Hurling is on the rise in Coachford College as they land another title 

It was a season to remember for the hurlers of Coachford College after they claimed silverware during the past school campaign.

The Muskerry side won the Cork Senior B hurling championship, which saw them come through difficult assignments and a lot of nail-biting matches to boot.

A well-balanced team and squad depth are key factors in any successful team and Coachford College most certainly had those two things in abundance. 

They got the better of Kinsale Community School in the opening round on a scoreline of 3-20 to 2-16 followed by an epic battle with Mitchelstown CBS in Round 2.

It took a replay to separate the teams after a 2-13 apiece draw, but Coachford College proved too strong the second day out, winning 4-21 to 4-8.

The semi-final battle pitted the Mid-Cork outfit against a fancied Clonakilty Community College side, but Coachford College eked out a victory by the narrowest of margins, 3-16 to 2-18.

Coláiste an Phiarsaigh were the opposition in the final in early April, where goals proved key in a 2-15 to 0-17 win for Coachford College played in MTU Cork.

The management team consisted of Colm Coleman from Ballymartle and Jack Twomey from Kilshannig.

“It was a really special season for the players, they worked really hard,” Coleman says.

“It was a knockout competition, so they knew what was required and we had really tough games along the way. It was a great achievement for the school to land a hurling trophy. It was a great couple of weeks for us with the footballers also winning their championship.

“The players and the whole school got a great buzz out of the victories. We were fairly confident at the start of the season that we were good enough to win it. We won the title two years ago and went up to A level for the 2024 campaign.

“We lost to North Mon in the first round by only five points, so we knew we were good enough. We dropped down to B for this season and knew we had the players.

“We had a strong panel and that helped us when we got injuries. It means an awful lot to the school. Coachford College might be traditionally known as being stronger in the football, but a lot of work has gone in to improve hurling over the last number of years.

“We want to gain impetus now and try and gain a foothold next season at the A grade.” 

Out of the five championship games and with the final always going to be the highlight, one other particular game stood out for Coleman in Coachford College’s pursuit of Senior B hurling success.

“Winning really solidifies what you are doing is working,” the Ballymartle clubman said.

“It increases the spirit in the school and winning the final was special. Everyone really bought into it.

“Beating Clonakilty Community College in the semi-final was a big moment for us. It was a brilliant game of hurling. One of the best games that I have seen. Clonakilty were a big physical side and played a lovely brand of hurling.

“We want to keep pushing on now and there’s certainly no appetite to rest on our laurels. We feel the future is bright for hurling in Coachford College."

Below is the Coachford College Senior B hurling panel that contributed to this season’s triumph.

Panel: Scott Barrett (Donoughmore), Shane Birmingham (Aghabullogue), Killian Blake (Cloughduv), Sam Brennan (Éire Óg), Joe Cooney (Aghabullogue), Seán Cummins (Aghabullogue), DJ Foley (Donoughmore), Fergal Gillespie (Aghabullogue), Ben Gleeson (Inniscarra), Eoghan Hogan (Éire Óg), Daniel Holland (Donoughmore), Rory Honohan (Donoughmore), Cillian Honohan (Donoughmore), Patrick How (Aghabullogue), Dylan Kearney (Donoughmore), John Kelleher (Aghabullogue), Kieran Keohane (Inniscarra), David Linehan (Inniscarra), Cathal Lyons (Inniscarra), Sam Manley (Dripsey), Jack McCarthy (Donoughmore), Oisín McDonald (Cloughduv), David McDonnell (Donoughmore, capt), Rory McLaughlin (Donoughmore), Oisín McLaughlin (Éire Óg), Diarmaid Murphy (Inniscarra), Tadhg Murphy (Cloughduv), Cian O’Connell (Dripsey), Seán O’Hanlon (Donoughmore), Daniel O’Leary (Aghabullogue), Max O’Leary (Cloughduv), Darragh O’Shea (Inniscarra), Liam O’Sullivan (Donoughmore), Daniel O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue), Josh O’Sullivan (Inniscarra), Trevor O’Reilly (Inniscarra), Micheál Sheehan (Éire Óg).