St Oliver Plunkett's representing Cork in Munster in both codes

IT might have gone under the radar but a club in West Cork are representing the Rebel County in both codes this season.

St Oliver Plunkett’s won the county confined junior B championship double back in the summer, becoming the first club since 1984 when sister clubs Kilmeen (football) and Kilbree (hurling) came out on top, to achieve the feat. 

At junior B level there is the confined championship which takes place early in the campaign and is open to clubs that do not operate at a higher level and then the county championship later in the year which would be the same as junior A, with clubs playing in their divisional section first and whoever is the last one standing proceeds to the county championship.

St Oliver Plunkett’s lost the Carbery decider to Goleen back in October, 4-4 to 1-11.

It was back in July when the Ahiohill club won the two county confined titles in Páirc Uí Rinn, first up on Saturday, July 15 the team in black and white edged out city outfit Ballyphehane in a gripping decider on a scoreline of 1-10 to 1-9. The crowd present that day bettered many club championship attendances in Cork in 2023. Pádraig Healy’s goal after 18 seconds ultimately proved the crucial score.

There was no rest for the wicked and the following Saturday St Oliver Plunkett’s were back at the Boreenmanna Road venue and it was the same outcome. This time they could enjoy the closing stages of the match as they had the contest firmly wrapped up by the time referee Niall Fahy blew the full-time whistle. The West Cork side won against Ballyclough 2-20 to 0-13. Cian McCarthy was the main marksman with the youngster landing 0-9 (0- 8 f), Michael Keohane hit six points, all coming from play.

St Oliver Plunkett’s faced Waterford side De La Salle in the Munster junior B hurling championship quarter-final nine days ago played in Killeedy in Limerick and they made no mistake winning out fairly comfortably in the end, 1-15 to 0-6. At this level, the Munster hurling championship is organised by the Killeedy club since 2005.

Cian McCarthy was once again to the fore, this time finishing up with 0-8 (0-7 f), while Conor McCarthy raised four white flags, all from play. Eddie O’Driscoll, Ronan McCarthy and Seán O’Donovan were also impressive performers. The semi-final will take place in January with their opposition not yet known.

Moving onto the big ball, St Oliver Plunkett’s will be busy after Christmas as they will also be in the Munster junior B football championship, a competition that is organised by another Limerick club, this time Knockaderry.

After what had been a difficult few years for the West Cork club, 2023 has been one to remember and it could get a lot better in 2024.