
Duhallow win Cork SFC Divisional section final after opening half blitz on Muskerry
McCarthy Insurance Group County Senior Football Championship Colleges/Divisional final

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Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Keating strikes late as Na Piarsaigh end wait for championship victory
Na Piarsaigh recorded their first championship football victory since 2021 when they struck late to edge Kinsale in a thrilling Group 2 encounter in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork PJFC in Ballymah on Saturday. Kinsale seemed to be set for victory when they led by 2-13 to 1-14 going into injury time, but a late, late goal from Alan Keating helped the northsiders snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Keating also contributed 0-4 to the cause while Keith Buckley hit Kinsale for 0-5, Michael Sheehan struck 1-1 and Sean Downey clipped 0-2. Kinsale will take heart from the 0-7 that their talisman, Brian Coughlan, kicked while two goals from Michael Murphy and 0-2 from James Murphy also helped put them into pole position. They will play Cullen in four weeks' time, with the Duhallow club sitting atop of the group thanks to their 2-18 to 0-13 win over Cobh in Mourneabbey on Friday. Luke Murphy was in imperious form for Cullen, as he kicked 0-8, including two two-pointers. Aaron Nolan helped himself to 1-2, Michael Twomey grabbed the other goal while Colin Walsh and Colin O'Leary both hit Cobh for 0-3. Buttevant signaled their intent in Group 3 with a 2-17 to 1-12 win over Glenville in Ballyhooley. Mark Lenehan was their scorer in chief with 0-7, David Hanlon clipped 0-5, Conor Hanlon helped himself to 1-2 while Aaron Horgan raised their other green flag. Colin O'Keeffe hit 1-1 for Glenville in a game that was closer than the result suggests, while Josh Cooke clipped 0-3 with Ciarán O'Leary and Callum O'Mahony both registering 0-2. Inniscarra marked their arrival to the competition with a 2-12 to 0-12 win over Millstreet in Donoughmore on Saturday night. Last year's JAFC winners proved that goals win matches with Cork hurling star, Seán O'Donoghue, and Stephen Dornan landing the crucial majors. Millstreet were overly reliant on the significant talents of Darragh Cashman, who kicked all but two points of their total. In Group 1, St Nicks and Ballydesmond played out a sensational 4-9 to 0-21 draw in Glantane on Sunday. Diarmuid Wall, Eoin O'Leary, Jake Brosnan and a penalty from Jack O'Sullivan raised the green flags for Nicks, but Ballydesmond stayed in touch thanks to a sensational 0-17 haul from the great Donncha O'Connor, including four two-pointers. His final score of the game put his side a point up deep into injury time, but St Nicks 'keeper, Ross Cronin, slotted over the equalizer. Canovee top Group 1 as a result of their 2-21 to 1-11 win over Urhan in Dunmanway. Conor Dodd and Sean O'Connor scored the goals for last year's beaten finalists, while Jack Kelleher top-scored with 0-10 and Aidan Moynihan clipped 0-5.


Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork wear down battling Waterford to stay on track for camogie hat-trick
All-Ireland camogie semi-final: Cork 1-21 Waterford 1-11 A Saoirse McCarthy-inspired Cork eventually wore down Waterford in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday. The Rebels stellar championship run, which sees them unbeaten since Galway overcame them in the round-robin two years ago, ensures they stay on track for three-in-a-row All-Ireland titles. This feat was last achieved by Cork between 1970-1973. No doubt Galway will have something to say about that in two weeks time when these familiar foes meet for a second year running in what should be another fascinating showdown in Jones Road (5.15pm throw-in). Today's encounter was a far cry from when Cork totally outclassed Waterford in the 2023 final, the south-east side were in this game right up until the fourth quarter, only to be overrun in the closing stages. Twelve of that starting team lined out in this penultimate round. The finishing touches to the Cork victory were applied by substitute Orlaith Mullins who entered the fray three minutes from time and ended with a hefty 1-2. But it was McCarthy who shone the brightest, scoring seven wonderful points - three from play. There was one change to Ger Manley's side with Katrina Mackey replacing Clodagh Finn after the Fr O'Neill's forward picked up an injury during the week. Keeley Corbett Barry, left, and Orla Hickey of Waterford react after their side's defeat in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Senior Championship semi-final match between Cork and Waterford at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile Being able to call on a player of that calibre tells how strong this panel is, and the Douglas forward ended with four points. In front of an attendance of 7,120 spectators, Cork won the toss and elected to play against the wind and while they were first on the scoreboard through an Amy O'Connor free, Waterford's response four minutes later from a Niamh Rockett placed ball was a significant reply. The teams traded points before Waterford, mainly through the brilliance of Beth Carton, moved into a 1-4 to 0-3 lead midway through the half. The De La Salle attacker's first point could well have been a green flag but her shot sailed over the bar. She made no mistake on the quarter hour mark when she moved into space and was set up by Mairead O'Brien and her finish was low to the far corner. Emma Murphy and Sorcha McCartan white flags were cancelled by Carton and a Rockett free - Waterford keeping their noses in front as the wind appeared to swirl, 1-6 to 0-5. Cork came more into the game through the next four points - three of these excellent returns from the speedster McCarthy to draw level. But with corner-forward Kate Lynch playing a deep role for Mick Boland's outfit, Abby Flynn pushed her side into the lead, 1-7 to 0-9 at the interval, after she capitalised from a long Rockett free. The first 10 minutes of the restart was frenetic. Cork obviously benefitted from a good half-time pep talk with Katrina Mackey showing the way with a trio of points, Cork were beginning to work their way back. The Rebels would outscore their opponents six points to two. Waterford did well to keep the ball out of the net in the 38th minute, as the scores at the other end started to dry up. This due to the Cork rearguard maintaining a strong defensive shape. The champions clearly had got any rustiness out of the system from their four week lay-off since competitive action. As the third quarter came to a conclusion, the lead had extended to 0-16 to 1-9. Rockett ended a 12 minute drought for Waterford with a 48th minute free. There was no let up from Cork, McCarthy landing another brace. The alertness of Brianna O'Regan in the Waterford goal denied Cliona Healy, but O'Connor split the posts from the '45. Mullins put the icing on the cake in the first minute of stoppage when she was picked out by Orlaith Cahalane. Scorers for Cork: S McCarthy (0-7, 0-4 frees), O Mullins (1-2), K Mackey (0-4), A O'Connor (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 45), E Murphy and S McCartan (0-2 each), L Hayes (0-1). Scorers for Waterford: B Carton (1-4), Rockett (0-5, 0-3 frees), L Bray and A Flynn (0-1 each). CORK: A Lee; P Mackey, L Coppinger, M Cahalane (Capt); A Healy, L Treacy, L Hayes; H Looney, A Thompson; E Murphy, S McCartan, E Murphy; O Cahalane, K Mackey, A O'Connor. Subs: C Healy for E Murphy (53), M Murphy for A Thompson, O Mullins for S McCartan (both 57), A Fitzgerald for L Hayes (62). WATERFORD: B O'Regan; A McNulty, K Corbett Barry, V Falconer; B Bowdren, R Walsh, O Hickey; L Bray (Capt), A Flynn; E O'Neill; B Carton, E O'Neill, M O'Brien; A Fitzgerald, N Rockett, K Lynch. Subs: T Power for B Bowdren (40), M Gostl for M O'Brien (46), M Comerford for A Flynn (55), N Ahearne for A Fitzgerald (63). Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin).


The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Fintan McCarthy admits partnership with Paul O'Donovan ‘up in the air' after facing fellow Olympics gold medal hero
WHEN Paul O'Donovan's brother Gary made way for Fintan McCarthy, it was a reminder that nothing lasts forever in rowing. And now McCarthy is getting his head around the fact that one of Irish sport's most successful sporting partnerships may not have another chapter in their story. 2 Pictured at the Multi Sport Pavilion, Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin is Olympic rower Fintan McCarthy Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile 2 Olympic Champions in lightweight men's double sculls Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile The siblings won silver in Rio before Gary, the older of the two, was supplanted by McCarthy for Tokyo. A gold medal in 2021 justified the selection and the pair Winning a hat-trick of Olympic titles will be a little more complicated. For one, the the Games , prompting a step-up to heavyweight. Read More on Olympics Secondly, right now, they are in what might be called — in sporting terms — an open relationship . So at the World Cup in But the pair still found themselves gravitating towards one another off the water . Alongside Konan Pazzaia, McCarthy came third. Most read in Other Sports O'Donovan paired up with Daire Lynch — who took bronze in Paris with Philip Doyle — and finished fifth. McCarthy said: 'It was strange. We're so used to each other, which is the main thing I found with other people. Paul O'Donovan wins RTE Sportsperson of the Year 2024 after winning third Olympic medal in a row in Paris 'You kind of have to get to know people's routines, the way they work and their sort of maybe temperament around racing and stuff, whereas I would just be so used to that with Paul. 'It was funny in Lucerne. I think we found ourselves just getting back into the routine of having dinner at the same time. 'Like we all ate together and that kind of thing. 'And then going out to race , you sort of remind yourself like, 'Oh yeah, sorry. It's a bit different'. 'It was strange but he hasn't really been around this year anyway. So it wasn't too much of a shock either. 'But it was nice to have him there actually. 'We got along quite well over there, despite racing against each other. 'At the moment, it's quite up in the air. 'Paul is obviously focusing on his medical career at the moment. 'We don't really know where that's going to take him over the next few years. 'So you kind of have to plan to be without him for a while at least. 'And that is hard because I know how good what we had was and how successful it could be. 'But having said that, there's a lot of talent in the rowing centre as well.' NOTHING NEW That includes Pazzaia, the Geneva-born son of a But McCarthy stressed his new partner has been on the Irish rowing scene for some time already. He said: 'He's not new by any stretch. 'We seem to have had a pretty good double so far.' Pazzaia — who grew up in University — was inspired to take up rowing after seeing the exploits of the O'Donovan brothers nine years ago. McCarthy is not unaware of the passing of time and the changing of dynamics. He said: 'I guess as the Olympic cycles go on, it kind of becomes my job to sort of be what Paul was for me early on and bring on the other guys, which I quite like. 'I probably have a lot to share and offer that will help them. And that's only going to help whoever ends up being in the boat for the Games be the quickest in LA.' But if there is still much up in the air, that is as much by design as circumstance. "We're so used to each other, which is the main thing I found with other people." Fintan McCarthy McCarthy is racing in both the single and quad this year, although he does ultimately still see himself in the double. The 28-year-old is enjoying the freedom that comes in the year after an Olympics, admitting he has allowed himself to party after recent regattas. The Skibbereen man is also savouring the release of no longer having to weigh in at 69kg. He said: 'I feel like we were so dialled in last year that for me anyway, we nearly went too far over the edge. 'I got quite sick in May and I was a bit injured as well. 'That is kind of part of it, especially in an Olympic year. 'I think sometimes that drive to just go all in for a year and leave no stone unturned, it can catch up to you quite quickly, especially when you're so on the line in terms of food and making weight anyway, that it's quite easy to tip the scales. 'So just not having to ride that line so hard has been kind of refreshing as well, knowing that you're going to have the energy to do big sessions and actually recover from them as well. 'That's probably been a relief in itself. 'And then when you add into that, like growing with different people, mixing the groups together, different training partners and stuff, it is all quite new. 'It's not too boring yet anyway.' HITTING TOP FORM There is, he conceded, a large element of trial and error about this year with no markers to hit as they figure out the best way for him and O'Donovan to negotiate the move to heavyweight. But McCarthy does that in the comfort of knowing that the dynamic duo were already within touching distance of the standard required to be in contention for further Olympic glory. He said: 'We kind of knew in top form as the lightweights, we were pretty much up there with the heavy guys. 'We would have done a lot of training with Daire and Phil, they were in the medals in Paris too. 'So we can kind of gauge off them and know that we can do quite well in the double in top form. 'If you look at Paris, we actually had a faster time than the heavyweight guys who had won gold. 'And we raced Romania at the World Cup and they didn't make the final. They are Olympic champions. 'I think it is all to play for, especially in that boat class. And so that is sort of why it hasn't been like a reinvent-the-wheel kind of thing. 'This year was more about figuring out how we can gain those extra maybe two or three seconds and seeing where it needs to come from. 'It might not actually need to be too much extra weight. 'It could just be not having to restrict coming into competition, so we'll have a bit more energy to do a bit more training and get that extra speed from a bit more fitness. 'Leading into competitions as lightweights, for me especially, you can't help but drop the volume and drop the intensity a little bit. 'You can't eat enough to sustain that type of training while also losing enough weight to be 69kg on race day and be somewhat healthy. 'We've been a bit freer in the gym as well. 'Usually, it's a lot of maintenance in the summer rather than pushing on the strength and building. 'We have been able to kind of keep up a pretty good gym routine coming into the summer. 'And we've never really been able to do that before. 'I think there's probably more scope to gain a bit of speed from the fitness side of things for this summer.'