Lads greatly underestimate playing on the age. Most of ard scoil team are on the age.
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7 starters for Ard Scoil played Inter County Minor this year, so are 17 year olds
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Ard Scoil and Flannanâs look the two strongest to me on paper. Good win for Ardscoil yesterday.
Midleton definitely the strongest of the Cork schools -they have a decent, balanced team.
Sars have been rubbish in the first half but a couple of late points leave them 4 behind at the interval.
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Really not sure how Luke OâFarrell hasnât been taken off for Midleton
Myers clear MOTM for me.
Teddy Mac will be smiling down
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Some turn around for Sars
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Anyone post the article from the examiner about the 10 talking points from the championship
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Fallout from the finals: Ten Cork hurling championship talking points
Whoâs put their hand up for Cork hurlers, the unnoticed referee, Blarneyâs appeal, Castlelyonsâ wait, Erinâs Own walk the walk
SPORTSMANSHIP: Sarsfieldsâ Shane OâRegan consoles Ross OâRegan of Midleton after the Cork Premier SHC final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
MON, 16 OCT, 2023 - 12:43
STAFF WRITERS AND CORRESPONDENTS
Whoâs ready for the Pat Ryan phone call?
ON the eve of the Cork hurling championship and in his first Irish Examiner column of the summer, Seanie McGrath asked which club hurlers would put their hand up over the ensuing two months to garner the attention of Cork manager Pat Ryan.
In the wake of Sundayâs Cork Premier SHC final, who from Midleton and winners Sars might make the step up to the inter-county ranks? Or at least be given the chance to make the step up.
Midleton goalkeeper Brion Saunderson, in light of his involvement with Corkâs All-Ireland U20 winning team earlier this year, was already on Ryanâs radar.
No question but Saunderson elevated his standing with a clean slate in the county final, semi-final, and final-round group win over Blackrock. He was last beaten on Sunday, August 13. His semi-final interception to deny Conor Cahalane a Barrs green flag was a key moment in the 2022 champions bowing out.
Aaron Myers was part of the Cork U21 panel that reached the All-Ireland final in 2018. Has he, stemming from his efforts and scoring exploits in recent weeks, earned the right to be given an opportunity at senior level next spring?
He was the lone Sars scorer for a 29-minute period in the opening half of Sundayâs decider. He almost single-handedly kept them in touch during their difficult opening act. He clipped two from play and four frees, one of which he won himself. A further injury-time effort from play brought his first half haul to 0-7. He finished with 0-12.
Heâs rangy, heâs a ball-winning target, and heâs plenty capable from the dead-ball. He is at the very least worth a look.
An All-Ireland winning U20 teammate of Saundersonâs is William Buckley of the Barrs. Buckey has another year at U20, but the Togher teenager continued to mark himself out as one for the future with a string of fine performances and fine individual hauls.
The half-forward hit four points from play in both their quarter and semi-final. His movement and ability to get into space to provide himself as an outlet for defensive colleagues was as intelligent as it was impressive.
Another U20 forward, Colin Walsh, stood out for Kanturk. Similar to Myers, heâs not lacking for height or ball-winning capabilities in the air.
Eoghan Cormican
And what of those whoâve been this way before?
Because of injury, Mark Coleman and Jack OâConnor did not play championship for Cork this year. Coleman did not wear red at all in 2023, while OâConnor featured in just three games towards the end of the league.
In recent weeks, both offered reminders of what the county missed out on this year and perhaps can look forward to in 2024.
Across Blarneyâs two Senior A semi-finals against Bride Rovers, Coleman threw over 1-13. These contributions were all the more noteworthy when you consider the controversial first game represented his first start of 2023.
Midletonâs Sean OâLeary Hayes, with the occasional support of a plus one, kept Jack OâConnor on a tight enough leash for a good chunk of Sundayâs final. And yet OâConnor still managed a pair from play and was fouled for three converted frees. It followed on from a quarter-final where he shone with 1-3.
The question now is: will he be the sole Sars forward part of Pat Ryanâs 2024 group?
Quality contest but disappointing attendance at Cork decider.
When the attendance of 11, 645 was announced over the loudspeaker in PĂĄirc UĂ Chaoimh on Sunday, both co-commentators on rebelsonline, Ronan Curran and SeĂĄnie McGrath, expressed their surprise and disappointment at the number.
They spent a while discussing how and why more people couldnât bring themselves to come to the Park on such a fine day for Corkâs marquee hurling event of the season. It was a perfect day. Sars and Midleton are two of the biggest clubs in the county. The after-effects of a late night after watching the rugby the previous evening was bound to dilute the attendance but the match still had a 4pm throw-in time.
The absence of a city team in the final, especially when there had been a city side in five of the previous six deciders was bound to impact the crowd. The Imokilly-Blackrock final in 2017 attracted 16,226 (although that match was preceded by the Cork SFC replay between St Finbarrâs and Glen Rovers), while the 2021 decider between Midleton and Glen Rovers was watched by 13, 526.
Last yearâs all-city final between the Barrs and the Rockies was expected to attract up to 20,000 but the dire monsoon-type weather on the day reduced the crowd to a still impressive 15, 165.
Despite there not being a city team in the final, the locals in Cork still expected a crowd of close to 15,000 to show up in the Pairc. Those that did were treated to an exciting and entertaining game, and a brilliant win for Sarsfields. But Cork needed that kind of a match to bookend what had largely been a disappointing championship.
Both semi-finals were hugely exciting as both winners were behind in injury-time before digging out impressive wins. Overall, it was another wide open championship but the numbers still underlined an overall lack of quality and drama prior to yesterday; of the 34 games played, only eight were decided by a score or less, although there were five draws, one of which was decided after extra-time. Nine games though, (only two of which were in the Divisional/colleges section) were won by margins of nine or more points.
A crowd of 6,900 was a poor attendance for such an attractive semi-final double-header, which should have been closer to 10,000. A crowd of around 15,000 should have shown up on Sunday, especially when there was such an attractive curtain-raiser. Yet they didnât. And there are any amount of reasons why.
Christy OâConnor
Those who did show got their valueâŚ
It was no classic, but it had enough entertainment and, more importantly, enough quality that Sundayâs little All-Ireland fell on the right side of the ledger.
The decider also went a distance to ensuring a championship that produced terribly underwhelming quarter-final and semi-final weekends finished on a strong and positive note.
This was the first Cork hurling final to come and go without the raising of a green flag since Newtownshandrum bested Cloyne in the low-scoring 2005 edition.
Strangely enough, Sundayâs final did not suffer for the absence of goals.
Indeed, the interruption to the outstanding goal opportunity of the day greatly enhanced the drama late on. Two minutes into injury time, Midleton had a three-on-one overlap inside the Sars 20-metre line. The shot came from Luke OâFarrell but was blocked by corner-back Paul Leopold. The shot snapped Leopoldâs hurley clean in two.
It was the closing act to a high-octane second half where Sarsâ running and short-passing game was in full and almost effortless flow.
Their play had been bitty and blighted by a lack of urgency in the opening half. For the closing 25 minutes, though, their passes stuck and their exploiting of space drowned Midleton.
Player of the championship Cathal McCarthy came up with three brilliant long-range points, while Jack OâConnor and Daniel Kearney delivered big, momentum-shifting scores from either sideline.
Johnny Crowleyâs charges showed their now familiar steel in refusing to be rattled by a six-point first half deficit. But their marrying of this resolve with sharp lines of running and equally sharp deliveries to hand made this a county final to be thankful for given the middling standard of fare on the road to Sunday.
Eoghan Cormican
Kearneyâs and McCarthyâs key surge.
In a Cork hurling game where defences put up strong resistance, it was the midfield spectacle that stole the show and contributed so much to the SeĂĄn Ăg Murphy Cupâs final destination.
For Midleton, Mikey Finn and Paul Haughney put in superb shifts. Finn had two first-half points and showed up just about everywhere. Haughneyâs distribution created a couple more scores before adding two of his own after the break.
But where Daniel Kearney had been chasing Finn for much of the first half, Sarsâ midfield leader was the one who needed following thereafter. He charged into this contest by assisting three points, supplying a half-chance of goal, and landing a point of his own. All within 11 minutes of the restart.
Colm McCarthy, dropping back to create an extra man around midfield, produced two inspiring block downs on his middle-third opponents to further turn the tide. He won the back-to-back frees to give Sars their first lead.
And then what about the performance of his cousin Cathal McCarthy? The corner-back swapped with Conor OâSullivan into a more advanced role and launched four rockets between the posts to mirror his show-stopping semi-final impact against Imokilly.
It was a game where each midfielder played with distinction but Sarsâ tactical nous was able to swing the central battle, and therefore the match, in their favour.
Stephen Barry.
And nobody was talking about the refereeâŚ
Ballyhea club man CiarĂĄn OâRegan handled his first Cork Premier SHC final on Sunday, and handled it well. In terms of post-match commentary, he scarcely merited a mention â always a reliable indicator of a job well done. Even the disappointed Midleton manager MicheĂĄl Keohane acknowledged in defeat: âThe ref was excellent.â Among the high-profile games he has overseen are the 2023 Kerry SHC final and the 2022 Munster IHC club final. In the match programme, the Ballyhea man said refereeing the Cork Premier SHC final was, and always will be, a career highlight.
Asked what advice he would give any aspiring referee, he said, âIgnore the crowd and the sideline. At least youâve had the courage to start reffing, many of those shouting donât. Be confident in your own ability, get a good crew of umpires around you and donât be afraid to ask other referees questions. Every day is a learning day.â
Therese OâCallaghan.
Erinâs Own walk the walk.
Erinâs Own have been operating at the top tier of Cork hurling since 1988. In 1992 they won their maiden senior county title. At the time, one of the great underage teams in Cork was being nursed. That team would go on to win the four minor counties and three U21 counties that would later nourish the senior successes in 2006 and 2007.
Dermot Foley, Co-Op Superstores presents the âplayer of the matchâ to Erins Ownâs John Kavanagh after defeating St. Catherineâs in the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier JHC final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
They havenât been blessed with a crop as gifted since, but they continue to provide a good hurling education for the young people of Knockraha, Glounthaune and Little Island. That was evident on Saturday as their second team claimed the Premier JHC crown after winning the JAHC in 2022. Throw in a minor team that just came up short in the Premier 2 final last year and you have a club that is regenerating nicely. Three of those minors won a place in a senior team that was without their talisman, Robbie OâFlynn, this year, as did at least two of last yearâs junior champions.
Sometimes when we take the pulse of a place, we only scratch the surface. But the digger you deep into Erinâs Ownâs story, the more impressive they look.
John Coleman.
Castlelyonsâ Hurt Locker.
Castlelyons reached the Cork Premier IHC final in 2013 with a young team that lost out by a point to Youghal. When youâre young, life is easy. Youâll always be back. Itâs only matter of time. Until suddenly, itâs ten years later and youâre exactly where you began. Five of the team that finally got Castlelyons over the line against Kilworth on Sunday started in 2013 too. Since then, thereâs been four quarter-final defeats, two more falls at the final hurdle, a semi-final loss, and a flirtation with relegation.
Castlelyons celebrate their Premier IHC victory over Kilworth as referee Wayne King blows the final whistle.
At some unknown point across the last ten years Colm Spillane, Anthony Spillane, Alan Fenton, Leo Sexton and Colm Barry crossed the bridge form young bucks to elder statesmen, but thereâs no doubting that experience, even as sour as it has been, added to the sweetness of Sundayâs win over Kilworth. There was grit and defiance aplenty in the performances of that quintet. Colm Spillaneâs rousing first half point, Anthony Spillaneâs late flurry of points, Barry and Sextonâs defensive meanness. Fenton, however, deserves special mention. Heâs well known as a superb free-taker, but his radar malfunctioned here more than it usually did. However, when it mattered the most, he nailed his last four and all of the past pain just floated away.
John Coleman.
Gavin OâMahony prepares for another final shot
Up to Sunday, ex-Limerick hurler Gavin OâMahony was juggling playing with Kilmallock and coaching Blarney to a Cork SAHC final.
Kilmallockâs elimination by Patrickswell in Limerickâs SHC semi-final sorted one conundrum Sunday, so his focus moves down the N20 to Blarney.
This will be his first final as a coach, and he is already familiar with the opposition.
âNewcestown know us well. We played in the league, there was only a puck of a ball in it. The same with the first round of the championship. They are such an exceptional club. Their population, and what they bring to both hurling and football. Iâm not saying we wonât turn up. We respect them for what they do.
âI would have coached Luke Meade in Mary I, he epitomises the Newcestown team. They are a real team. Everyone fights for each other. They work together. It is the same in football. They have shown that with their results. We are in for a big battle.â Therese OâCallaghan Blarney backed their players in appeal.
Blarney appeal together
Blarney manager Michael Barrett - father of players Shane and Cian â lauded the club for backing the players in their appeal against Bride Roversâ 16th man in the Senior A semi-final.
âThe way we looked at it, anything outside the dressing room was a club issue and we were dealing with the players,â he said. âWe were able to separate that. The players were fully aware of what was going on and fully behind what was going on. I have to credit the club for standing up for them, which is a great thing.
âWe donât count our chickens. We let the process run its course and, once we knew on Friday morning what the result was, we re-grouped and we reorganised from there. To be fair, I think the players knew in their own minds that we needed to be ready.â
Therese OâCallaghan.
CORK GAA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Your home for all the latest news, match reports, features, opinions and expert analysis from the Cork GAA Club Championships.
MORE CORK COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP ARTICLES
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1 Like
Stokes blows it up as Blarney hit the net and itâs level. Will they object to that one?
Great to see Nemo beat. Awful brand of football.
Great weekend for WEST Cork with Castlehaven and Newcestown winning.
And those Bantry cunts bet
Taking the piss having Bandon number 1
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Fair play to the geniuses in the county board, under 18s can only play junior grade next year. What benefit that is to excellent prospects like the 2 Walshâs in Kileagh is beyond me. Utter farce of a decision.
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Cork is a very very odd county.
This is another example.
The club season is only a glorified blitz thanks to your lot.
Itâs all about the academy and sub academy for development nowadays.
You wont dictate to cork with your common sense. No siree.