John Horgan on his Cork GAA highs and lows from 2024

It's that time of the year again when sports books are in plentiful supply ensuring that enthusiasts are well catered for and life becomes that bit easier for those wishing to keep things simple when buying presents.

GAA fans are well catered for again with a couple of excellent publications on the careers of two of hurling's greatest, Joe Canning and Richie Hogan, the latter superbly penned by Fintan O'Toole, formerly of this parish.

Vincent Hogan, formerly of the Irish Independent has done an equally superb job with the Canning story and both books will certainly shorten these dark winter nights.

Here on our own doorstep, the 2025 Cork GAA Yearbook is on the shelves again and once again it is a must for all Leeside hurling and football supporters.

Denis Hurley, Echo hurling correspondent, has to be complimented once again for a wonderful piece of work in documenting all the major happenings on the local front.

For quite a number of years now this publication refreshes the minds of those of us who in our advancing years haven't the memory of events that we once had. The table of the book's contents is a very lengthy one beginning with the introduction from County Board chair, Pat Horgan, who reflects on some very positive events over the previous 12 months.

One of those was his revelation that the hugely successful Rebels Bounty Draw now has in excess of 29,000 members contributing to it, a staggering statistic by any standards.

Not for the first time the pictorial content is excellent and some stalwarts of Cork GAA like former dual great Kevin Kehily, Pa Finn, Tadgh Drinan and that great Barrs man Eamon Fitzpatrick among others are remembered for their vast contributions to the association and who sadly are no longer with us.

The opening article, headlined 'Pipped by a Point' recalls a dramatic year for the Cork senior hurlers whose championship campaign was a case of so near and yet so far after the loss to by the bare minimum to Clare in that never-to-be-forgotten All-Ireland final.

Prior to that, Pat Ryan's squad had been reinvented after two early losses in Munster to Waterford and Clare before that super Saturday night down the Marina when inched their way past the all-conquering Limerick in a game of hurling that will, without doubt, stand the test of time.

It was truly a game for the ages.

MIXED

The Cork footballers had one of those years when they mixed the good with the indifferent in both the league and the championship and the hope will endure that better days lie ahead.

They were not a million miles away but greater consistency will be required going forward.

All the happenings with all the various inter-county teams are recalled in the yearbook, the controversial loss of the Cork U20 hurlers to Tipperary in the Munster final certainly bringing back some very painful memories after what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate goal was not awarded.

On the club front, the achievements of all the various county-winning hurling and football teams are brought back to life with another chapter of the Imokilly hurlers in the SHC being successfully written after another one of those all-East Cork finals in that grade.

One of the bigger stories of that competition was the very unexpected but fully deserved victory of Fr O'Neills over one of Cork hurling's powerhouses St Finbarr's.

It was one of the greatest days in the recent history of the Ballymacoda-Ladysbridge outfit on a hugely emotional afternoon in the excellent venue that is Clonmult Memorial Park in Midleton Another memorable SFC campaign by Castlehaven is covered in great detail too as is the ongoing story of Watergrasshill in the PIHC.

The Hill's biggest day is almost upon us when they will grace Croke Park in the All-Ireland final and it will be a similar story for Russell Rovers in the All-Ireland Premier JHC, another remarkable achievement by that small club in East Cork. 

A great season by the hurlers and footballers of Carrigaline is remembered too.

The camogie girls under the stewardship of Ger Manley had another memorable voyage and Mary Newman gives a detailed account of their successful innings that culminated in All-Ireland glory in Croke Park.

Extra special praise has to be forthcoming for what they achieved again.

Ladies football is given richly deserved space in the yearbook too and the victory of the Aghada ladies in the county senior final over Éire Óg takes pride of place.

It's very much a case of something for everyone in the publication and the sport of hanball is well documented too.

Former Cork hurler, Damien Irwin recalls another very positive year on the Sciath na Scol front and there is a fine two-page spread on the activities of the coaching and games development personnel.

INTEGRAL

Finbarr McCarthy remembers another fine year of the 96/103 awards scheme which is now very much an integral part of the Cork GAA scene.

Edward Newman puts pen to paper on the vast contribution that was made by the late and great Paudie Palmer who gave so much pleasure to so many with his superb radio commentary on C103 at home and far across the seas.

He had that unique ability of being able to turn a dour struggle into an epic and his loss, firstly to his family and to the airwaves was and is immense.

It is only right and fitting that he should be fondly remembered in the Cork GAA Yearbook. He was simply the best at what he did on Cork local radio.

Notable milestones by a number of clubs are featured in the publication, among them the centenary year of my own club Castlemartyr. A huge effort was made by so many to make it a memorable 12 months.

Former Cork County Board Secretary, Frank Murphy quite rightly recalls the vast contribution that was made down through the years, old stadium announcers, Tom Daly and Peter Dennehy whose efficiency in that role deserves extra special mention. As Mr Murphy described them, they were the 'Voices of the Park'

Rory Noonan describes another very successful year on the Rebel Óg front while the divisions are well catered for on what transpired across that particular landscape.

There is a richly deserved tribute to Echo photographer Eddie O'Hare who completed 45 years behind the lens and he tells us the requirements for a good sports photograph.

We could go on and on with some more wonderful features on all things GAA on Leeside and those who give so willingly of their time in their work on and off the field.

Priced at just €10, this superb publication is an absolute must for all Cork GAA followers.

And once more huge credit to the person who compiled it all, our own Denis Hurley.