County U21 title beckons for Robert Emmetts

ALL roads lead to Cork’s Pairc Ui Rinn this Friday night as the U21 footballers of Lismire/ Newmarket, Robert Emmetts, face Kilshannig in the county b final at 8.15pm.

This present side, led by Conor O’Keeffe, began their season back in February just losing out to reigning champions Boherbue, 2-9/3-10, after extra time in round 1.

Knocknagree, on St Patrick’s weekend, were defeated by the minimum margin, 1-11/1-10, in the semi final.

That brought us to Rockchapel on the final day in March when in a heart storming contest Emmetts showed huge tenacity to win their second title at this grade.

It was a beaming Conor O’keeffe who accepted the cup from Duhallow Board chairman Joe Kerins at the Stagmount venue.

The team came back to Lismie and Newmarket to a great welcome.

That brought us out in the county championship and a very fancied Kilmacabea side were defeated 4-9 to 0-14 at Kilmichael on May 13.

So on to the county semi-final at Buttevant on August 3 when city champs St Nicks succumbed to a 1-10 to 2-16 defeat.

This brings Robert Emmetts to a second county final in five seasons.

In this season’s campaign 19 players have been used and three of those - Michael Cottrell, Jamie Hayes and Michael McSweeney - played in that 2013 defeat, 2-11 to 3-12 to Canovee, while Eoin O’Connell was a sub.

This years panel is as follows: Josh O’Keeffe, Jason Sheehan, Jamie Hayes, Daniel Norton, Eoin O’Connell, Aidan Browne, Patrick Browne, Cathal Browne, Michael Cottrell, Michael McSweeney, Conor O’Keeffe (Capt), Cian Crowley, Jack Guiney, Ryan O’Keeffe, Jack Murphy, Sean McSweeney, Aaron O’Callaghan, Cathal Field, Stephen Jones, Patrick Buckley.

Leading scorers in this years championship are: Conor O’Keeffe 2-28 (34), Ryan O’Keeffe 2-7 (13),Jack Murphy 2-5 (11), Cian Crowley 2-4 (10), Patrick Browne 2-0 (6), Michael Cottrell 0-4 (4), Cathal Browne 0-3 (3), Michael McSweeney 1-0 (3), Aidan Browne, Jack Guiney and Sean McSweeney 0-1 each.

The team has scored 11-55 (88), and average of 2-11 (17) and conceeded 6-55 (73); average 1-11 (14) from five games.

To date Newmarket hold four cork county football titles and one hurling title. They are: Premier Intermediate Football 2011 Junior A Football 1970 and 1998

U 12 B Football 1981

Minor C Hurling 2010.

The victorious captains of those sides were: Barry O’Leary (now manager of this and Intermediate side), Billy Daly (former Cork U21 and Senior and Junior), John Paul O’Neill, John Sheehan and Michael O’Leary.

The Robert Emmetts Club was founded in 2012 in hurling and football at U21 level and over the last six seasons 53 different players have lined out, with four championships won -

U 21 A Hurling and U 21 A Football double in 2015

U 21 B Football Titles In 2013 and 2017

So the very best of luck to the team and management on this Friday. County titles are never won easily, they are earned.