Tag Archives: Cork

Weatherwise it was an opening night that lended itself to grit and determination more than anything else as Mark Fitzgerald’s competitive bow as Clare Senior Football Manager got off to a difficult start in Clarecastle on Wednesday evening. Holding a minimum advantage by the three-quarters mark, the home side would be blitzed by defending McGrath Cup champions Cork in a dominant final quarter that produced an unexpected 14 point turnaround to prevail by 2-14 to 0-8, with the Tralee native looking to take the positives from the bulk of the performance. “Look, it’s January football in tough weather but we’re relatively happy. It went away from us a little bit there in the second half but when you’re seeing what Cork are pulling off the bench, some very experienced lads really, it was always going to be tough to hold out,” he said. “We just picked up one or two injuries this week and obviously picked up another in the …

McGrath Cup Group B Round 1 Cork 2-14 Clare 0-8 Holders Cork eventually possessed too much experience as they overpowered hosts Clare coming down the final straight to put one foot back in what would be a sixth successive McGrath Cup Final in Clarecastle GAA Astro on Wednesday evening. Springing five of last year’s championship side from the bench in the second period, the Rebels produced a remarkable 14 point turnaround in the final 20 minutes including 1-5 from substitute duo Mark Cronin (1-3) and Chris Óg Jones (0-2). In contrast to eleven Cork survivors from last year’s Munster Senior Championship Semi-Final showdown, a new-look Clare only possessed five of the 20 used in that memorable victory as Mark Fitzgerald’s reign finally got the mark in earnest. Large injuries to Emmet McMahon and Mark McInerney were frustrating enough besides losing Cillian Rouine in the warm-up which ensured debuts for Darren O’Brien and Josh Guyler in addition to former Westmeath player …

Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship Round 4 Cork 1-24 Clare 0-22 Clare will have to depend on their Shannonside neighbours to do them a favour this Friday if they are to continue their Munster Under 20 Championship bid after being sucker-punched by a late Cork surge in Cusack Park on Wednesday evening. In complete contrast to the previous evening’s minor clash between the same sides in Sixmilebridge, this time it was Cork that stepped up sufficiently coming down the final straight to finally see off their stubborn hosts. A Ben Cunningham goal in the 55th minute proved the clinching score that Clare simply couldn’t recover from, having battled gamefully throughout a seesaw second period. With the sides level eight times in the second half alone and never more than a point separating the sides in either direction, it seemed as if Clare were destined for a third draw of the campaign. That narrative altered however when Eoin Downey’s defensive free …

Clare 0-17 Cork 0-12 A scorching finish washed away any previous misgivings as Clare soared into the final three of the Munster Minor Hurling Championship in front of 1.491 in O’Garney Park Sixmilebridge on Tuesday evening. Being their final group outing, Clare craved a victory to keep their fate in their own hands and they duly responded with a commanding display that arguably should have been much more comfortable than the final scoreline indicates. Allied to their 17 points were 16 wides that highlighted just how dominant the home side were against a Cork side that were flawless up to Tuesday’s tie but were surprisingly lacklustre without their top-scorer Barry Walsh. For long periods, it did seem as if Clare’s profligacy would come back to haunt them as a crossfield breeze proved tricky for two freetakers to master. In contrast, Cork’s Johnny Murphy arrowed over three early frees that meant they matched their hosts for the opening quarter. A brace …

St Anne’s Community College has captured a remarkable rugby double, winning the Munster Girls Senior and Junior Cup finals in Musgrave Park, Cork on Wednesday.   Having won the Senior Cup last year, St Anne’s retained the title for the second successive year thanks to a 17-5 win over Ardscoil Mhuire, Limerick, who defeated their junior team in last year’s cup decider. To crown a glorious day for the Killaloe secondary school, their junior side mauled Coláiste Ide, Dingle by 47-0. This is the second successive year St Anne’s qualified for the Munster Senior and Junior Cup finals. St Anne’s defeated Clonakilty and ISK Killorglin on route to the senior final. Ard Scoil Mhuire Limerick and Colaiste Pobail, Bantry were defeated by St Anne’s on their way to the junior decider. When coach Grace Kearney set up rugby in St Anne’s back in 2015 there were very few girls playing the sport. She is thrilled to see girls winning the …

MUSIC has always been a part of John Hennessy’s life, and the soundtrack to his childhood was an eclectic one. No surprise, because the Drumcliffe native’s dad is the legendary Michael, a music teacher and an inspiration to generations of budding performers.  Now based between Berlin, Cork and Ennis, John is fast making his own name in music. Credited by none other than Mojo magazine with developing a “neo rock ’n’ roll” style, John’s on stage persona is Black Pope. Blending darkly beautiful lyrics with impeccably smooth guitar riffs and a flavour of fizzling glam rock, Black Pope’s sound defies easy comparisons. A multi-instrumentalist and song writer, John is modest about the waves he has been making since bursting onto the music scene. Ahead of a hometown gig at Glór later this month, he is reflective about his musical influences.  “The piano was a constant when we were growing up,” he tells The Champion. “I played violin for a while, …

Munster Minor A Camogie Championship Final Cork 2-16 Clare 0-6 CORK maintained their vice-like grip on Munster after brushing off the challenge of Clare to cement their third successive provincial Minor A Camogie title in Cahir, Tipperary this afternoon, writes Eoin Brennan. Clare had defied the odds to overcome both Limerick and Waterford through the scenic route to get to their first final since 2017. But that was where their heroics ended as recently crowned All-Ireland champions Cork clinically flexed their muscles to run out comprehensive winners. The Rebels’ pace, first touch and superior physicality was a joy to watch as they led from start to finish to complete their second Munster and All-Ireland double in three seasons. Scorers-in-chief Orlaith Mullins (0-6) Ciara Morrison (2-2) excelled with a combined tally of 2-8 while Fiona Twohig and Edel Sheehan dominated the second period in a superb collective display. On the flip side, Clare, despite falling increasingly in arrears, never dropped their …

Munster Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final Clare 2-17 Cork 1-17 FROM the nadir of last year’s pummelling to the zenith of a near flawless collective display, the wheel had certainly turned full circle for Clare and Cork as the Banner deservedly powered into a first Munster Minor Hurling decider since 2019 in Páirc Uí Rinn on Tuesday evening, writes Eoin Brennan. A 43 point turnaround wasn’t even the main headline grabbing act as Clare dethroned the holders with an unprecedented brand of professionalism, efficiency and most significantly an ice-cool nerve to never deviate or revert from the meticulous passing game that left Cork chasing shadows for the majority. Everyone played their part as the Banner rolled with the punches of being sucker-punched by a controversial late first half goal that wiped out their advantage, only to come out swinging once more when Cian Neylon fired home a second Clare goal after only 90 seconds of the new half. Indeed, Clare were …