Beara GAA clubs look to build on progress of last season

BEARA GAA clubs Adrigole, Castletownbere and Urhan are planning their 2024 schedules following the release of this year’s Cork GAA Master fixture list.

Castletownbere’s run to the penultimate round of last year’s Cork Premier IFC saw the Beara club enjoy a hugely encouraging season. Having topped Group A ahead of Nemo Rangers, Rockchapel and Bandon, Castletownbere put in a terrific effort before losing 2-12 to 1-7 to eventual champions Cill na Martra in the county semi-finals.

Wolfe Tone Park in Bantry witnessed an eventful last-four encounter with Cill na Martra finishing with 13 players and Castletownbere 12 following an ill-tempered finale.

The match referee’s decision to overrule the initial awarding of a second-half penalty, following consolations with his umpires, and to instead award a hop-ball still rankles down in Castletownbere.

So, the latter will feel they have some unfinished business when it comes to this year’s PIFC having proven one of the most attack-minded teams in last year’s championship. If available, Gary Murphy, Billy Murphy, James Harrington, Fintan Fenner and the ageless Andrew O’Sullivan will be eager to go one better in 2024.

That will be far from straightforward, however, as the Beara side has been handed a tough group draw.

Castletownkenneigh will host Castletownbere’s PIFC Group 3 opener against Kilshannig on Saturday, July 27. The 2022 IAFC county champions acquitted themselves well last year by topping their group before losing 1-12 to 1-11 to Bantry Blues in the premier intermediate championship semi-finals.

The Avondhu club will test Castletownbere’s credentials in what should be a cracking championship opener before the latter travel to Aughaville for their second Group 3 encounter.

Macroom will be the Beara side’s opponents on Saturday, August 17, and anxious to avoid another relegation play-off having stayed up by overcoming Na Piarsaigh last term. Now under the management of former Kerry All-Ireland winner and two-time All-Star, Aidan O’Mahony, Macroom should provide their opponents with a tough examination.

Castletownbere’s final Group 3 outing takes place in Kilmichael on Saturday, September 14, against Rockchapel. This will be a repeat of the two clubs’ meeting in the group stage of last year’s championship. Castletownbere edged it 1-11 to 2-6 thanks, in part, to James Harrington’s 1-1 and 0-4 apiece from Gary and Tomás Murphy.

So, there are plenty of reasons for Castletownbere to be quietly confident about their upcoming PIFC campaign. Hopes of another semi-final berth or better are attainable provided last year’s consistency is built upon.

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The same is true of Adrigole. Last year’s Intermediate AFC semi-finalists were unlucky not to reach the decider after going down 0-14 to 0-12 in extra-time to Mitchelstown.

Adrigole start their 2024 county championship campaign against Group 1 top seeds Dromtarriffe in Ballyvourney on Saturday, July 27. The Beara side’s second outing is against Kildorrery in Coachford on Sunday, August 18. A second consecutive group meeting with Gabriel Rangers (the Beara side won 2-11 to 1-9 last time out) concludes Adrigole’s group phase on Saturday, Septmeber 14, in Kealkill.

The Beara side will need to be at their best to emerge from a tough group as Dromtarrife also reached 2023’s county semi-finals. 

Yet, in Alan Elphick, Philip O’Shea, Jospeh O’Shea and Conchubar Harrington, Adrigole possess the core of a panel capable of challenging once again.

Finally, Urhan’s run to last year’s Premier JFC county semi-finals saw the Beara club come up short to the eventual champions St Finbarr’s, 0-10 to 0-8. Prior to that, wins over Ballydesmond, St Nick’s and Milstreet saw the rural side reach the penultimate round of the championship.

In 2024, Urhan must negotiate Group 3 containing Millstreet, Buttevant and St Nick’s. Millstreet are first up in Inchigeela on Saturday, July 27. The latter faced Urhan in the quarter-finals of last year’s county championship only to lose out 0-10 to 1-5. Enniskeane hosts Urhan and St Nick’s second meeting in as many years on Sunday, August 18, before the Beara club go one-on-one with Buttevant in Cloughduv on Friday, September 13.

As top seeds, the Beara representatives will be looking to kick on from their positive showing in 2023. The same applies to Castletownbere and Adrigole as the rural division looks to capture silverware this coming year.