On Saturday night last, the overall Rebel Og Awards 2017 function took place in Clayton Hotel Sliversprings.
In a year in which we celebreated the success of our 12 monthly winners and announced our overall 2017 winner.
Kiltha Og took the January award for 2017, with their U14 hurlers winning both the Premier 2 championship and league. Add in success too at U16 A and U12 Premier 2 level in the leagues to make it a great season last year for the Castlemartyr, Dungourney, Mogeely and Clonmult combination.
They were followed in February by St Colman’s College, Fermoy, winners of the Dean Ryan Cup.
It took a replay to separate themselves and Thurles CBS, as the school secured their first win in this competition in 14 years. The joint captains, Eoin and Brian Roche, were the feature a few times during the year at the monthly awards and it wasn’t the only trophies they picked up during the year.
It was the turn of handball stars, Stephen O’Rourke and Niall Delany, from Mallow, to be honoured in March. They won the U17 All-Ireland championship for Cork, with wins over Tipperary, Clare and Waterford to first take the Munster title. A win over Cavan set up a final meeting with Wexford, with the Mallow boys in outstanding form in the final to be crowned All-Ireland champions.
The Carbery Scor group took the accolade in April, made up of representatives from the Tadhg MacCarthaigh, Sam Maguires, Clann na nGael and Carbery Rangers clubs. Their wins in the ballad, recitation, drama and music sections saw another All-Ireland title head to the Rebel county.
A Simcox Cup win for St Francis College, Rochestown, their first since 1950, saw them pick up the May award.
Wins over MSM Rosscarbery, Kanturk and Hamilton High to set up a final clash with Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig.
This was never going to be an easy game the Roco found themselves trailing by 0-9 to 0-3 early on. They rallied to cut it to four by half-time and a goal from David Andrews, in the second-half, helped put them back on level terms to see the drive on to victory.
Four clubs were honoured in June, for their success at the National Feile hurling competitions. Sarsfields won the Division 1 camogie title, with Na Piarsaigh winners of the Division 3 hurling championship. Cuchullains came out on top of the Division 6 competition and St Kevin’s in the Division 11 final.
Most of the Sars team went on to win the Feile football title with Glanmire the following month, making it a national double for them.
Another bit of history was created by the July winners, Ballinora GAA Club, as their U14 footballers won the Cork Division 2 Feile title for the first time.
They went on to represent the county at the national finals in Cavan/Monaghan, where they were beaten, after extra-time, by Maynooth in the quarter-final.
The August winners saw the Roche brothers back as monthly winners, as they were part of the Cork side that won the All-Ireland U17 hurling title. Again another bit of history here as they became the inaugural winners of this competition as minor switches to U17 for the next few years at least.
The twin brothers collected the All-Ireland Cup on behalf of Cork, making it a great day for the county, them, their familes and their club, Bride Rovers.
They were back again in September as the Cork minor squad was honoured for winning the Munster title, the first win at this level for the Rebels since 2008.
A win over Waterford set up a semi-final clash with Tipperary, with the first game ending all square. The replay, at Pairc Ui Rinn, saw more than 8,000 people present, one of the biggest crowds ever at a stand-alone minor game.
The Rebels came through and went on to defeate Clare in the Munster final, before just losing out to Galway in the All-Ireland decider.
Bandon U15s picked up the October award, as they won the double, winning their respective hurling and football championships. Their hurlers beat Youghal in their final and the footballers got the better of Wolfe Tones (Kanturk).
The November award went to Bride Rovers, for their success at U16 and minor level.
The U16s got the better of near-neighbours, Fermoy, in the county final and their minors defeated Kilshannig in their respective final. Once again the Roche brothers featured here, this time in their club colours.
There were also joint winners in December, with Eire Og minor footballers and the Inniscarra minor hurlers honoured.
Both won their respective titles for the first time, with the Ovens side winning the Premier 1 MFC, defeating Douglas in the final and Inniscarra taking the Premier 2 MHC, getting the better of Blackrock in the final.
Both sides also won their respective leagues, making them double winners for the season.
OVERALL WINNERS
THE Cork U17 hurlers where the overall winners at the Rebel Óg annual awards at the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs.
It’s the first year that there is an overall winner and on the night few could argue that they were worthy winners.
Under coach, John Considine, they lifted the inaugural All-Ireland title in August, with a two-point victory over Dublin, 1-19 to 1-17. They added this to the Munster title they had won previously in the year.
Those young players, at the new minor inter-county age, created their own little bit of history and it’s always nice to be the inaugural winners of any competition.
Accepting the award, Considine said that, in Cork, we were in a lucky position that any year you take charge of a team, you are in with a chance of winning an All-Ireland and, thankfully, it worked out for them last year.
They started on the run to Croker at the Gaelic Grounds in April, where they took on Limerick in the first round of the Munster Championship, a game they won by 0-16 to 0-6.
Next up was Tipperary, at Páirc Uí Rinn, in the semi-final. After a top-class game, the Rebels came through, 2-22 to 2-9.
On to the Munster final and the young Rebels were on the road again, this time to Dungarvan to take on Waterford. Again these young stars showed what they are made of and, despite giving up home advantage, they won by 3-13 to 1-12.
The All-Ireland semi-final clash with Galway was never going to be an easy game. Played at Semple Stadium it was close all the way before the Rebels won by 1-19 to 1-17.
It was on to the All-Ireland final on August 6 and new ground for these young players. For a start, with a noon throw-in, it meant having to travel up to Dublin the night before. Something like this, a change from normal routine, can upset players but not this Cork side, and after another close game, they were crowned champions, winning 1-19 to 1-17.
The Hall of Fame inductee was Micheál MacSuibhne for his contribution as a player, then as an administrator with the old Bord na nÓg and his club, Carrigaline.
It was on to the All-Ireland final on August 6 and new ground for these young players. For a start, with a noon throw-in, it meant having to travel up to Dublin the night before. Something like this, a change from normal routine, can upset players but not this Cork side, and after another close game, they were crowned champions, winning 1-19 to 1-17.
The Hall of Fame inductee was Micheál MacSuibhne for his contribution as a player, then as an administrator with the old Bord na nÓg and his club, Carrigaline.
