Cork All-Ireland winner Fr Mick Waters passes away

Fr Michael Waters of the Society of African Missions (SMA Fathers), who was a member of the Cork team that won the All-Ireland SHC in 1966, has died at the age of 83.

In 1961, Waters was part of the Blackrock side that won the county title for the first time since 1956, scoring a point in the final win over Avondhu.

He made his senior inter-county championship debut in the 1966 Munster final win over Waterford and kept his place for the final, partnering Justin McCarthy as Cork beat Kilkenny to claim the All-Ireland for the first time since 1954.

He was ordained the following year and, while he played in the opening game of the 1968 Munster championship, another win over Waterford, his subsequent departure to Africa on SMA missionary work brought an end to his career with the Rebels.

Fr Waters is survived by his sisters Kathleen Noonan, Ina White, Denise McGrath, Cornelia Murray, Marian O’Donoghue and his brothers Dermot and Tony, his sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives, friends, the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese of Kaduna, Dioceses of Kano and Kontagora, Nigeria, and his confreres in the Society of African Missions.

He had been pre-deceased by his parents Christy and Margaret (née O’Driscoll), his brothers Christopher and Kevin, and his uncle Fr Con O’Driscoll, SMA. 

Meanwhile, the hopes of Charleville CBS and Coláiste Choilm qualifying for the knockout stages of the TUS Dr Harty Cup came to an end this week.

On Monday, Charleville suffered their second loss, losing by 5-16 to 0-14 against Blackwater CS in Kildorrery. While the good free-taking of Seán Byrne helped Charleville to lead by 0-8 to 1-2 in the first half, Stephen Murphy’s goal helped the Lismore school to a 2-6 to 0-9 half-time advantage.

When James Hickey struck for a third green flag in the opening seconds of the second period, the Waterford side were in command and they pushed on to make it two wins from two.

The following day, Coláiste Choilm’s chances of progression came to an end as they went down by 3-21 to 0-17 against Castletroy College. The game was far from one-sided – Eoin Dwyer and Niall Buckley impressed as Coláiste Choilm led for much of the first half and, though Conor Gavin in for an injury-time goal for Castletroy, the Ballincollig school were ahead by 0-12 to 1-8 at the break.

While Coláiste Choilm pushed ahead on the restart to lead by three, the momentum was with Castletroy and Robert O’Farrell scored two goals and Matthew Fitzgerald was in impressive point-scoring form.

Elsewhere, the draws have been made for the county U21 hurling championships. Divisions have been given a deadline of November 17 to complete their competitions, with Cork County Board setting the fixtures after that.

U21AHC – quarter-finals: A) Carrigdhoun v Carbery, B) Avondhu v Muskerry; Semi-finals: Imokilly v A, Seandún v B.

U21BHC – quarter-finals: A) Avondhu v Muskerry, B) Imokilly v Carbery, C) Seandún v Duhallow; Semi-finals: Carrigdhoun v A, B v C.

U21CHC – quarter-final: Carbery v Muskerry; Semi-finals: Imokilly v Carbery/Muskerry, Duhallow v Avondhu.