29-06-2025
Cork SHL: Barrs to face Sars in Division 1 final
With Sarsfields already qualified for the Division 1 Final of the Red FM Cork Hurling League, there was plenty of competition on Sunday morning to see who would join them. Douglas was in pole position before a ball was pucked as a win for them away to Glen Rovers would have put them into the decider. However, a win for the Glen would mean that a win for St Finbarr's away to Fr O'Neill's would put the Barrs into the final. In the end, the Glen beat Douglas and the Barrs overturned a half-time deficit to beat O'Neill's by 4-17 to 2-14 ensuring that they will play in the Division 1 final of the hurling and football league.
Ben Cunningham marked his return to action with 1-1 for the Barrs while Conor Cahalane hit 1-5. Conor McCarthy had 1-4 for the Togher men, Kevin O'Flynn scored 1-1 while Ciaran Doolan clipped 0-2 from wing back. Michael Wall and Conor O'Leary bagged the goals for O'Neill's, with Billy Dunne hitting 0-3.
The Glen gave themselves the best chance possible by seeing off Douglas by 3-23 to 2-18. Diarmuid Wall was the home side's top scorer with 1-7, Stephen Lynam clipped 1-5 from play, Luke Horgan helped himself to 1-2 while Rhys Dunne pilfered 0-5. Conor Kingston led the charge for Douglas with 0-6, Niall Hartnett hit 1-1, Dáire Burke raised their other green while Andy O'Connell hit 0-4.
That all made Charleville's 3-17 to 1-15 win over already relegated Carrigaline straightforward. Last year's beaten finalists brought the curtain down on another fine campaign with a comfortable win. A goal from Finn O'Connell had Carrig 1-15 to 0-12 to the good five minutes into the second half, but goals from Danny O'Flynn and Cathal Carroll earned Charleville the win.
Sarsfields finished their campaign with a comfortable 2-28 to 0-19 win over Carrigtwohill in Riverstown. Shane O'Regan hit 1-6 for Sars, Colm McCarthy scored 0-7 while Cork U20 star, Barry O'Flynn, fired 1-1. Sean Walsh hit 0-12 for Carrig, while O'Flynn's Cork teammate, Daniel Murnane, clipped 0-2.
Finally, the already relegated Kanturk gave a walkover to Blackrock thus ensuring that they finished at the bottom of the table.
In Division 2, Na Piarsaigh's 1-17 to 0-17 win over Erin's Own in Caherlag put the cat amongst the pigeons on Tuesday. It ensured Na Piarsaigh's survival in Division 2, while raising the anxiety levels in Caherlag as Erin's Own's promotion hopes now depended on Midleton beating Killeagh in Clonmult Memorial Park on Friday evening. Kevin Moynihan clipped 1-4 for Na Piarsaigh, Daire Connery hit 0-6 while Eoin Galvin and Craig Hanafin both scored 0-3. Eoin Murphy scored 0-11 for the home side, with Conor Lenihan and Barry Óg Murphy both contributing 0-2.
Thus, all eyes were on Midleton on Friday as Cork U20 star, Barry Walsh, inspired Killeagh to a 1-21 to 0-21 win, thus securing their promotion and a rematch with Midleton in the final in two weeks. Walsh marked his debut in style, with 1-1 of his total coming from play while Ryan McCarthy with 0-3 and 0-2 from Andy Walsh also helped Killeagh over the line. Cormac Beausang was the Magpies' top scorer with 0-9, while Kian Farmer and Alex Quirke both hit a brace of points.
Éire Óg needed a win away to Newtownshandrum and a favour from Valley Rovers and Ballincollig if they were to avoid the drop. They held up their side of the bargain as they ran out winners by 5-20 to 4-20. Eoin O'Shea and Dylan Foley grabbed two goals for Éire Óg, Mark Kelleher scored their other major while Eoin O'Mahony had a brace of goals for Newtown with Ronan Geary and Conor Griffin also finding the net.
Valley Rovers beat already relegated Fermoy by 3-16 to 2-16 on Saturday meaning that Éire Óg would survive should Ballincollig beat Ballymartle in Riverstick on Sunday morning. There was to be no denying the home side, however, as their 2-13 to 1-14 win relegated the Ovens based outfit. Ryan Deasy hit 0-6 for Ballymartle, Cillian Lordan bagged 1-3 and Luke O'Callaghan 1-1 while Brian Keating had the goal for Ballincollig.
In Division 3, Newcestown and Bride Rovers were promoted despite suffering final day losses to Castlelyons and Ballinhassig, respectively. Castlelyons's 4-14 to 1-16 win over Newcestown saved them from relegation. Anthony Spillane (2), Brian O'Donovan and David Morrisson scored the goals for the Imokilly side, meaning that Blackrock went down alongside Mallow despite their 3-16 to 1-10 win over Courcey Rovers They will be replaced in Division 3 by Bandon and Inniscarra. The West Cork men made it nine wins from nine by beating Kilworth by 3-15 to 2-16 on Friday, Rory Fogarty, Conor Calnan and Eolann McSweeney with the goals. A goal from Inniscarra's Mark Nagle helped them to a 1-25 to 0-21 win over Kildorrery on Saturday. At the other end of Division 4, Youghal were already relegated but they secured Tracton's company through the trapdoor by beating them by 3-21 to 1-21.
In Division 5, a goal from Cailean Cox helped Ballyhea to a 1-23 to 1-18 win over Erin's Own that earned them promotion alongside Aghabullogue. Mayfield and Erin's Own will play Division 6 hurling next season.
Glen Rovers' second team and Cloyne had already secured their promotion from Division 6 before the final round was played with the only question left to be answered being who would be relegated along with Na Piarsaigh. Ballygiblin's 1-16 to 1-15 win over Cloyne condemned Barryroe to the drop.
It was a similar story in Division 7, with Killavullen and Diarmuid Ó Mathúna's already qualified for the final before a ball was pucked in anger while Kilshannig and Douglas will go back to their divisional leagues in 2026.
Clonakilty earn place in McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 final
Clonakilty will play St Finbarr's in the final of Division 1 of the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Football League after they played out a 1-15 to 2-12 draw against Castlehaven in Ballinacarriga on Sunday morning. Clon, who won the Division 2 title last season, needed to avoid defeat to earn their spot and key contributions from Conor Daly, with 1-3, Darragh Gough and Dara Ó Sé, who both kicked 0-4, made Micheál Maguire's second goal for the Haven late immaterial. The final will be played next weekend, and the Barrs will be looking to make it the first half of a league double with their hurlers also qualified for the Division 1 Hurling Final.
