Tough test awaits hurlers in Salthill

With the footballers on a well deserved weekend off after their excellent win in Newbridge, the hurlers head west to play Galway, while 3rd level competitions near their conclusion and UCC are heavily involved.

There’s a big game in Mallow on Saturday in the Corn Uí Mhuirí with yet another Cork v Kerry encounter.

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Cork v Galway on Sunday in Pearse Stadium Salthill at 2pm

“Delighted with the effort and the workrate, the lads never gave up and in the end got over the line, good win but look we know it’s only February and there’s lot to play for yet.” Cork manager Pat Ryan after the win over Limerick before close on 20,000 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Saturday night.

The only downside was the injury to Robbie O’Flynn, whose brilliant goal sparked the 2nd half revival. “Yeah very unfortunate, looks like a dislocated ankle, but we will know more later in the week, Sean (O’Donoghue) picked up a dead leg and we will have to see how he is before Sunday.”

Pat was also thrilled with the performance of the debutants in defence: “Both Eoin (Downey) and Conor (O’Callaghan) were outstanding and that was encouraging, while again Ciaran Joyce was top class.”

Even though Cork trailed by 8 points at half-time Pat was not too worried. “We had played quite well, obviously the wides (9) was a concern and it was at one stage a 1 point game, but Limerick being the quality team they are, reeled off 6 in a row.”

Once again managing the players will be central in the lead up to Sunday. “UCC are playing Thursday and that will impact on selection, but a few of the injured lads are returning and we will see how they are when we get back training.”

Galway will be another test. “Of course, top team and hard to beat at home, but we will prepare as best as we can this week and go there and as the lads have done since we started, give it our best shot.”

Henry Shefflin’s side looked very good in easily seeing off the challenge of Wexford on their home patch last Saturday and that will them in good stead for Cork on Sunday, whose record in Salthill is not good.

They racked up 0-23 in difficult conditions with Evan Niland hitting 0-10 and had a penalty saved as well, while Conor Whelan, Eanna Murphy, Ronan Murphy, while debutants Eoin Lawless and Donal O’Shea had solid outings.

Like most teams at this time of the year, injuries are a concern for Shefflin, with Daithí Burke the most serious, but he was pleased with the win. It doubled as the Walsh Cup Final, and always nice to start with a win.

How will Cork line up? If O’Donoghue is fit - his replacement Niall O’Leary did well when introduced - the defence looks like it will be the same, unless the management want to get game time into some more players, especially away from home to see how they fare for the bigger games down the road.

Luke Meade was as industrious as ever in midfield, while in attack Patrick Horgan was his usual self with 0-10, and he will annoyed at the few frees he missed, but it never fazed him and his work-rate was excellent, executing a block down in the Cork half late in the game that eventually led to a point.

Declan Dalton took his goal with aplomb, Conor Lehane hit a brilliant point, while Shane Kingston made an impact when he entered the fray and Brian Roche also chipped over a neat point.

There is no doubt though that Robbie O’Flynn is a huge loss as his powerful running and willingness to go for goals has won many a game recently.

Plenty of options then for Pat Ryan and his selectors but again they will be conscious of not overloading some players ahead of a hectic few weeks.

What is also noticeable is the desire to see games out, in the last 3 to Limerick twice and Tipperary, they looked beaten but kept at it and in the end got over the line, that is a sign of a team heading in the right direction.

Sunday’s game, which is live on C103, will be another test and Pat will learn a lot. Galway on home soil will be hard to beat, but given the way Cork have been playing in recent weeks, they could well extend their winning start to the season.

Best wishes to Robbie O’Flynn is recovery from injury and hopefully he can get back in time for the championship.

Corn Uí Mhuirí Final

St Francis College Rochestown v St Brendan’s Killarney on Saturday in Mallow at 1pm

There are contrasting records in this competition for this year’s finalists; the ‘Sem’ as they are known are the holders and bidding to extend their lead at the top of the roll of honour by winning their 24th title, with Rohestown bidding to inscribe their name on the cup for the very first time.

The Killarney lads are hot favourites to win and have impressed in their march to the decider, and they have quality all over the field, which they showed in seeing off Mercy Mounthawk Tralee in the semi-final.

Cian lynch, Charlie Keating, Luke Crowley (son of former Kerry star John) - a very effective full-forward, midfielder John Kelliher, Callum Cronin, Timmy Moynihan and Alex Hennigan are some of their key men.

Crowley is their go to man and he will need to be contained, if the holders are to be dethroned.

Rochestown have overcome the longterm loss of 3 key players through injury to reach this final; the most notable being Brian Hayes - he was the Munster Minor Footballer of the Year in 2022.

In their semi-final, Rochestown displayed the resilience they have shown throughout the campaign, after a slow start they gradually reeled in CSN with Kevin Lyons leading the fightback with a powerful display, including scoring a vital first half point.

Rob Hanley, Mark O’Rourke, Evan O’Connor, Tim O’Brien, Derry Howard, Sean Coakley and Billy Fraher have been central to their exciting march to this final, their first since losing the 2015 decider.

This is the acid test; 2011 is the last time (Coláiste Chríost Rí) a Cork school has won this competition, with the cup been domiciled in Kerry since then. The odds favour it staying there for another year, but Rochestown are a team that refuse to countenance defeat, but they will need to produce their best display of the season if they are end Kerry’s dominance.

Third-level competitions

The business end of these highly prestigious competitions are in sight and UCC are involved in 3 big games in the coming days.

Hopefully the footballers will have reached the Sigerson Cup Final - they were playing DU Dublin in Carlow, the final is fixed for next Wednesday in Waterford.

Tonight it’s the Fitzgibbon Cup hurling quarter-final in the Mardyke at 7pm. ATU Galway providing the opposition and with Shane Barrett, Brian Hayes, Conor Cahalane and Niall O’Leary in their side UCC should prevail.

Camogie dominates on Saturday and the Ashbourne Cup has eluded UCC for a long time now but they have impressed in reaching the semi-final against a highly rated UL in Belfield at 4pm. Emma Murphy captains the side, with Laura Hayes, Molly Lynch and Meabh Murphy all included that might be good enough to get them into Sunday’s final at the same venue.

In the Purcell Cup also in camogie, MTU also have a semi-final in Dublin against Trinity hoping to make it a Cork double, with Saoirse McCarthy, Orlaith Cahalane and Lauren Homan leading their challenge.