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Irish Examiner
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Duhallow dig deep to secure final spot overcoming UCC in Cork Premier SFC semi-final
Cork PSFC- Divisional/Colleges semi-final: Duhallow: 4-18 (4-0-18) UCC: 4-12 (4-2-8) A strong second half showing from Duhallow was enough to get the better of UCC in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier SFC Divisional/Colleges semi-final at Mallow on Thursday evening. Ger O'Sullivan's side had to dig deep in this one as they will now meet either Muskerry or Carbery in the final with a place in the championship proper the reward for the winners. They trailed by two points at half-time in what was an end-to-end game before the divisional outfit came good to prevail. Their strong opening to the second half proving key. They were driven on by Cork senior footballer Luke Murphy who scored 1-7, with all but one coming from play. UCC were depleted but they must be praised for playing their part in this contest. They battled gamely throughout and represented the famous jersey well. Duhallow started positively, landing the first three points inside seven minutes through Luke Murphy, Donncha O'Connor and Séamus Hickey. They also could have got a goal in that time but Jack Curtin wasn't able to generate enough power to beat UCC goalkeeper James Hoare. UCC were well in the game. They put together two unanswered points from James Horgan and Emmet Daly. Duhallow looked to have taken a firm grip when they scored 1-1 without reply in a minute. Curtin with the point while Luke Murphy raised a green flag after being set up by Hickey, 1-4 to 0-2 after 17 minutes. The sides traded points before the teams were level when UCC hit 1-2. Horgan with an easy finish to the back of the net, but it was made by Cathail O'Mahony. With five minutes to the break, it was all to play for, Duhallow once more put 1-1 together and looked to be primed to push on. Curtin with a tidy finish to the corner of the net, 2-6 to 1-5. UCC finished the half brilliantly though, O'Mahony landed a two-point free followed by a Tomás Hannifin point before Daly billowed the back of the net. The college 2-8 to 2-6 ahead at half-time. Duhallow used all their experience and quality in the new half. O'Sullivan's charges effectively put the game beyond their opposition with a devastating opening 10 minutes to the second half. The eventual winners scored 2-5 during that time while UCC only managed a point. O'Connor and Curtin with the goals while Conor O'Callaghan's point was a highlight, 4-11 to 2-9. UCC never gave up though and a Michael Murphy goal did give them hope with 18 minutes remaining, but Duhallow were in their groove now, tacking on four points on the trot. Luke Murphy with two, one which was a free, and efforts from Seán Meehan and sub Ciarán Curtin. The sides exchanged points before an O'Mahony two-pointer from a difficult angle was probably the score of the game, but it was a consolation, 4-16 to 3-12 after 57 minutes. Hickey and Luke Murphy rounded off the scoring for Duhallow before a goal right at the end from sub Fionn O'Sullivan did make the scoreline respectable for a gallant UCC side. Scorers for Duhallow: L Murphy (1-7, 0-1 f), J Curtin (2-1), D O'Connor (1-2), S Hickey (0-3), S Meehan, C O'Callaghan, D Linehan, C Curtin, L Moynihan (0-1 each). Scorers for UCC: C O'Mahony (0-5, 1 2pt f, 1 2pt, 0-1 45), E Daly (1-2), J Horgan (1-1), M Murphy, F O'Sullivan (1-0 each), F O'Brien (0-2), T Hannifin, S Aherne (0-1 each). DUHALLOW: F O'Connor (Cullen); K Crowley (Millstreet), S Meehan (Kiskeam), D Buckley (Boherbue); K Cremin (Boherbue), J O'Connor (Kiskeam), C Murphy (Castlemagner); C Walsh (Cullen), S Hickey (Rockchapel); T Casey (Kiskeam), C O'Callaghan (Dromtarriffe), J Curtin (Rockchapel); D O'Connor (Ballydesmond), D Linehan (Castlemagner), L Murphy (Cullen). Subs: J Murphy (Dromtarriffe) for C Walsh, L Moynihan (Boherbue) for J O'Connor (both h-t), C Curtin (Rockchapel) for C Murphy (36), E Murphy (Rockchapel) for D Linehan (53). UCC (Cork unless stated): J Hoare (Dingle, Kerry); C Hannon (St Joseph's Barefield, Clare), R Bourke (Castleisland Desmonds, Kerry), D Murray (Glanmire); F Desmond (Ballymartle), D Phelan (Aghada), N Davis (Ballinora); T O'Sullivan (Kenmare Shamrocks, Kerry), T Hannifin (Na Gaeil, Kerry); J Horgan (Firies, Kerry), E Daly (Valentia, Kerry), F O'Brien (St Pat's Blennerville, Kerry); A Crowley (Templenoe, Kerry), C O'Mahony (Mitchelstown), S Aherne (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin). Subs: M Murphy (Kinsale) for S Aherne (36), F O'Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar, Kerry) for T O'Sullivan (41), S Whelan (Carrig na bhFear) for R Bourke (53), C Doody (Scartaglen, Kerry) for J Horgan (55), C Reidy (St Colum's) for N Davis (56). Referee: R Whelan (Gleann na Laoi).
Irish Examiner
05-06-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Solution needed to resolve Cork club football farce
Beara reached last year's Cork U21A football final. The division last won this particular championship 18 years previous. That gap was not bridged last December. It didn't matter. Their getting there was evidence enough of this coming crop from Cork's most westerly and most remote division. The same crop won a Premier Minor county title in 2021 and backed it up a year later with Premier U19 honours. Beara back on the map. Yesterday, Beara were back in the news. The division was forced, 24 hours before throw-in, to concede their Cork Premier SFC fixture against Duhallow because of insufficient playing numbers. Having not fielded a team for either the 2023 or '24 editions of the Cork football championship, today's game in the colleges/divisions section was to be their comeback. That comeback is now on hold for another 12 months. Numbers are tight in the division, but numbers are not the issue, as evidenced by the aforementioned underage success. Avondhu pulled the plug last week. Numbers are in no way tight in Avondhu and numbers were certainly not the root cause of their withdrawal either. The players are there. The problem is the clubs and the calendar. There are six clubs in Beara. Only two were making their players available for today's now cancelled fixture. Of the other four, two had their own League and championship games this week that took priority and exclusive focus. Then there's the Leaving Cert. Then there's lads taking holidays in the month of June because the county championship is in full flow from late next month until whenever your respective club exits or enjoys silverware. It has been suggested to the Cork executive to play the colleges/divisions section of the Cork football and hurling championships much earlier than June so as to avoid the above issues. The suggestion fell on deaf ears. In his annual report last year, Cork GAA CEO Kevin O'Donovan described as 'shambolic' the late withdrawals by divisional teams long after draws were made and fixtures ratified. O'Donovan was referencing the four divisions - Duhallow, Muskerry (both hurling), Imokilly and Beara (both football) - that handed walkovers to their respective opponents this time last year. Despite stating that such 11th hour withdrawals require 'immediate attention', here we are again. Beara and Avondhu failing to field mean neither of the scheduled first-round games - Avondhu v Carbery and Beara v Duhallow - will now take place. MTU did not enter this year's championship, the third year in succession they have opted out. Of eight divisions and two colleges, only four will put out a team in this year's county football championship. Either find a suitable home in the calendar for the colleges/divisions section that won't have teams handing walkovers one day before throw-in or scrap their involvement altogether. To maintain the current farce serves no one.
