Minor success a massive boost for Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh 

It was a very successful season for Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh minor footballers last year.

The Muskerry team won the Rebel Óg West Division 3 MFC after a great win over Ilen Rovers in the final back in October.

The team collected their medals recently at a function in Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh’s clubhouse with Cork senior football captain Brian Hurley handing out the medals.

The magnitude of the success for the youngsters of the Gaeltacht outfit can’t be underrated. It was Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh’s first time winning an underage trophy in six years.

That particular minor group last year had suffered many narrow defeats over the years at different age groups, so when they did get over the line in 2024, it meant the world to them and the club.

The squad was tight on numbers considering Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh couldn’t field an U16 team for a couple of years, so the minor management had to call up U14s to bring up the numbers.

The minors had five sets of brothers part of the panel. Cian and Eoin Ó Riordáin, Danny and Páidí Ó Súilleabháin, Aaron and Ruadhan Ó Tuama, Ian and Fionn Ó Chéilleachair and finally Barra, Cillian and Seán Ó Duinnín. Seán was 14 years of age last year and was a key player on the team.

While the team in red and black did achieve the Rebel Óg West Division 3 MFC title, they were very close to doing the double, but a last minute goal from Newcestown handed them the victory over a gallant Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh side in the county final.

It didn’t put a blot in the copybook though, in what was a campaign to remember, not just for the minor team, but for the club as a whole.

There’s no doubt many will pull on the famous Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh jersey at senior football level in the years to come. The club currently competes in the second championship grade of Cork football, the SAFC.

The 2024 Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh minor football panel: Barra Ó Duinnín, Cian Ó Riordáin, Ian Ó Chéilleachair, Sol Ó Grianna, Danny Ó Súilleabháin, Luke MacTomáis, Fionn Ó Chéilleachair, Aodhán Ó Braonáin, Cillian Ó Briain, Eoin Ó Muimhneacháin, Pádraig Ó hArgáin, Eanna Ó Chéilleachair, Aaron Ó Tuama, Páidí Ó Súilleabháin, Eoin Ó Riordáin, Cillian Ó Duinnín, Seán Ó Duinnín, Donncha Ó Laoire, Noah MacCoitir, Ruadhán Ó Tuama, Barra Ó Laoire.

Management: Cian Ó Duinnín, Danny MacCoitir, Peter Ó Críodáin, Barra Ó Súilleabháin and Shane Ó Duinnín.