Celtic Challenge final: East Cork U17 hurlers face Dublin

NOWLAN Park hosts the sell-out U20 final between Offaly and Tipp on Saturday night, but the East Cork U17 hurlers are also in action on Noreside this weekend.

The Leesiders are hoping to retain the Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge Corn John Scott final when they face Dublin on Sunday at 12.30pm in the competition which caters to players just below minor level.

First established in 2016, it allows counties enter teams for hurlers who don't see action for the main team. With an emphasis on development and participation, Cork leads the way by having four representative sides: East Cork, West Cork, North Cork and Cork City. The majority of counties only enter only side for players on their extended minor squads, which makes Cork's competitiveness each season more impressive.

East Cork reached Sunday's decider after a terrific semi-final at Ballinlough against West Cork, which they edged 3-16 to 2-14, overcoming a slow start where joint captains Liam Fitzgerald (St Colman's) and Matthew McSweeney (Midleton) led by example. Youghal's Jamie Lenane and Issac Oosthuizen of Aghada also impressed while full-forward Cian Stack excelled despite the passing of his grandmother the previous evening.

Well done to our Magpies today playing for East Cork in the Celtic Hurling Challenge. They played out a very entertaining draw with Tipperary on a scoreline of 3-13 to 2-16. Next up are Antrim next Saturday in Kilcock GAA club in Kildare. pic.twitter.com/i0UfAw10I2

— Midleton GAA (@MidletonGaa) April 13, 2024

James Nyhan (Cloyne), Paudie and Sean O'Brien (Midleton), Pat O'Brien (Youghal) and Cian Healy (Lisgoold) are in charge of the 25-player squad, drawn from Midleton (6), Sars (5), Aghada (3), Lisgoold, Youghal, St Coleman's, Bride Rovers (2 each), Kiltha Óg, Carrigtwohill and St Catherine's (1 each). 

TIGHT

They were drawn in a tricky group, which included Kilkenny and Tipperary Blue, who incidentally progressed to the Corn Michael Hogan section and meet again in the final of that tier this weekend. 

East Cork drew 3-13 to 2-16 with the Premier in the first game, when Aghada's Jude Devoy was in fine shooting form but Tipperary levelled with a late, late free from distance. They bounced back with a resounding victory over Antrim when Sarsfield's Cullen Condon along with Midleton's Josh Hogan and Carrigtwohill's Daniel McCarthy were impressive. 

The final group game saw them beaten by Kilkenny at Nowlan Park, despite the best efforts of Bride Rovers' Cormac Barry, and missed out on finishing in the top two in the group on scoring difference. 

CLINICAL

They were in clinical form in the quarter-final at Chadwick's Wexford Park, finishing 3-27 to 0-16 ahead, with St Catherine's John Temple on song from wing-forward. That set up the mouthwatering derby semi-final against West Cork, who had defeated Derry.

Well done to Finin , Cullen , Finn and Jack who all played in Cork East’s Celtic challenge win over Antrim today . Absent was Rory Higgins who also played in last weekend’s exciting draw with Tipperary. So all to play for next weekend in the last group game vs Kilkenny.💪 pic.twitter.com/obKc5oj4iz

— Sars Juvenile Cork (@sarsjuvenile) April 20, 2024

The Imokilly region now head into the final against Dublin knowing they'll have to be at their very best against a group that comprehensively dispatched in the other semi-final.

It's a repeat of last year's final, though with a new group of players in both squads, as the Celtic Challenge is only open to on-the-age U17s. Regardless of the result, the competition has again been a huge success for Cork hurling, with 100 players taking part representing the four regions.