Corn Darragh Mhic Cárthaigh named in honour of late Midleton hurler 

It’s a significant and emotional honour for Midleton GAA.

Following a motion proposed by the Comhairle Ard Oideachais and subsequently passed, the Junior Hurling Championship title for third-level colleges and universities has been officially renamed Corn Darragh Mhic Cárthaigh, in memory of Midleton and MTU hurler Darragh McCarthy, who passed away unexpectedly in March of this year.

The announcement was warmly welcomed by the club. Midleton senior hurling manager Micheál Keohane described it as a deeply meaningful gesture:

“I think it’s a great honour and a fitting tribute. Darragh loved playing with MTU and made such great friends playing with the college.” The renaming of the cup follows a powerful tribute from within his own club. In the wake of Darragh’s passing, Midleton made the decision to retire the number 10 jersey in honour of Darragh McCarthy for the 2025 season.

A constant on his back throughout Midleton’s U21 and intermediate campaigns over the last two seasons, the no. 10 had become synonymous with the talented wing-forward.

In a statement, the club said:

"The Midleton committee and members have decided to retire the number 10 jersey for the upcoming season as a mark of respect and tribute to our dear friend and fellow clubman, Darragh McCarthy. Darragh's passion, dedication, and love for our club were evident in everything he did, and his untimely passing at just 21 years old has left a huge void in our community.

“By retiring his jersey number, we hope to keep Darragh's memory alive and celebrate his contribution to our club. We believe this gesture will serve as a lasting tribute to his memory and inspire future generations of players to follow in his footsteps.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to honour Darragh in this way and hope that it will bring some comfort to his family and friends during this difficult time."

Throughout the current season, that wing-forward slot in both Midleton’s senior and intermediate line-ups has been quietly left without its usual number. Players have worn 18 or 20 instead – a subtle but poignant reminder of a player whose loss is still deeply felt.

McCarthy had been involved with the Midleton senior setup right up until his passing, and was a hugely influential figure in Midleton’s U21 Hurling Championship victories in 2024 and 2023.

He also featured in the Cork Intermediate A HC decider in 2023, scoring two points as Midleton lost out by the minimum against Aghabullogue.

That same season, he played a key role at wing-forward in Midleton’s East Cork U21 A final win over Sarsfields – a one-point victory in which he played the full match.

In 2024, Darragh started both the county and divisional U21 finals, but it was the east Cork final that proved especially crucial last year. Once again lining out wearing no. 10, in the final against Bride Rovers, McCarthy scored one from play to help ensure Midleton sealed both divisional honours and the retention of the county title.

It was a position – and a number – he had made his own.

Throughout the 2024 season, McCarthy’s no. 10 jersey became a familiar sight across both Midleton’s U21 and intermediate sides. A strong, direct forward with natural scoring ability and enormous promise, a senior breakthrough had always felt inevitable, even in his juvenile days. It was a matter of when, not if.

Now, cup and jersey bear his name and number. And in both, his legacy lives on.