Minors take centre stage

Well last week was exceptional for four Cork teams who picked up 4 wins but it’s a bit more relaxed this weekend, before a big few weeks coming up.

All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship QF

Cork v Kilkenny on Saturday in Semple Stadium Thurles at 3pm

With 10 minutes remaining last week in the Preliminary QF, it looked very much like Cork’s season was over as they trailed Wexford but they dug deep and got two goals to win in the end by 3 points.

Manager Donal Mulcahy was absolutely delighted. “Immensely proud of the lads; they never gave up and battled to the end and got their reward.”

They threw caution to the wind dispatched team captain Eoin Considine to the full-forward line and he delivered with a crucial goal. “He has been carrying a bit of a knock and missed a few of our earlier games but when the need was greatest he came up trumps but that’s not a surprise as he is a top class player.”

It was a substitute Sam McCarthy - son of former star Timmy - who got the 2nd goal late in the game, the value and depth of the squad proving crucial.

As for Saturday’s opposition Donal is well aware another tough test awaits “you can be sure of that there is never a bad minor team from Kilkenny and as they are the last team from the county in championship, they will want to extend their season, no more then we will of course, so it won’t be easy.”

The draw was only made on Monday so little time for preparation. “Maybe but look throughout the year we all play one another in challenge games, so we know enough about them as they do about us, so we will be ready.”

Donal did watch the Leinster Final and was impressed. “The two teams being talked about as potential champions are Galway and Tipperary and in the final Kilkenny gave Galway a real battle and it was only in extra-time on that they were defeated by a point 3-20 to 3-19.”

The manner of the win over Wexford though will give them huge encouragement. “It has the lads were buzzing on the way home and you can see them here tonight at training they are all in good form and we are really looking forward to Saturday.”

Kilkenny actually led the Leinster Final at one point by 3-15 to 1-9 but faded in the last quarter and that will concern their management ahead of Saturday’s QF.

Joe Dowling had 1-10 in that game, Brion Walsh, James Kavanagh, Ruairi Power and Jack Bolger are key players for Kilkenny, who were bidding for 3 in a row of Leinster titles.

Cork made changes for the Wexford game and the starting 15 for this one will be interesting.

Considine will revert to his usual defensive slot alongside Jack Batterberry, Dave Nolan and Nathan Coffey.

Stephen McHugh, Ryan Cagney, Callum Coffey, Cormac Murphy and Bobby Power have been impressive in all outings to date and will they start Sam M Carthy and Liam O’Regan who made an impact when introduced last time out?

It’s been a few weeks since Kilkenny played and the game and the manner of the win last Saturday might stand to Cork. They will also need a consistent 60 minutes to get over the line and into a SF.

The match is live on C103 and the Onic Player.

Aine Terry wins April award

Cork’s success in winning the D1 Ladies Football League title was acknowledged last week when Aine Terry O’Sullivan was presented with the 96FM/C103 Rochestown Park Hotel GAA Sports Star award for April.

Aine was a key player throughout the campaign that saw them defeat Galway in the final, just 1 year after the sides met in the D2 final in which Galway won.

Aine, a proud Garnish and Beara lady was delighted to be honoured. “Thrilled to be accepting this award and I suppose you could say I’m accepting it on behalf of the team.”

It’s been a few years since Cork were successful in a final and that made it extra special. “As a team, we are in transition; our aim at the start of the league was to consolidate and stay in the top tier, but as the league went on, we were winning games and that gave us great confidence.”

The final itself was a strange one - they were behind for long periods but they kept at it. “We did and that was our message all year, keep going and the chances will come and that is what happened but it was nice to get over the line in a final.”

Since then though the Munster Championship didn’t go to well, but now the focus is on the upcoming All-Ireland series. “We were disappointed with that but look we just have to move on now and look forward to the All-Ireland Championship which is the main objective of the team.”

County Board Chairman Pat Horgan congratulated Aine on her award and the team on winning the league wished them well for the championship while also thanking the sponsors for their ongoing support and the promotion these very prestigious awards.

Kieran McGeary of 96FM and Steve Cox of Rochestown Park Hotel also congratulated Aine on her award and wished the Cork team the best for the rest of the season.

Aine was accompanied by family members who made the long trip from the Beara Peninsula to acknowledge a worthy recipient, while two proud Beara men Pearse Murphy a former monthly winner and Con Paddy O’Sullivan were also in attendance.

Marion Crowley, Chairperson of the Cork Ladies Football Board and Susan O’Brien Cork GAA Board were also present.

Aine now joins the previous monthly winners Tommy Walsh, Meabh Murphy, Colm O’Callaghan in year 23 of the awards.

Cork actually begin the All-Ireland series on Sunday week, the same day as the Munster Hurling Final when they are at home Armagh at 3pm - strange scheduling.

On Sunday in the All-Ireland Under 20 Championship, Cork play Meath in Mourneabbey at 2pm.

Footballers deliver the goods

Speaking to John Cleary before the game against Meath, the one word he mentioned about this group of players was ‘resilience’ and that showed again last Saturday.

8 points down at half-time they dominated on the resumption and once they hit the front they never relinquished the lead even when playing with 14 for the last 20 minutes when Colm O’Callaghan was very harshly sent-off - it was a huge win.

In fact having looked at the game again, referee Cawley certainly did us no favours with a few bad calls especially in the 2nd half; Cork are certain to appeal O’Callaghan’s red card.

Cork now have a 3 week break before they play again which will help with the injuries to Brian Hurley, Dara Sheedy and Sean Brady.

A win next time out will put Cork into the QF and even if defeated, they are still in the championship but confidence will no doubt be high now and they will want to take the direct route.

The draw takes place on Monday and joining Cork in the pot are Donegal, Galway, Tyrone and the winners of Dublin v Louth, Armagh v Derry, Cavan v Westmeath and Monaghan v Mayo. It’s an open draw with 1st out having home advantage.

Munster Hurling Final

For the 1st time since the current format was introduced, Cork won all 4 games and finally ended a poor run of results against Clare, who were well off the pace last Sunday and it will be interesting to see if they can pick it up.

In fact only one other team, Tipperary in 2019 completed the round robin phase unbeaten.

Cork can now look forward to a final on Leeside for the 1st time in 14 years against a Limerick side that showed their intent by hammering, admittedly an already eliminated Tipperary team.

The Páirc on Sunday week will be hopping and you can be sure, unlike Clare and Tipperary especially, the Limerick supporters will be there in numbers.

Cork are bidding to retain the title, while Limerick are in their 8th final in a row hoping to emulate what Cork achieved last season winning both the league and Munster Championship.

Bring it on, more about that next week.

The big story of the championship last weekend though was the elimination of Kilkenny and Offaly after a tough few years advance to the All-Ireland QF, where they will play the losers of the Munster Final.

Dublin and Galway play in the final but it’s a funny summer with big counties Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny out and they will not see action again until 2027. Many argue that is not good for the promotion of hurling, and they may very well right.

Camogie

It’s a busy weekend with several league finals down for decision all being played in Castle Road.

On Saturday at 1pm in Premier Junior, it’s Blarney v Youghal and at 5pm in Intermediate it’s Bishopstown v St Catherines.

Monday will see the senior decider at 5pm with St Finbarr’s facing Sarsfields while at 1pm in the Premier Intermediate, Sars 2 play Ballincollig.