Two in a row for Imokilly as they defeat gallant Midleton in County SHC Final.

A great day for both the barony of Uí Mac Coille and the parish of Castlelyons in Páirc Uí Caoimh last Sunday as the Candy stripes took the second senior hurling title in a row. The game was played in ideal weather conditions and the Park looked splendid as we basked in the sunshine. Cork have several teams vying for county titles presently. In the curtain raiser Ballincollig defeated Blackrock in the second-grade intermediate final. This is a great result for Ballincollig hurling as there is a huge town and hinterland out there and it showed in the manner of their celebrations as many left and hit back for the town to get at it after their game.

However, when the band struck off with the parade there was a reasonable crowd in the stadium as we awaited a battle royal between Midleton town and the East Cork Divisional side. One could sense from the recent training sessions that Fergal Condon and his management team had our lads in top mode and if determination was right the performance would follow. Sure, enough the lads did not forget the lines of the play and as soon as two minutes into the game Mark O Keeffe sent a good ball in and Paudie O Sullivan poached a massive goal. The execution looked easy but Paudie has the class and he set the tone for the game. All our lads hurled for their lives especially our top men. Midleton did made a game of it and reeled Imokilly back to two points but then our goalie acting on good advice from management changed his puckout to down the middle to Sheamie Harnedy operating on the forty. Harnedy rose for a mighty fetch and clinical, bold and a joy to behold warded off his marker side stepped another and gave the goalie no chance a rocket to the top corner of the net. Imokilly led 2-11 to 1-9 at half time.

The second half took on new life as the Imokilly backs were really called on hold their lines. Our own clubmen Colm Spillane in the corner, Colm Barry at full back and Niall O Leary really delivered when it mattered. Colm Spillane had his usual tight and high catching game starving his opponent of any possession. Colm Barry was outstanding at full back and limited his renowned opponent to just 0-1 from play while Niall O Leary was majestic in the pocket as he had another great day at centre back. Overall though, credit Midleton as they brought Imokilly back to a two-point lead again in this second half. It looked as if they were gradually coming to grips with the game. Then a good clearance led to Will Leahy setting up Paudie O Sullivan who, like a true professional with a good punch, poached his second goal to finally kill off the game as Imokilly ran out nine-point winners.

The Sean Óg Murphy was presented to the captain Sheamie Harnedy and when the rituals and field celebrations were over a great night was had by all. A special thanks to St Ita’s Club and Michael Farrell of Summerfield’s Youghal who put on the welcome home, refreshments and Fáilte into the hours. It was fitting that the night was in Youghal as another great contributor for Imokilly on the day was Bill Cooper who was outstanding on scored 0-4 from play. The ‘man of the match’ award was awarded to Sheamie Harnedy and presented on Monday at a reception in Reardon’s Cork. Congratulations to the Manager Fergal Condon, his selection team and all the players for 2018 and roll on 2019 for three in a row.

The quest for three in a row.

A county title is and must be hard to attain in any year in any county. Cork in hurling and Kerry in football are particularly difficult. Imokilly’s latest county victory has been dampened with talk about the power of the Divisions and, indeed the Colleges, and their future in the senior championships. In fact, the last divisional side known to this writer to win a three in a row is East Kerry in the Kingdom in 1968, 69 and 70 and they won two All-Ireland them years, with many more in the seventies and eighties including the four in a row. So, nothing wrong or much talk about the divisional concept down there as the divisions have produced so many fine footballers for the county team while complimenting the clubs in the senior championship.

Every decade in Cork some division awakes and produces good hurling or football teams to trouble the clubs and many grab a county title. The divisional work takes supreme effort by management to get that winning bond, but it helps lads from small rural clubs play in the bigtime against the senior boys. One eminent writer now says the “Beast from the East remains respected rather than loved” after our most recent title while another thinks the victory is a strange kind of glory. These writers, in fairness, only echo the vibes of the people and their contacts. But even in those pieces one of the writers in silent on the fact that a club of just 400 houses in his own county and near his own parish draws their players from a host of clubs and are heading for the county final 2018 while nearly annexing the all-Ireland club a few years ago. It would be the general viewpoint that this is helping the hurling greatly in that county as it gives the opportunity to lads to play senior hurling. A manager from at least one club in Dublin can have players from all over our capital city as there is no parish rule pertaining to that club so hold the pen with an even slant please.

The return on All-Ireland titles for Cork have been weak this past few years. The traditionally strong clubs despite experiencing strong population increases are finding it harder to win. The cause of this is interesting. There may be more effort required to win the hearts and minds of youngsters or hold on to talent, but it is surely not a case for whinging about the young boy from a small rural parish that aspires to one day pulling on the Imokilly and/or the Rebel jersey. As has happened so many times one is a stepping stone to the other and ask them in St Ita’s or even Kerry about that. Competition is the life of trade the future of Cork is good, and the effort is strong, and the Divisions contribute. In times gone by the county final threw up a few prospects for the county and Sunday was no different as the talent is about and if nurtured and coached in an advanced environment they will show it for the Rebels too in the coming year. So, folks please leave the status quo remain in this one and don’t cut your nose off by listening to whinging. Let it be onwards and upwards for Cork in hurling and football and, of course, Imokilly.

Lotto Results of the 15.10 - Jackpot now €12,800

The results of this week’s Lotto Draw held on Monday 15.10.18 in the Club Bar. The Numbers drawn were 9, 10, 29 and 31. There was no winner of the Lotto Jackpot of €12,600. The eight Lucky Dip Winners of €20 each were Helen Mackessey, LNAP Hegarty, Ber Sice, Carol Carey, Ronan Fenton, Mary Fenton, Tom McAuliffe, Mark Balshaw,

Again, next week’s Lotto will be held on this Monday the 22nd October in the Club Bar at 9.30.pm. The Jackpot is now €12, 800. We would ask all patrons and especially those in the Adult, Juvenile and Camogie Clubs to support our Club Lotto. The results of the Club Lotto are published each week on both the Avondhu and social media. Thanks for your support and please remind your friends that they can play our Lotto Online or purchase from the usual sources.

Players Meeting.

Well as the saying goes we are stowed for the season without trophies. We had a good win over Youghal back in April in the premier intermediate hurling championship and got a bye to the quarter final. In that quarter final we had a rousing game with Courcey Rovers and earned a replay with a last minute free from Mike Spillane. The replay was a different story as the opposition remained the same and we changed set up and style a little. While it gave us a great start we lost or way somehow and Courcey Rovers ran out convincing winners. The game was doubled on a League semi-final and Courceys knocked us out of both League and Championship. The men from Ballinspittle side have since proved their worth in defeating Valley Rovers in another replay and now play Charleville in the final. This shows there is little between the teams at Premier level and Castlelyons are right up there.

There is a school of thought out there that we are underachieving for the talent we have in the club and particularly as there is so much concentration in the hurling. This is easier said than done as the effort by all this year was very good. The club have not wasted any time in addressing the future and the players had a meeting with the top table of Con Lawlor, Michael Barrett and Donal Barry last Friday evening for both review and preview and prepare to make it all the way in 2019.

Under 21 all Star Nomination.

Congratulations to Niall O Leary recently receiving anU21 All Star Nominee. Niall had a great season with the Cork Under 21 hurlers and just coming up short to Tipperary in the All-Ireland Final. In total ten counties are represented on the shortlist with Niall having a nomination for the left corner back position. The winners of this Bórd Gáis Energy U-21 Team of the Year and Player of the Year will be announced on Wednesday 17 October. Winners will receive their awards on Friday 19 October at a special ceremony in Dublin. So, while we give Niall our congratulations we wish him the best in the coveted final announcement which will be known shortly.

Fermoy in the PIFC County Final.

Fermoy are in the Park on Sunday as they take on St Michael’s in the premier intermediate county football final. A win would see them back in the senior ranks for the first time since the sixties so we wish them the very best of luck.

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