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Bride Rovers and Shandrum must meet again

 

 

 

Bride Rovers 1-15
Shandrum 1-15
The  Carrigaline Court Hotel  Premier Two Minor Hurling Championship final at Páirc Uí Rinn turned into an absolute thrilling second-half with both teams fully deserving of a second chance.
This was a very high-standard contest that saw periods of dominance at various stages by the East Cork and North Cork representatives and the last score of the game belonged to Shandrum, the equalising point in the 62nd minute from full-forward Conor Griffin who was highly influential throughout.
Centre-back, Cormac O’Brien and left corner-back, Paul O’Sullivan caught the eye in the Shandrum rearguard as they tenaciously reinvented themselves after being in arrears by six points early in the second-half.
Conor Barry, Conleith Ryan, and Brian Roche impacted for Bride Rovers on a night when both sides left everything out on the pitch.
The teams were deadlocked five times in the opening 30 minutes before Bride Rovers, having played against a strong wind, led by a goal at the break, a score delightfully executed by Ryan from a cross field delivery by Griffen O’Sullivan.
It did not look encouraging for Shandrum on the resumption when the Rovers increased their lead with points from Barry and Brian Roche.
And when they went into a 1-11 to 0-8 lead on the 36-minute mark the pictured brightened to a far greater extent for them.
But Shandrum’s riposte was superb, upping the ante considerably to score 1-3 without reply to tie it all up after 47 minutes.
Griffin nailed the goal from a fine cross ball by Ronan Geary and he added a few points as well.
Then they forged ahead by two with points from that man Griffin again and Paul Drinan and they were in the control of the proceedings as the clock counted down.
It was frenetic stuff now, both sides striving might and main to get their hands on the big prize on offer.
And we then got another response from the Rathcormac team with points from Barry, Roche and Ryan.
They had regained the lead now but Cormac O’Brien tied it all up again with a Shandrum point.
Centre-forward Cian Hogan regained the initiative for Bride Rovers in stoppage time when he split the sticks before Conor Griffin fittingly tied it up at the death to conclude a splendid game of hurling.
This was a wonderful advertisement for minor club hurling in the county and on the evidence presented here, it won’t be easy to drag them apart either in the eagerly awaited replay.
It was a game well refereed too by Mark Maher.

The replay is scheduled for Saturday, October 20 at 3pm in Mourneabbey.
Scorers for Bride Rovers: C Barry (0-7 frees), C Ryan (1-3), B Roche (0-3), P O’Flynn (free) and E Cashman (0-1 each).
Scorers for Shandrum: C Griffin (1-7, 0-5 frees), C O’Brien (0-4, 0-2 frees), P Drinan (0-2), C Shanahan and S McCarthy (0-1 each).
BRIDE ROVERS: B Hogan; R O’Sullivan, J Mannix, M Quinn; J Buckley, P O’Flynn, E Roche; K Kearney, G O’Sullivan; C Barry (Capt), C Hogan, C Ryan; E Cashman, B Roche, S Knox.
SHANDRUM: E Finn; B Pulis, K O’Sullivan (Capt), P O’Sullivan; C Bowles, C O’Brien, S McCarthy; J Twomey, C Shanahan; R Geary, L Morrissey, P Drinan; J O’Riordan, C Griffin, A O’Leary.
Subs: C O’Flynn for A O’Leary (50), B O’Connor for J O’Riordan (52).
Referee: Mark Maher (St Finbarr’s).

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Midleton win Premier 1 county hurling championship

 

 

 

 

Midleton 1-22
Blarney 1-10
MIDLETON made up for last year’s loss as they were crowned Carrigaline Court Hotel Premier 1 MHC champions at Páirc Uí Rinn.
Last year they lost out to Glen Rovers, but this time they made sure they weren’t going to go home defeated as they won their first title at this grade since 2010.
It’s a good start to the week and they will hope their senior side can follow suit when they take on Imokilly in the county final next Sunday.
Overall there can be no denying they were the better side over the 60 minutes, and a strong finish ensured they ran out winners by 12 points.
In that final 15 minutes, they outscored their opponents eight points to one, to move clear of Blarney at a time when they had scored three in a row to reduce the deficit to five.
The winners had a number of impressive displays with Sean O’Sullivan, Tommy O’Connell, and Kevin Finn all playing well, along with man of the match, Cian Farmer.
For Blarney, Declan Hanlon showed why he was on the Cork minor team this year, with Mark Cummins and Padraig Power also giving it their all, but they were simply beaten by a better side. on the night.
It took eight minutes for the first score to come, when Ben Ahern pointed for Blarney, with Ross O’Regan replying for Midleton. Points from Finn and Farmer put the east Cork side in front, with Shane Barrett and Power seeing the sides level, 0-3 each, with 16 minutes gone.
Gary Carroll and O’Regan put Midleton back in front, with Power making it a one point game.
Midleton then enjoyed their best spell of the first half, with Arthur Nganou increasing their lead, before Sam Quirke set up Aaron Mulcahy for their goal, to make it 1-6 to 0-4.
Two points from Farmer increased their lead before Power pulled a point back for Blarney.
Farmer and O’Connell made it 1-10 to 0-5 before Blarney were thrown a lifeline.
A brilliant run from William Crowley put Jack O’Keeffe in and he blasted to the back of the net, to put five between them. But Midleton finished the half strongly and points from O’Regan and Mulcahy saw them 1-12 to 1-5 in front at half time.
Finn and O’Regan were on target early in the second-half, with O’Keeffe replying for Blarney, to make it 1-14 to 1-6, with 33 minutes played.
But Blarney weren’t going away easily and two pointed frees from Power reduced the deficit, with Cian Dunlea also scoring, to make it 1-9 to 1-14 and it looked like we were in for a close finish.
But Midleton showed their class, as they kept their heads and slowly started to pull away from Blarney. Points from Carroll, O’Regan and Jake Shanahan saw them stretch their lead, making it 1-17 to 1-9.
Nganou then scored three in a row. and displayed all his talents with them. The first was after a great run when he kicked the sliothar over the bar. The following two came after magnificent catches and his burst of speed left his opponents for dead as he coolly slotted over the bar,
Finn and Farmer rounded off the scoring for Midleton, with Cummins getting the last score of the game for Blarney.
But it was no more than a consolation score as Midleton ran out deserving winners,
Scorers for Midleton: A Mulcahy 1-1, C Farmer, R O’Regan (1f) 0-5 each, A Nganou 0-4, K Finn 0-3, G Carroll 0-2, T O’Connell (1f), J Shanahan 0-1 each.
Blarney: J O’Keeffe 1-1, P Power 0-5 (4f, 65), B Ahern, S Barrett, M Cummins, C Dunlea 0-1 each.
MIDLETON: A Power; C O’Brien, C Murphy, D Scanlon; S Quirke, S O’Sullivan, C Evans; T O’Connell, K Finn; G Carroll, E Rowlands, A Mulcahy; R O’Regan, C Crowley, C Farmer.
Subs: A Nganou for C Evans, J Shanahan for E Rowlands, F Wade for C Farmer, R Lynch for G Carroll, G Hurley for S Quirke.
BLARNEY: E O’Neill; G Mullane, S Mullane, D Hoare; D Hurley, D Hanlon, E Doody; D Quill, B Ahern; J O’Keeffe, M Cummins, K Dunlea; S Barrett, P Power, W Crowley.
Subs: C Dunlea for E Doody, C Ahern for K Dunlea, E Kirby for W Crowley.
Referee: Brian Coniry, Crosshaven.

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Chance of a lifetime to play at Croker

 

 

 

 

 

In celebration of opening three new stores in Cork this year Supermac’s will give one lucky Cork person an exclusive opportunity of a lifetime to experience what it is like to play in Croke Park.

Supermac’s has teamed up with the Self-Help Africa to take part in the Croke Park Challenge. It means that one lucky winner will get a chance to experience what it is like to be a player on All-Ireland final day.

Not only will you get to play in Croke Park at a charity match with and against some of Ireland’s top celebs and sports stars but you will get to experience everything else that goes with it including a pre-match meal in a top Dublin hotel, a full personalised kit consisting of playing gear, bag and polo shirt , police escorted bus to Croke Park, commemorative match day programme with your picture and bio included, a DVD with Micheál O Muircheartaigh and Ger Canning providing full match commentary, exclusive drinks reception in the players’ lounge, a Gala Dinner in the Cusack Stand with the Presentation of the Croke Park Challenge Cup at which The Sunday Game panel will provide full analysis and of course some top quality entertainment after the event. And you don’t have to do this on your own. Supermac’s will provide a ticket for a plus one to the Gala event as well

Some of the stars and celebs that will be taking part on the day include Sonia O’Sullivan, Henry Shefflin, Colm Cooper, Tomás Ó Sé, John Treacy, Bernard Dunne, Ray Houghton, Michael Lyster, Cora Staunton, Anna Geary, Rob Heffernan, Roz Purcell, Brendan Griffin TD.

Supermac’s MD Pat McDonagh said that this was an opportunity of a lifetime for a lucky winner from Cork. “The 23rd of October promises to be an unforgettable day at GAA Headquarters for one lucky winner,” he said. “Of the millions that have wanted to, only a lucky few have had the honour of playing on the legendry field on Jones’ Road. Players have represented Cork and their clubs in Croke Park and will do again in the very near future. This competition gives those that haven’t been so lucky an opportunity to do so. To enter is very simple,” Mr. McDonagh said. “Tell us why it would mean so much to you or to someone you know. You can do so via our Facebook pages for the 13 outlets throughout the city and county. We will make a shortlist and then you will get the opportunity to tell Ken Tobin’s on his afternoon show on 96FM between 12-4 every day. The winner will be announced on Friday the 20th of October.”

 

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