Mitchelstown CBS continues to thrive 

THERE was disappointment for Mitchelstown CBS 10 days ago when they lost out to Ashbourne Community School in the All-Ireland senior B football championship semi-final.

The North Cork side would have been fancied to get over the challenge of the Meath based school, but it turned out to be a frustrating afternoon in Crettyard in Laois. Mitchelstown CBS led 2-4 to 1-5 at the break, but their opposition were the better team after the interval and that reflected on the scoreline as Ashbourne Community School won 2-13 to 2-8.

While it wasn’t the ending to the campaign that they would have wanted, it has been a marvellous couple of years for Mitchelstown CBS. The school were going for back-to-back All-Ireland titles, after they won the senior C hurling championship crown 12 months ago, a decider they won by 18 points against St Mary’s GS Magherafelt. Former Cork All-Star goalkeeper Anthony Nash was involved in the management team.

Mitchelstown CBS were actually going for their third All-Ireland triumph in eight years, which is amazing when you consider the size of the school compared to other schools in Cork. The North Cork school won the All-Ireland senior C football trophy back in 2016 after a one-point win over St Mark’s, Warrenpoint. That team was backboned by now Cork senior footballer Cathail O’Mahony, Mark Keane, who is now playing AFL, and defender Killian Roche.

Willie Duggan has been part of the fabric in Mitchelstown CBS for the last 42 years and guided the school to the two All-Ireland triumphs mentioned above. A third one remains elusive at the moment, but there is a fine crop of players eligible to play for next season and also players who will taste senior football for the first time in the 24/25 campaign. 

Speaking to The Echo after Mitchelstown CBS won the All-Ireland last year, Duggan’s passion and dedication for the school was evident.

"Days like this are really enjoyable, but I must say I've enjoyed almost every day of my 40 odd years in Mitchelstown CBS. When I was successful with my application for a teaching job over four decades ago, my brief was also to promote Gaelic games in the school.

"Bob Honohan had left the school after spearheading the games for over 15 years and there was a bit of a lull, so at the time I remember Brother O'Hagan highlighting the importance of bringing Mitchelstown back up the football ladder. Hurling didn't really come into play until much later, so the win this year was extra special to be crowned All-Ireland hurling champions." he concluded.

The Kildorrery clubman shows no signs of slowing down.

To get to the All-Ireland series you have to come through the Munster championship, and while the semi-final exit from the All-Ireland just 10 days ago is still raw, when the dust settles, the team can be very proud of what they achieved. The group claimed Munster success on Saturday, February, 10, and there was the added bonus when they beat a Kerry team in the final. Mitchelstown CBS powered past St Michael’s College Listowel on a scoreline of 1-20 to 1-10. And probably the most satisfying part of that win was that there was no standout player, it was a real team performance with everyone putting their shoulder to the wheel.

They are a grounded bunch, well managed by Duggan and his right-hand man Cillian Bohane. A school who constantly delivers. A shining example for other schools in Cork.

Panel from this season: Callum Burke (Mitchelstown), Eoghan Geary (Mitchelstown), Declan Moriarty (Galtee Gaels, Limerick), Oisín Hanrahan (Mitchelstown), Luke Keane (Mitchelstown), Diarmuid O’Brien (Glanworth), Cian Coughlan (Kildorrery), Cathal English (Fr Sheehy’s, Tipperary), Cian Ryan (Galtee Gaels, Limerick), John English (Fr Sheehy’s, Tipperary), Cathal Walsh (Mitchelstown), Cory Buckley (Shanballymore), Ben Carey (Ballylooby-Castlegrace, Tipperary), Conor Walsh (Mitchelstown), Kevin Cotter (Mitchelstown), Eoin Kirwan (Mitchelstown), Seán Barry (Mitchelstown), Eoin Brennock (Mitchelstown), Gavin Canty (Ballyporeen, Tipperary), Nathan Coaltan (Mitchelstown), Harrison Conway (Mitchelstown), Cian English (Mitchelstown), Daire English (Fr Sheehy’s, Tipperary), Seán Gallahue (Galtee Gaels, Limerick), Joey Gubbins (Ballyporeen, Tipperary), Jack Hanrahan (Mitchelstown), Josh Kearney (Ballyporeen, Tipperary), Sam McGrath (Ballyporeen, Tipperary), Thomas McLoughlin (Ballyporeen, Tipperary), Jack Twomey (Shanballymore).