Charleville and Bishopstown honoured for national victories

Charleville and Bishopstown U15 teams are the joint June Rebel Óg award winners.
Both enjoyed national success in their respective Féile competitions.
Charleville enjoyed victory in hurling and Bishopstown ladies footballers brought home the cup to their club.
The Town started by winning in Mid-Cork before moving on to the county section, where they got the better Éire Óg in the final.
This was a repeat of the Mid-Cork final and once again this was a very tight and entertaining game.
It was on to Tipperary after that for Bishopstown where in the group stages they played John Lockes, Erin’s Own Sacred Heart and Sliabh na mBan.
In the semi-final they played St Anne’s and the final saw a rematch with Sliabh na mBan which the Town came through to be crowned national champions.
After winning their Cork Féile competition Charleville headed to Toomevara and in their group games at the national event they took on Clonmel Óg and Abbeyknockmoy. They drew with Clonmel and knew they had to beat Abbeyknockmoy to reach the semi-final, which they duly did by 2-12 to 1-3.
In the semi-final they face St Kierans and another great display saw them come out on top by 2-8 to 0-3.
They then faced Toomevara in the decider, which was always going to be a battle.
At half-time the Cork side led by 0-4 to 0-1, but they knew their opponents were far from out of it.
But Charleville managed to hold out for a one point win, 0-8 to 0-7, to be crowned champions.
Michael O’Mahony, chairman of Rebel Óg congratulated both sides on their wins and said any day you win a national title is a great one for all involved.
He praised the players, coaches, clubs and parents for the work put in to get them to this point and wished them well for the rest of their respective seasons.

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Ballinora honoured with Rebel Óg award for Féile successes

The Ballinora U15 squad are the May winners of the Rebel Óg monthly award after their double Cork Féile win.
It’s not too often that any club wins both competitions in Cork so for Ballinora to do so is a magnificent achievement, with a relatively small panel of 24 players.
There was late drama in their Cork football decider when a late goal saw them prevail and break St Michael’s hearts after extra time.
Ben Hegarty scored a goal directly from a free to claim the title on a scoreline of 3-6 to 2-8 with scenes of unbridled joy once the referee blew the final whistle.
He deserves great credit for keeping a cool head, especially after the referee had told him it was the last kick of the game. Ballinora, as a squad, also deserve all the praise they get as they had to play extra time down a man after a late sending-off in normal time had them down to 14.
But they soaked up Michael’s pressure and then Hegarty hit a rocket of a shot off the crossbar to see them win. The hurling decider was against near-neighbours Cloughduv in what was always going to be a keenly fought contest. In the end, Ballinora completed the second leg of a memorable double. Extra time was on the horizon until Cormac Murphy slotted over the winning point to win 0-12 to 1-8. Ballinora’s double win set up two big days for the players, mentors, and the club, as they represented Cork at the national competitions.

In those competitions they want on to make it a national double as well, to make it a great season for these young stars.
Michael O’Mahony, chairman of Rebel Óg, congratulated them on their success, saying it’s a rare year that any club wins a Féile double and to go on to win a national double is extra special.

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Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh win Rebel Óg monthly award

The Rebel Óg monthly award winners for April are Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh for their Simcox Cup win.
The Bishopstown school retained their title in dramatic fashion against Clonakilty Community College.
The sides were level as the game went into injury time but they hit 1-1 without reply to win the title for the second successive season.
The celebrations from the victorious camp showed how much it meant to them as they claimed back-to-back titles for the first time since the early 1990s.
After a close tussle all through it was 1-9 apiece after 57 minutes.
A brilliant point from Gary Holland in the first minute of injury-time was followed a minute later by a Kevin Murphy goal as Spioraid Naoimh finished strong to claim the trophy again.
Michael O’Mahony, chairperson of Rebel Óg congratulated the winners on retaining the cup.
He said that it was not easy to win a competition like the Simcox Cup for two years in a row and it was something they should be very proud of.
He also wished all students the best of luck in their upcoming exams and wished them well after that in the minor and other championships they are playing in.
Mick Evans, chairperson of the judging panel also congratulated Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh on their win and said that secondary school football was vital for the development of the game.
He added that competitive secondary school games helped to provide quality players for Cork and as importantly for club sides.
Mick said he believed that college football needs to continue go grow and flourish for the sake of the game in Cork.

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Ballinora do the double as they win Féile Premier 2 hurling title

By John O’Shea, The Echo

Ballinora 0-12
Cloughduv 1-8
Ballinora completed the second leg of a memorable double after winning a thrilling Premier 2 Féile hurling final against Cloughduv at Ovens.
This was a gripping contest that went right down to the wire, with Ballinora overcoming the challenge of Douglas and Cloughduv, coming out on top against Mallow in the semi-finals beforehand.
After winning the football last Monday, Ballinora will remember this week for a long time.
They opened the scoring thanks to a lovely Billy Mehigan point, and Cloughduv got off the mark when Jacob Barry slotted a neat point.
Ballinora then edged back in front as Mehigan went on a dashing run through the defence before pointing, and Cathal Murphy then added a lovely score from distance, 0-3 to 0-1 after 10 minutes.
Cloughduv responded well though, Tadhg Murphy scoring from distance, followed by Barry’s second.
A few minutes before half time, Cloughduv hit the back of the net, following a strong spell of attacking pressure, Noah O’Callaghan finished from close range.
At the interval, Cloughduv were 1-4 to 0-5 up.
Cormac Murphy got Ballinora off to the perfect second-half start as he was coolness personified from a free. Cloughduv, however, kept their heads in front courtesy of a Liam Buckley point.
Ballinora levelled at the midway juncture of the second half, a Cormac Murphy point, followed up by a cracker of a point from distance by Cathal Murphy: 1-6 to 0-9.
Another Tadhg Murphy point edged Cloughduv back in front, with the game now heading into the closing stages.
When their backs were against the wall, Ballinora duly responded and showed the character of champions.
A pair of frees by Cormac Murphy saw Ballinora retake the lead, but the response was a Tadhg Murphy free.
With extra time on the horizon, Ballinora grabbed the winner in stoppage time.
As the sliotar broke into his path, Cathal Murphy showed wonderful agility and converted. It was a fitting score to decide what was a wonderful contest.
At the end of an action-packed weekend and a compelling final, it was Ballinora that were the last team standing to claim the silverware.
Scorers for Ballinora: Cormac Murphy 0-7 (0-5 f), B Mehigan, Cathal Murphy 0-2 each, B Hegarty 0-1 f.
Cloughduv: T Murphy 0-4 f, N O’Callaghan 1-0, J Barry 0-2, L Buckley, B O’Leary 0-1 each.
BALLINORA: P McCoy; L Gaffney, M Cremin, J O’Sullivan, P Twohig, B Hegarty, F Murphy, A Lehane, Cathal Murphy, O Murphy, Cormac Murphy, D O’Mahony H McCoy, B Mehigan, O Kingston, T Mahon, T O’Reilly, P O’Regan, P O’Mahony, D Conway, B Murphy, C Noonan, C Murphy, D Fenton.
CLOUGHDUV: F O’Leary; L Buckley, J Bruen, T Murphy, S Collins, B O’Leary, C Bateman, J Twomey, D Fehily, D O’Driscoll, K Delaney, J Barry, F O’Callaghan, C Feeney, D Cotter, J Phelan, M Kiely, R Madden, T Lehane, N O’Callaghan, E Van Der Westhuizen, G Shanahan, A Hayes, C Healy.
Referee: John Horgan (Gleann na Laoi).

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Midleton lift Féile hurling Premier 1 trophy

By Rory Noonan, The Echo

Midleton 1-11
Ballincollig 0-11 (aet)
It took extra time to separate the sides as Midleton were crowned Premier 1 Féile Hurling champions at Togher.
The winners were made to fight all the way by Ballincollig, who were hoping to complete the double, having won the football a week ago.
Points from Charlie McCarthy and Rory Nolan in the second half of extra time secured the win for the Magpies after a top-class game of hurling.
Ballincollig can’t be faulted for their efforts and, on many a day, their display would have been enough to win it.
Jack Costello was outstanding, with Bobby Power, James Harrington, Luke Higgins, and Daithí Murphy also doing well.
They were up against a talented Midleton side, who had stars all over the pitch — with Finn Cahill, Alfie Hennessy, Jack Cahill, and Rory Nolan playing their parts in their win.
Jack Cahill opened the scoring for the winners, with Power replying from a free for the Village.
A good move, involving Cal McCarthy and Fionn Walsh, set up Daithí Murphy to put Ballincollig in front and, when Eanna Lynch raised a white flag, they led by 0-3 to 0-1.
With seven minutes gone, Midleton got the only goal of the game, after John O’Sullivan burst through the Ballincollig defence to score.
Credit to Ballincollig, they hit back with Murphy on target again from a very tight angle out wide. A booming Costello free made it 0-5 to 1-1 in their favour.
Jack Cahill pulled a point back for Midleton, with the lively Power replying to see the Village 0-6 to 1-2 up at half time.
Two more from Power, one from play and a free, increased their lead, and they looked likely to win. However, Midleton upped their game with Liam Walsh, Ciaran O’Brien, and Hennessy all scoring to draw them level, 1-5 to 0-8.
Power put his side back in front before Kaden Coomey made a brilliant save to deny O’Sullivan a goal for Midleton.
However, a late free from Walsh saw the Magpies level to take it to extra time.
Walsh put his side back in front, but again Ballincollig replied with Power and Costello both scoring from frees to make it 0-11 to 1-7. Two more from Walsh, one a free, put his side one point up at half time in extra time.
It was always going to be tough for Ballincollig from here, and their fate was determined when Charlie McCarthy put his side two points clear. With the last shot of the game, McCarthy put three between the sides to see his side run out deserving winners after a highly entertaining game.
Scorers for Midleton: L Walsh 0-5 (0-3 f), J O’Sullivan 1-0, J Cahill 0-2, C O’Brien, A Hennessy, R Nolan, C McCarthy 0-1 each.
Ballincollig: B Power 0-6 (0-3 f), D Murphy 0-2, J Costello 0-2 f, E Lynch 0-1 each.
MIDLETON: W Stokes; C Hogan, B Dunlea, J Quill; R McCormack, P Egan, F Cahill; A Hennessy, C Kelly; J O’Sullivan, C McCarthy, L Walsh; R Nolan, J Cahill, C O’Brien.
Subs: B O’Dalaigh, D Crowley, D Moloney, A Molumby, M Stewart, P Spelman, R O’Brien, E Foley, D Butler.
BALLINCOLLIG: K Coomey; S Richmond, L Higgins, P Skehan; J Harrington, J Costello, E Harris; J Miskella, E Stack; E Lynch, C McCarthy, F Walsh; D Murphy, E Ó hUrnaí, B Power.
Subs: D McCarthy, C McDonnell, B O’Driscoll, M Downey, D O’Regan, S O’Brien, E Lonergan.
Referee: Peter O’Donovan, Carraig na bhFear.

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Late goal sees Ballinora win Féile Premier 2 football title

By Rory Noonan, The Echo

Ballinora 3-6
St Michael’s 2-8
(After extra time)
BALLINORA won the Premier 2 Féile football title dramatically after extra time at Bishopstown.
And hero of the day was Ben Hegarty, who scored a goal directly from a free to win the title for his side.
Trailing by two points, he knew that a white flag was no good and with literally the final kick of the game he found the top corner to see his side come out on top after a simply superb game.
Both sides deserve credit for the part they played in the decider, with Jack Punch, Darragh O’Flaherty, and Conor Stack leading by example for St Michael’s, who can’t be faulted for their efforts.
But huge credit must go to Ballinora as a team, for their resilience and never-say-die attitude when they went down to 14 late on.
They had outstanding displays all over the pitch, with Hegarty being one of them.
Others to impress for the winners included the likes of James O’Sullivan, Alex Lehane, and Billy Mehigan, to name a few.
Michael’s started the game the better of the two sides with early points from Punch and Stack putting them in front before O’Sullivan hit back for Ballinora.
With 10 minutes gone, Michael’s raised their first green flag when Darragh O’Flaherty scored a penalty, following a foul on Ronan O’Grady.
This put them 1-2 to 0-1 up, but it didn’t take Ballinora long to hit back, with Billy Mehigan finding the back of the net at the other end.
Stack pointed for Michael’s and just before half time, Punch was unlucky not to get another goal when his effort came back off the crossbar.
O’Sullivan pulled a point back for Ballinora at the start of the second half.
He then found the back of the net, after Lehane played him in, to make it 2-2 to 1-3. Hegarty added a point from a free to put three between the sides.
Oran Kingston made it 2-4 to 1-3 before Ballinora had Alex Lehane sent off for a second yellow card offence.
Michael’s made the most of the extra man, with Cian Coates scoring two frees to reduce the deficit.
Stack added another from a free before a late point from Punch had them level to take it to extra time, 1-7 to 2-4.
Michael’s got the perfect start to extra time when Punch scored a goal, with O’Sullivan replying at the other end.
Punch added a point and at half time in extra time, it was now 2-8 to 2-5 in Michael’s favour.
Denis O’Mahony pointed for Ballinora before we had that dramatic finish which saw Hegarty find the back of the net to secure the title for his side with a strike worthy of winning any final.
Scorers for Ballinora: J O’Sullivan 1-3 (1f), B Hegarty 1-1 (1-0 f), B Mehigan 1-0, O Kingston, D O’Mahony 0-1 each.
St Michael’s: J Punch 1-3, D O’Flaherty 1-0, C Stack 0-3 (3f), C Coates 0-2 (2f).
BALLINORA: D Fenton; L Gaffney, M Cremin, P Twohig: O Kingston, A Lehane, J O’Sullivan; B Hegarty, C Murphy; B Mehigan, C Murphy, F Murphy; P O’Mahony, D O’Mahony, D Conway.
Subs: O Murphy, P McCoy, T Mahon, T O’Reilly, H McCoy, P O’Regan, B Murphy, C Noonan, C Murphy.
St MICHAEL’S: A McEvoy; J Mahony, O Walsh, L Mackesy; J Gartland, D O’Flaherty, H Spratt; C Stack, O McCaffrey; B O’Callaghan, J Punch, K Stack; C O’Neill, R O’Grady, C Coates.
Subs: R O’Connell, J Toomey, C Hanna, R Walsh, F Butler, J Dwyer, R O’Donaile, J Kearney, T Mulconry, B O’Callaghan.
Referee: Luke Knight, Kilmurry.

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Ballincollig footballers win Féile football Premier 1 title

By John Coughlan, The Echo

Ballincollig 1-12
Glanmire 0-2
IT WAS a comfortable win for Ballincollig as they were crowned Féile Peil U15 Premier 1 champions in style, following the defeat of Glanmire at Ballincollig.
It’s hard to believe these teams couldn’t be separated when they clashed in the group stages at Trabeg on the morning of this decider, but Ballincollig learned and brushed aside their opponents.
Inspired by some lovely kicking from Joe Miskella, son of former Cork football star John, Ballincollig seldom looked in trouble against a fatigued Glanmire side.
There is little doubt Ballincollig’s fitness was crucial as there was only a 15-minute turnaround from both semi-finals.
Ballincollig were pushed to the wire by a talented Carrigaline side 0-7 to 0-5 as Glanmire got the better of the Barrs 3-3 to 2-2.
Speaking after the game, Ballincollig manager Gareth Harrington praised the commitment of his players.
“This is an incredible group of players, as they struggled when we played Glanmire in the group game,” he said.
“However, as good teams do, they learned a few lessons and did the business in the final.
“We have never lost at any level in league or championship since these lads got together, and I think this win is just reward for the effort they have put in from a very young age.”
Ballincollig started in a blistering fashion, and consecutive points from Joe Miskella put them in pole possession.
The biggest problem Glanmire were encountering was winning possession, as they looked leg-weary.
It got worse for Glanmire in the fourth minute, when a sweeping three-man move saw the ball fall into the path of Eoin Stack, who drilled a low shot to the corner of the net.
On the rare occasions Glanmire got out of their own half, their shooting was wayward, as their supporters were willing them on to open their scoring account.
The Ballincollig defence was seldom troubled for the remainder of the half, and Miskella finished with a free that saw him chalking up his fourth point and helped his team lead by nine points at the break.
On the restart, the trend of the game didn’t change and Bobby Power could have put the game out of sight, but his fisted attempt producing a miraculous save from Glanmire keeper Tom Hurley.
Glanmire did break their drought with a Donagh Healy point, and the hardworking Tom Huggins got his just reward when he also split the posts.
That’s as good as it got for Glanmire, as the class and fitness of Ballincollig was evident from start to finish, with both teams putting in a hard day’s work at various venues around the city.
Scorers for Ballincollig: J Miskella 0-5 (0-3f), E Stack 1-0, F Walsh 0-3, C McDonnell 0-2, B Power, C McCarthy (0-1 each).
Glanmire: D Healy, T Huggins (0-1 each)
BALLINCOLLIG: D McCarthy; P Skehan, L Higgins, E Lynch; J Harrington, E Harris, J Costello; J Miskella, E O hUrnai; R Fitzgerald, E Stack, F Walsh; B Power, M Downey, C McDonnell.
Subs: B Farrell for M Downey (15), D Murphy for C McCarthy (22), R Doyle for J Miskella (26), S O’Brien for C McDonnell (27).
GLANMIRE: T Hurley; S Carey, A O’Sullivan, A Soltani; F O’Sullivan, C McMahon, E O’Donovan; E Considine, E Dawson; D Healy, M Sullivan, J Daly; A Maher, T Huggins, J Daly.
Subs: T Desmond for S Carey (inj 10), A McCarthy for F O’Sullivan (h-t), E O’Donovan for C MacDonald (20), D Forbes for J Daly (25).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan, Valley Rovers.

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