, , , , , ,

Cork V Waterford in MSHC

Cork will play Waterford in the final round of the Munster Minor & Senior Round Robin Hurling Championship on Sunday 17th June in Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round Robin – Round 4
Cork v Waterford
12pm @ Semple Stadium, Thurles
Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round Robin – Round 4
Cork v Waterford
2pm @ Semple Stadium, Thurles
Please find attached some material which may be of use to you in promoting the games, including a Facebook cover photo and an MPU which will work across facebook, twitter, instagram and club websites.

Munster GAA Senior Championship Tickets

Tickets are available for purchase via http://corkgaa.tickets.ie/ or
gaa.ie/tickets and participating Centra and Supervalu Outlets (Ticketing Store Locator)

Ticket Prices
Adult: Stand €20, Terrace €15
Under 16s: €5 all areas
Student/OAP: Concession of €5 with valid ID prior to entry at the designated stile.
The above prices are pre purchase prices, applicable until midnight of the night before the game. All adult ticket prices increase by €5 on the day

Centra/Supervalu Ticket Outlets
Herlihy’s Centra Bishopstown
O’ Feary’s Centra Blarney
Ahern’s Centra Carrigtwohill
Centra / Topaz Charleville
Centra Clonakilty
Centra/Topaz Innishannon
Herlihy’s Centra Fermoy
Centra Kinsale Road
Centra Mallow
Centra Rochestown
Centra South Douglas Road
Whyte’s Centra Togher
Centra Watergrasshill
Cronin’Supermarket, Ballylickey
Down’s SuperValu Ballincollig
Quish’s SuperValu Ballincollig
Caulfield’s SuperValu Bandon
Bigg’s SuperValu Bantry
Scally’s SuperValu Blackrock
Collins SuperValu Blarney
SuperValu Boherbue
Collin’s SuperValu Carrigaline
Murphy’s SuperVal Castletownbere
Dick’s SuperValu Charleville
Scally’s SuperValu Clonakilty
Garvey’s SuperValu Cobh
Healys SuperValu Dunmanway
Riordan’s SuperValu Fermoy
Ryans SuperValu Glanmire
Ryans SuperValu Grange
Singleton, SuperValu Hollyhill
Twohigs SuperValu Kanturk
SuperValu Kinsale
O’ Leary’s SuperValu Macroom
Dano’s SuperValu Mallow
Murray’s SuperValu Mayfield
Cauldfield’s SuperValu Merchant Quay
Hurley’s SuperValu Midleton
SuperValu Millstreet
Farrell’s SuperValu Mitchelstown
O’ Keffees SuperValu Newmarket
Field’s SuperValu Skibbereen
Ryan’s SuperValu Togher
Brookes SuperValu Youghal

/by
, ,

Feile Skills Iomaint & Peil 2018.

On Saturday 12th of May, Rebel Og are holding a Feile Skills competitions on Saturday 12th of May which will be hosted by Rebel Og Coaching. The venue for the event will be confirmed in the coming days. 

The County final section will take place on 19th of May.

Attached below are information on the hurling skills and football skills.

Feile-na-nGael-Skillstar-Hurling

Feile-na-nÓg-Skillstar – Football

/by
, ,

Feile Hurling success for St.Finbarrs

Corks’s Division 1 reps at National Feile for 2018 will be St.Finbarrs’ after their captured the ‘Dava O’Brien’ Feile hurling title after a one point win over Bride Rovers in the final on Friday night.

Played in Togher in front of a big crowd, both teams put on a wonderful display of hurling as they battled it out for a place in National Feile .

At the half point, their was just a point between the teams

As the second half commenced, both teams up their effort and battle hard for the all important scores, the ‘Barrs one point lead at the break was once again the difference at full time when they ran out winners by a single score.

/by
, , , , , , ,

FEILE NA nÓG – SCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING SATURDAY

As a result of the recent spell of very bad weather including heavy snowfalls, and ice cold winds many grounds are still in recovery mode and club’s may find it difficult to host a Group of Feile na nÓg fixtures this coming Saturday.

These fixtures would require grounds to be able to stage 2 games at the same time with 8 to 10 games in all required to complete the group.

While today is a good sunny day the forecast for Thursday and Friday this week sees a return to rain again which may see grounds being unavailable were the programme to stand.

Coiste na nÓg have decided therefore to cancel Saturday’s fixtures so that late cancellations can be avoided were the fixtures programme to stand.
A rescheduled date will issue by Friday Next 23rd March 2018.

/by
, , ,

December Award goes to Eire Óg and Inniscarra

On Thursday evening last, Eire Óg and Inniscarra won the 72nd monthy Rebel Og Awards in the Clayton Hotel Sliversprings. 

DECEMBER 2017 WINNERS

Éire Óg

Premier Minor Football County Champions & County League Winners 2017

and

Inniscarra 

Premier Minor 2 Hurling Champions & County League Winners 2017

ÉIRE ÓG FOOTBALLERS and INNISCARRA HURLERS, who won the 2017 County Championships and County Leagues, are the joint November 2017 winners of the Rebel Óg Monthly Awards sponsored by the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs, Cummins Sports (Award Sponsors) with RedFM and The Evening Echo (Media Partners).  They follow November Winners,  Bride Rovers U16 and Minor Hurlers, who won the County Championships, October Winners Bandon,  September Winners, Cork Minor Hurlers, August winners Cork U17 Hurlers, July Winners Ballinora Juvenile GAA Club,  quartet of June Winners, Féile na nGael Champions Sarsfields, Na Piarsaigh, Cuchullains and St. Kevin’s.  January 2017 winners were Kiltha Óg, February Winners St. Colman’s College Fermoy, March winners Stephen O’Rourke and Niall Delany from Mallow, winners of the All-Ireland U17 Handball Championship, April Winners, Carbery Scór and the May 2017 Winners St. Francis College Rochestown, winners of the Simcox Cup.  2016 winners were Na Piarsaigh Minor Hurlers, Cork Ladies Minor Football Team, Sarsfield U14 Camogie Team, Glen Rovers U14 Hurlers, Mizen Rovers, Mitchelstown CBS, Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál Blarney, Kilmurry Footballers, Buttevant Underage GAA Club and Mitchelstown Footballers and Ballygiblin Hurlers, Kilshannig Hurling Teams and Mallow Juvenile GAA Club.  2015 winners were Ahán Gaels, Midleton U15 Footballers, Cork’s Eimear Scally, Aghabullogue U16 Hurlers, Cork U15 Development Squad, Douglas U14 Footballers, St. Finbarrs U14 Hurlers, Christian Brothers Cork, Coláiste Chríost Rí, Coláiste an Phiarsaigh (Camogie) Sacred Heart Clonakilty (Camogie) and Ilen Rovers.

INNISCARRA MINOR HURLERS created history when they were crowned Cork County Premier 2 Champions for the very first time on 11th September last in Pairc Ui Rinn, defeating a gallant Blackrock team in the Final. 

The Inniscarra campaign started in Blarney in July against Mallow when after a close encounter, late goals helped Inniscarra to come out on top. They then faced Blackrock in Caherlag where a great start against a very strong wind set them up for a comfortable victory.

The next round was at the Mardyke on 6th September for the County Semi-Final v St Finbarr’s. Level with 10 minutes to go, a strong finishing burst scoring 7 points without reply got Inniscarra over the line in some style. They then faced Blackrock again in the Final on 11th September and after a very competitive game were thrilled to come out on top with a 3 point victory. Anyone involved in sport will tell you that’s it is not easy to beat any opposition twice in the same year in the same competition so Liam Kennedy’s charges were well motivated to get their revenge but on the night Inniscarra just edged past Blackrock in the last ten minutes  in a very sporting and exciting encounter. Interestingly, all 3 Premier Level Minor Hurling Finals this year were repeat pairings of earlier rounds but thankfully Inniscarra did enough to uphold the form of their earlier match against Blackrock in Caherlag giving Inniscarra a Historic Victory (the other 2 County Finals saw a reverse of earlier round results).

Inniscarra progressed to the County League Final on 25th November v Shandrum in Cloughduv and again after a good competitive hour of Hurling they emerged victorious by 4 points.  

Team Management for the Minor Hurlers in 2017: Daire Holland, Seanie O’Mahony and Eugene O’Sullivan (Coach), Medical Rita Cronin 

Path to Final 

Inniscarra 3-10; Mallow 0-10 

Inniscarra 6-14; Blackrock 1-15 

Semi Final Inniscarra 0-25; St Finbarrs 2-12 

County Final Inniscarra 0-12; Blackrock 0-9 
County League Final 25th November

Inniscarra 3-5; Shandrum 0-10 
Whilst it is the Minor Team that are being recognised today for their achievements, there are a lot of reasons for their success. Don Hennessy would have coached all these lads in National schools when they were starting off in his role as School Liaison Coach. Inniscarra have a very hard working Juvenile Club under the Guidance of Chairman Leo Murphy, Secretary Margaret O’Connell and Club na nÓg Chairperson Kevin Keohane who are all keeping up the good work and good practice that has been handed on from previous Officers and continuing to promote CLCG to the youth within the Parish. Inniscarra currently cater for nearly 300 boys from Under 6 to Under 18 so the challenges are big but the effort and willingness to meet these challenges is thankfully much bigger. Club Chairman Michael O’ Driscoll and Club Secretary Enda Linehan are very proactive in promoting and supporting every team within the Club and are hugely involved in all aspects of making sure that the Club runs as smoothly as possible.
It is without doubt the most exciting time ever to be involved in Inniscarra GAA Club. Since the Minor County Success on 11th September, the Under 21 Hurlers captured the A County defeating Fermoy in the Final for our first ever victory   In addition the Under 16 Hurlers won the Premier 2 Hurling League defeating Shandrum in the Final. Inniscarra’s Under 15 Hurlers are also in the Premier 2 League Final. The Under 13’s won P2 Hurling League and Autumn Hurling League, Under 12’s  won P1 Football League.
Under 8’s to Under 11’s all participate in Rebel Og Blitzes and the Inniscarra Club is extremely proactive in Both Player & Coach Pathway 
Inniscarra had 3 County Winning Minor Hurlers on the Cork Under 17 Panel this year who won a great Munster and All Ireland Hurling Series so to Con O’ Leary, Liam Ryan and Owen McCarthy and the rest of the Cork Under 17 Team under John Considine and his Management, the club extend their heartiest congratulations.
We sincerely thank Rebel Og for this award. It is something that we as a Club are extremely proud to get and it is genuinely appreciated. We look forward with huge anticipation to all matters CLCG in 2018
SCARRA ABÚ
ÉIRE OG’S Journey to Premier 1 League and championship success started in September with a comprehensive over St. Finbarrs (1-18 to 1-12). A win over Nemo Rangers in the Quarter Final (1-13 to 1-10) led to the Semi-final v Carrigaline (1-14 to 0-8). Facing Douglas in the Final was a challenge and success was achieved after a tough competitive battle with both teams neck and neck until the final Whistle. (2-8 to 1-12).

Captained by James O’Sullivan and Vice-Captain Shane Quigley, this group have played together since U13 P2 league success in 2012, Championship losses v Carrigaline at U14 P1 and vs Nemo Rangers at U16 P1 bonded these young men into achieving a historic Double success in 2017, a first for Éire Óg at this level.

We hope to see much more of them in the Future. Congratulations also to their Manager Alan O’Regan & mentors Damien Lordan, John O’Shea & Vincy O’Connell.

/by
, , ,

Rebel Og Review meetings

Rebel Og will hold two review meetings this week, on Tuesday night, Rebel Og will travel to Rebel Og West to meeting in Dunmanway at 8pm. All clubs from the region are asked to attend.

The second meeting of the week will take place on Thursday night at 7.45pm in Nemo Rangers for teams that played in Rebel Og East.

For both meetings, the agenda is blow in this post.

Items for discussion.

 Soft Borders, discussion on the year 2017.

  • Under 15 and 13 Competitions.
  • Regularise competitions
  1. Week 1 and 3  say Under 16 Hurling
  2. Week 2 and 4 say Under 18 and Under 14 Hurling
  3. Week 5 and 7 say Under 16 Football
  4. Week 6 and 8 say Under 18 and Under 14 football.
  •  This would give teams 2 games in each code over a monthly period.  A similar system could be introduced for the championship.
  •  Team Lists.  Not all being completed correctly, with a number of lists being submitted in English
  • Details to be competed advising of Adult and Under Age Details of Secretary.
  • Details of person(s)  contactable on fixtures,
  • Injuries and completion of Injury form

 

 

Please ensure that you have your club represented at this important meeting.

/by
, ,

County Titles handed out this weekend 

Across Cork GAA this weekend some big games took place.

Sam Maguire’s win Minor A County Title. 

Bonfires will welcome Sam Maguire’s back to Sam Maguire Park on Sunday following their Clayton Sliversprings Minor A County  success over Bantry Blues. This West Cork Derby brought hard, tight football from both sides but some well taken scores ensured that Sam Maguire’s would be County Champions.

https://twitter.com/dohenygaa/status/929754920839995392
Lisgoold win Minor Hurling title in Ballincollig

In Ballincollg, the final of Minor B1 hurling County championship tool place with Lisgoold beating Newcestown in the final by a goal.

https://twitter.com/LisgooldCLG/status/929780259037306880
Douglas are Premier U15 Football Champions 

Douglas added the Premier U15 Football title to the U14 title that they have already won following their victory over Carriglaine.

A game which had outstanding skill on display for both teams. Douglas scoring two goals at critical times insured that their name would be on the Cup.

https://twitter.com/DouglasGAAClub/status/929391984569090049
Ballinora add hurling title to Feile Football

U14 double success for Ballinora this weekend when they over came a gallent Ibane Gaels team in the County Final. The Rebel Og East reps were too strong for the West Cork side on the decider.

/by
, , , , ,

Rebel Og Results round up for the past seven days

Rebel Og competitions are coming to the end of their terms with semi-finals and finals taking place in most competitions. All league programmes are at their knock out stages. Below we will look at the results form games that took place over the last seven days.

 

Rebel Og County

Clayton Silversprings Minor A Football County Championship: Bantry Blues 0-6, Sam Maguires 3-7 Final; Clayton Silversprings County Minor B1 Football Championship: Gabriel Og 5-10, Knocknagree 1-9 Quarter final ; Clayton Silversprings Minor B 1 County Hurling Championship: Lisgoold 2-14, Newcestown 1-14 Final; Cummins Sports U16B2 County Hurling Championship: Kildorrery 2-10, Doneraile 1-7 Final; County U16A Hurling League: Ballygiblin 1-15, Bandon 1-11 Semi-final; Evening Echo County U14A Football Championship: Clonakilty 2-9, Aghada 3-8 Semi-final; Evening Echo U14B1 County Football Championship: Aghabullogue 2-5, Buttevant 4-11 Quarter final; Cobh 1-2, Owen Gaels 11-11 Quarter final ; Evening Echo U14 B2 County Football
Championship: Adrigole 9-11, Naomh Aban 4-11 Quarter final ; Castletownbere -, St. Dominics – Conceded by Castletownbere; Castletownbere -, Tracton – Conceded by Tracton; Evening Echo U14A County Hurling Championship: Balilinora 5-14, Ibane Gaels 3-4 Final; U13 Hurling B1 Plate Competition: Clyda Rovers 0-7, Grenagh 1-10 Semi-final; U13 Hurling B2 Cup and Plate: Keale Gaels 1-12, Whitechurch 2-12 Final Cup;

Rebel Og West

MINOR A FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Canovee 2-6, Urhan 1-10 ; Minor B1 Football League Play-offs: Kilbrittain 3-8, Ahan Gaels 0-9 League Final; Ibane Gaels 1-6, Ahan Gaels 3-13 League Semi-final; UNDER 14 B 1 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: O Donovan Rossa 3-11, Owen Gaels 2-14 Final AET; UNDER 12 C FOOTBALL RUNNERS UP CUP: Kilbrittain 2-10, Iveleary 2-7 Runners up Cup Final;

Rebel Og East

Rebel Og East Minor B1 Hurling League Final: Kiltha Og 0-11, Aghada 2-10, Venue: Dungourney , Final; Aghada -, Clyda Rovers -, Venue: Aghada, Conceded by Clyda Rovers;
Rebel Og East U16 A Hurling League Final:  St Colmans 3-16, Cloughduv 0-11, Venue: Cloughduv, Final; Rebel Og East Fe 14 B1 Football League Final:  Ballinhassig 2-7, Crosshaven 2-8, Venue: Ballinhassig, Final; Crosshaven 6-16, Mayfield 6-2, Venue: Crosshaven, Semi Final; Rebel Og East Fe 14 B2 Hurling League Final:  Carrig na bhFear 4-10, Grenagh 0-11, Venue: Carrig na bhFear, Semi Final; Rebel Og East Fe 14 B1 Hurling League Final:  St Catherines 2-3, St Vincents 3-12, Venue: Ballynoe, Final; Aghabullogue 4-9, St Catherines 4-10, Venue: Coachford, Semi Final; Rebel Og East Fe 14 A Football League Final: Aghada 4-3, Kilmurry 0-12, Venue: Aghada, Semi Final; Rebel Og East Under 16 B1 East 1 Football Championship Final:  Ballinora 2-15, Kilbrittian 1-3, Venue: Brinny, Final; Rebel Og East Under 16 B1 East 3 Football Championship Final:  Fr O Neills 4-5, Bride Rovers 2-10, Venue: Killeagh, Final; Rebel Og East Fe 12 A Football League Final:
Aghabullogue 2-14, Ballinora 1-7, Venue: Ballinora, Final;

Rebel Og Central

Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 18 P1 Football Championship: Eire Og 1-14, Carrigaline 0-8 Semi Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 16 C3 Football Tournament: Valley Rovers 6-9, Carrigaline 3-4 Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 15 P1 Football Championship: Carrigaline 0-3, Douglas 2-6 Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 15 P2 Football Championship: Ibane Gaels 1-14, Carbery Rangers 1-9 Q/F; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 15 C3 Football Tournament: Carrigaline 2-8, Ballincollig 2-4 Semi Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 14 P2 Football Challenge Cup: Mallow -, Carbery Rangers – Conceded by Carbery Rangers; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 14 C3 Football Tournament: Nemo Rangers 3-3, Valley Rovers 1-3 Semi Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 18 P1 Hurling Playoff: Midleton 5-17, Na Piarsaigh 3-12 Semi Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 18 P2 Hurling Playoff: Shandrum 1-17, Ballincollig 0-7 Semi Final; Inniscarra 0-14, St Finbarrs 0-7 Semi Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 18 P2A Football Playoff: St Nicholas 0-3, Valley Rovers 5-15 Semi Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 16 P1 Hurling Playoff: Cobh 0-12, Midleton 2-12 Semi Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 16 P2 Hurling Playoff: Inniscarra 4-9, Shandrum 0-7 Final; Ballincollig 2-7, Shandrum 1-16 Semi Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 15 P2 Football Playoff: St Nicholas 4-14, Fermoy 0-3 Semi Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 14 P1 Hurling Playoff: Glen Rovers 2-8, Midleton 2-20 Semi Final; Fe 14 P2 Hurling League play off: Kiltha Og 2-14, Na Piarsaigh 2-10 Final; Fe 14 P2A Hurling League play off: Blarney 5-16, Bride Rovers 3-19 Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 14 P1 Football Playoff: Ballincollig 0-7, Douglas 3-9 Semi Final; Carrigaline 3-14, Glanmire 1-6 ; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 14 P2 Football Playoff: Eire Og 6-9, Castlehaven 4-11 Semi Final; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 13 (2) Autumn Football League: Glanmire 4-10, St Michaels 2-6 Playoff; Carrigaline Court Hotel Fe 12 P2 Football Playoff: Inniscarra 1 6-10, Mallow 1 3-6 Final; Mallow 1 4-7, Midleton 1 1-7 ;

Rebel Og North

Rebel Og North Synergy Credit Union Fermoy U16 B1 F Championshiop: Clyda Rovers 0-7, Granard Gaels 0-5 ;

 

/by
, , , , , ,

September Rebel Og Award goes to Cork Minor Hurlers

CORK MINOR HURLERS

Winners of the Munster Championship and All-Ireland Finalists

SEPTEMBER 2017 WINNERS

CORK MINOR HURLERS

Winners of the Munster Championship and All-Ireland Finalists

SEPTEMBER 2017 WINNERS

The Cork Minor Hurling side, who won the Munster Title and reached the All-Ireland final, are the September 2017 winners of the Rebel Óg Monthly Awards sponsored by the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs, Cummins Sports (Award Sponsors) with RedFM and The Evening Echo (Media Partners).  They follow the August winners Cork U17 Hurlers, July Winners Ballinora Juvenile GAA Club,  quartet of June Winners, Féile na nGael Champions Sarsfields, Na Piarsaigh, Cuchullains and St. Kevin’s.  January 2017 winners were Kiltha Óg, February Winners St. Colman’s College Fermoy, March winners Stephen O’Rourke and Niall Delany from Mallow, winners of the All-Ireland U17 Handball Championship, April Winners, Carbery Scór and the May 2017 Winners St. Francis College Rochestown, winners of the Simcox Cup.

The Cork Minor Hurling side have enjoyed a tremendous year in 2017 despite their loss to Galway in the All-Ireland Final in Croke Park.

Following two epic battles with Tipperary in the semi-final at Thurles where corner forward Evan Sheehan scored a goal from a 20 metre free to ensure a replay at Páirc Ui Rinn where another outstanding game unfolded before 8,000 spectators.

Brian Turnbull of Douglas and Evan Sheehan were outstanding on the night  with their captain Sean O’Leary Hayes from Midleton commanding at all times in defence, along with his vice-captain Jack Keating, Liam O’Shea and under the management of Denis Ring along with selectors John Mortell, Fergus Ryan and coach John Dwyer and Stephen Casey (strength and conditioning).

Cork had an emphatic win over Clare in the Munster Hurling Final at Thurles with Evan Sheehan notching 2 goals and 2 points on the day to ensure Cork’s first Munster Hurling Championship victory in some years.

Victory over Dublin ensured an All-Ireland final against a powerful Galway side which ended Cork’s hopes of an All-Ireland.

The success of the Cork Minor side at winning the Munster Title and a place in the All-Ireland final combined with the All-Ireland winning U17 hurling side which included five members of the Minor team ensures that the future is bright for Cork hurling.

 
/by
, , ,

Evening Echo report with Liam Martin ahead of All-Ireland MHC Final

31.08.2017 20:15

Robert Downey of Cork in action against Kieran Breen of Tipperary. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Robert Downey of Cork in action against Kieran Breen of Tipperary. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

‘All the people doing savage work in the clubs deserve Cork underage teams to be competing for trophies’

Eamonn Murphy

GIVEN it’s his fourth year involved, selector Liam Martin would be forgiven for feeling pretty satisfied heading into this Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

Of course they want to win and complete the perfect season, but seeing as Cork haven’t even reached the minor decider since 2007, the campaign has already been a success. Denis Ring and his selectors have given it everything to restore Cork’s fortunes at minor. All the credit should be shared according to the northsider.

“The county board, Rebel Óg, particularly, and all the people who are doing savage work in clubs everywhere deserve this. The minor team is only the end of a player’s underage career.

“It’s satisfying to be in the All-Ireland final because we felt for the last number of years we had Cork minor teams capable of competing with anyone but we needed a touch of luck to get there.”

That was certainly the case in the drawn Munster semi in Thurles. Fellow Glen club man Robert Downey saved Cork at the end of normal time and then Na Piarsaigh’s Evan Sheehan goaled a free at the death in extra time against Tipp.

“Munster semi-finals have been a minefield. There are ones we’ll regret for the rest of our lives that we should have won. We got the rub of the green but then I didn’t think we deserved to lose. That night in Thurles spoke volumes about the character of these lads.”

Cork goalkeeper Ger Collins. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Cork goalkeeper Ger Collins. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

That set up a replay at Páirc Uí Rinn and a Munster final against Clare, where this young Cork team ripped it up. Ger Collins, Sean O’Leary Hayes, Brian Turnbull, Evan Sheehan and Daire Connery among the many stars. Martin acknowledges how much they fed off the hurling buzz in Leeside this summer.

“There’s been a huge feelgood factor all the way through to the senior team and that gave a boost of confidence for us too. We can all look forward to the future again as Cork hurling people, but that took a long process to get there.”

The Cork minor hurling selectors: Stephen Carey (trainer), John Mortell, Ballyhea, John Dwyer, Ballincollig, Denis Ring, Fermoy, Liam Martin Glen Rovers, and Fergus Ryan, Mallow. Picture: George Hatchell

The Cork minor hurling selectors: Stephen Carey (trainer), John Mortell, Ballyhea, John Dwyer, Ballincollig, Denis Ring, Fermoy, Liam Martin Glen Rovers, and Fergus Ryan, Mallow. Picture: George Hatchell

He explains that it’s especially enjoyable to be involved with this minor crop given their eagerness to learn and develop.

“They’re full of ability, character, commitment… the characteristics of any winning team basically.”

Everywhere you go in Cork, from Blackpool to Bandon and beyond, kids are out in force with hurleys again. Martin must take particular pride in seeing city hurlers, from Piarsaigh, Douglas and Glen, backboning this minor team.

“Personally I don’t care where they come from as long as they’re good enough.

“That’s where the Development Squads system have paid off. Would have got a corner-back from Dromtarriffe otherwise in Conor O’Callaghan? He’s been excellent.

Cork's Conor O'Callaghan and Eoghan O'Neill of Dublin. Picture: INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan

Cork’s Conor O’Callaghan and Eoghan O’Neill of Dublin. Picture: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

“Of course you need the city to be thriving for Cork hurling to be successful – but it’s a big county and the gospel has spread all over Cork at this stage.

“Some of the schools have pushed on, Christians, Colman’s, Midleton CBS, the Mon AG, and that’s not undercutting what’s going on at B level. All that will come to the fore in the next couple of years and that’s only mirroring what’s going on in the clubs, participation rates – which the Cork seniors’ success will build further – are up.”

He makes the point that once the various sectors are co-ordinated, good hurlers will come through.

“The good fella at 14, 15 isn’t going to necessarily be the lad who shines at minor level. We do see late developers and quite a few of this group were in the B squad at U14 like Liam O’Shea, Brian Turnbull, Ger Mellerick. They’ve pushed on in the last few years.”

Can they seal the deal this Sunday, especially after a patchy enough showing in the semi against Dublin?

“Galway have won five minor All-Irelands and been beaten in four finals since we’ve won it in 2001. It’ll be tough. Simple as that.

“It’s vital to play the game not the occasion. We’ve preached that all year. There’s a lot of razzmatazz surrounding it and obviously Galway will have a big support as they’re in both finals. All our focus has been on our own performance though.”

Hopefully that will be enough.

/by