Cork U-12/13 handballers two wins away from All-Ireland title
AS the 60x30 handball season draws to a close this weekend will feature the All-Ireland Juvenile Inter-County Team Championship and Girls Interprovincial Team of six. Starting with the U-12/13 Team Championship, at Kilkenny venue Kilfane on Saturday at 11am, Cork’s Mallow Credit Union sponsored team takes on Monaghan in the semi-final.
There is a quiet confidence that this team can do well, they were most impressive in defeating Tipperary in a Munster semi-final and then went on to defeat Waterford in the Munster Final. Obviously Monaghan will be a different proposition they always produce good underage teams that are never easily beaten.
The Cork team which is made up of five Fermoy players Cameron O’Sullivan, Cian Cronin O’Neill, Ben Sullivan, Hayden Supple, Darragh Henley, and three Ballydesmond players John Cronin, Eoin Daly and Darragh Murphy. If they succeed in their semi-final clash with Monaghan then they will face Kilkenny in the final on Saturday afternoon.
If they do reach the Final it would be a repeat of the 40x20 All-Ireland Final last April both teams serving up an epic contest on that occasion with Kilkenny winning that clash by the minimum margin of just one ace. If it’s a Cork v Kilkenny Final facing them again on home soil is not an easy one, but hopefully the Cork players who despite their tender years are very experienced will handle the occasion and reverse the result of the 40x20 final, it would be a great achievement if they could do that.
Last Sunday there was disappointment for our Compunet IT Solutions players who made the journey to Wexford and Carlow to contest three 60x30 All Ireland Finals taking on Wexford opposition in two and Kilkenny in the third but had to settle for runner-up spot in all three.
In Boys U-14 Doubles Kealin Murphy, Ballydesmond teamed up with Gearoid Healy Liscarroll to face Wexford pair Mark Doyle/Ben Keeling at the Castlebridge venue with the Wexford pair proving that bit stronger taking the title. The second game at Castlebridge was Boys U-17 Doubles in which Mallow pair Niall Delany/Brooklyn Hickey again face Wexford opposition Robert Cogley/Ciaran Power and again the Wexford boys had the better of the exchanges winning the title with a convincing performace.
Cork’s third All-Ireland Final was at Carlow venue Garryhill here Darragh Ducey, Boherbue, faced Kilkenny player Jack Holden in Boys U-16 Singles but again the Cork player had to settle for runner-up spot as Holden ran out an impressive winner.
On Saturday the focus will be on Girls 60x30 Interprovincial Team of six which is down for decision at Galway venue Moycullen with Munster, Connacht and Leinster doing battle for the spoils, Sarah Walsh, Mallow, is on the Munster team.
Also on this Saturday morning Liscarroll club are hosting a 10-11 Blitz for both Boys and Girls open to all clubs in the county. Everyone is welcome they are hoping for big turnout from both boys and girls in the mentioned age groups which is an important learning process for young players. NORTH CORK LADIES GAA 3498778 or email northcorkpro@ gmail.com to book.
COUNTY FINAL BANTEER ladies U16s have qualified for the County Final v Dohenys this Saturday at 3pm in Kilmurry.
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP REPLAY
MALLOW play Castlehaven in the Junior D Championship replay this Saturday.
MINOR COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS BEST of luck to the North Cork clubs who play in the County semi-finals over the next week MOURNEABBEY - Minor A Championship KILSHANNIG and Knocknagree - Minor C Championship BEST of luck to Dromtariffe who have to face Inch Rovers following a draw in their Minor B quarter final.
U-13 AND U-15 DEVELOPMENT BLITZES THE 2017 Cork LGFA U13 & U15 Development programme will finish with the following blitzes:
The Munster LGFA U13 Development Academy Blitz will take place in Mallow GAA complex on Saturday, October 28.
The Munster LGFA U15 Development Academy Blitz will take place in Mallow GAA complex on Saturday, November 4. Your coordinators will have more information on these Blitzes. Thanks to all the players who took part in the U13 and 15 Development and to all the trainers and coordinators who gave their time to run this programme in North Cork.
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