose to meet the sliothar perfectly and send it to the net. That made it 2-6 to 1-6 and the four remaining points of the half were evenly shared, though Condon was unlucky not to add a third Catherine’s goal in injury time.
The three-point lead was wiped out early in the second half, but Catherine’s were able to respond and Munster glory was theirs.
Scorers for St Catherine’s: S O’Donoghue 0-9 (0-5f), E Condon 2-0, E Davis (0-1f), K Wallace, K O’Donoghue, B Mulcahy, K Barry 0-1 each.
Feenagh-Kilmeedy: D Coleman 0-10 (0-9f), R O’Connor 1-0, D Boyce 0-2, M Fitzgibbon, L Ryan, S Kelly 0-1 each.
ST CATHERINE’S: E Davis; E O’Riordan, F O’Connell, L O’Connor; K O’Donoghue, O Fitzgerald, K Neville; K Wallace, S Cotter; S O’Donoghue, R Galvin, W Leamy; B Mulcahy, E Condon, M Mulcahy.
Subs: O Wallace for O’Connor, G O’Brien for Leamy (both 42), K Barry for M Mulcahy (51)
FEENAGH-KILMEEDY: M Bergin; B Donegan, K Murphy, S Murray; D Boyce, B Hannigan, J O’Regan; C O’Connor, S Kelly; D Coleman, M Fitzgibbon, L Ryan; R O’Connor, N Irwin, J O’Gorman.
Subs: G O’Gorman for Irwin (36), J O’Sullivan for O’Gorman (46), P O’Doherty for Kelly (51), R O’Connor for Ryan (58).
Referee: N O’Toole (Waterford).
2024 Munster GAA Pre-Season Fixtures confirmed
The fixtures for the 2024 Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League and the 2024 McGrath Cup Football competition have been confirmed.
All 6 Munster counties have entered each pre-season competition and will play 1 home and 1 away group game each. The winner of each group will contest the respective Finals.
The Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League will get underway on Tuesday January 2nd when Clare host Limerick while Kerry are at home to Waterford. A night later, the McGrath Cup Football gets underway when Kerry takes on Tipperary while Clare play Cork.
The McGrath Cup Football Final is pencilled in for Friday January 19th while the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League Final is fixed for Sunday January 21st.
McGrath Cup Football 2024:
Munster Hurling League 2024:
One Cork Worldwide 2024 was officially launched at Croke Park
Thursday evening marked a significant milestone as One Cork Worldwide 2024 was officially launched at Croke Park, serving as the backdrop for the unveiling of its membership.
Larry McCarthy, the President of the GAA, delivered a keynote address that not only reflected on pivotal moments during his presidency but also introduced the eagerly anticipated 2024 membership. His words resonated with the essence of the occasion, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting chapter for Cork GAA.
Marc Sheehan, County Chairperson, took the stage to share the highlights of his term, including achievements such as three U20 titles and a Minor All-Ireland returning to Leeside. His insights provided a glimpse into the remarkable journey of Cork GAA.
Kevin O’Donovan, CEO of Cork GAA, took the opportunity to outline future initiatives that will be supported by One Cork Worldwide. He emphasised the organisation’s commitment to fostering growth within Cork teams, spanning from the developmental stages at U14 to the pinnacle of Adult competition. O’Donovan’s vision illuminated the path ahead, showcasing a strategic approach to elevate Cork’s standing in the world of Gaelic games.
The evening unfolded with engaging discussions featuring Cork Senior football manager John Cleary, accompanied by former players Tony Nation, Tomas Mulcathy, Eithe Duggan, and Valerie Mulcathy. Together, they shared valuable insights into their personal journeys with Cork GAA, providing a unique perspective on the rich history and evolving landscape of the sport in the region. The exchange of experiences added a layer of depth to the event, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity among all those present.
In essence, the launch of One Cork Worldwide 2024 at Croke Park was not merely an event; it was a celebration of Cork GAA’s past, present, and future. The convergence of key figures, from the GAA President to local luminaries, underscored the collective commitment to advancing the sporting legacy of Cork on both national and international stages. As the evening concluded, the anticipation for the journey ahead lingered, fueled by the shared passion for Gaelic games and the unyielding spirit of the Cork GAA community.
2024 Munster Championship Fixtures Confirmed
The 2024 Munster Championship Fixtures were confirmed at a meeting of the Munster CCC on Wednesday evening.
The dates for the Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship and the latter stages of the Munster Under 20 Football Championship will be confirmed at a later date.
For the Munster Minor Football Championship, Cork will play Kerry in the Munster Minor Football Championship Quarter Final on Tuesday 30th April in a Kerry venue. There will be a phase 1 round robin involving Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Waterford with a phase 1 final and the winners and losers of this final progressing to the championship proper.
For the Munster Under 20 Football Championship, there will be a phase 1 round robin involving Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Waterford with a phase 1 final. There will then be a phase 2 round robin as detailed below.
Munster Senior Hurling Championship 2024:
Munster Senior Football Championship 2024:
Munster U20 Football Championship 2024:
Munster U20 Hurling Championship 2024:
Munster Minor Hurling Championship 2024: