Lowdown on the Cork schools in this season's Corn Uí Mhuirí
Eoin Maguire of Hamilton High School Bandon in action. Picture: Larry Cummins
This season’s 2025-26 Corn Uí Mhuirí competition gets underway today with high hopes from every school involved.
There are a total of six Cork schools taking part in the 16-team competition, four groups consisting of four teams in each group.
There was nine from Cork in last season’s Corn Uí Mhuirí, but De La Salle College Macroom, Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh Bishopstown and Mitchelstown CBS have all pulled out for different reasons.
It’s quite simple, the top two in each group will qualify for the knockout stages.
Despite the high Cork representation over many years, you have to go back as far as 2011 for the last time a Cork school lifted the Corn Uí Mhuirí Cup, which was Coláiste Chríost Rí.
St Francis College Rochestown are in Group 1. The 1950 winners are under new management this season. The long-serving Eamonn Hennessy has departed as manager with Liam Sheehan the new man at the helm.
The Kerry native and Éire Óg clubman is joined on the sideline by Eoghan Buckley and Liam Ó Murchú.
Carrigaline’s Ben Corkery-Delaney, a nephew of former Cork star Colin Corkery, will be integral in the forward department this season as well as Dara O’Sullivan from Nemo Rangers and Jack O’Brien of Douglas.
At the back, Douglas pair Liam Kelleher and Joe Mouret will look to keep the defence watertight.
St Francis College Rochestown take on Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare tomorrow in Cloughduv at 12.30pm.
In Group 2, there are two Cork teams and they lock horns in the opening round. Hamilton High School Bandon take on Patrician Academy Mallow today in Ovens at 1pm.
Hammies were the story of the Corn Uí Mhuirí from a Cork perspective last season. They went all the way to the last four for the first time since 2022. Building on that will be key for the West Cork outfit.
Paddy Lordan remains as boss with John O’Sullivan, Noel Griffin and Gavin Kelleher on the management ticket.
Clonakilty’s Ben Coffey, Richard Tarrant of Bandon and Adam Griffin from Kilbrittain are three key players in the defence.
In attack, Eoin Maguire of Castlehaven will be one of Hamilton High School’s attacking threats along with Ibane Gaels’ Donagh Flynn and Newcestown’s Hugh Flanagan.
After reaching the semi-finals in the 2023-24 campaign, Patrician Academy Mallow lost at the quarter-final stage last season.
There’s continuity with the same management set-up of Eamon O’Connor, Mark Lenahan and James McGlade.
Mallow pair Aaron Murphy and Paddy Murphy along with Cian Cooney from Clyda Rovers bring experience to the backline.
Ben O’Shea from Mallow will lead the line in the forward department.
Group 3 is made up of non-Cork schools with three from the Rebel County in Group 4.
Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig and Skibbereen Community School meet tomorrow in Enniskeane (1.30pm) in what is a big one even if it’s the first game of the group.
Both were unable to make it out of their respective groups last season with two points crucial in this one given the difficulty of the other two games.
Denis Keohane is still residing over Coláiste Choilm with Darren Farry the coach. Peter Rose of Ballincollig and Colm Herlihy from Inniscarra are part of a physical defence with no shortage of height.
It’s perhaps the opposite in the forward line, with Ballincollig’s Danny Miskella and Cian Ahern small in stature, but have the quality to make up for it.
Former Castlehaven boss James McCarthy is involved with Skibbereen Community School. Castlehaven trio Danny O’Donovan, Dan McCarthy and Niall O’Callaghan are likely to be influential players when it comes to the attacking unit.
Alan Daly, Matthew Murphy and James Goulding, all O'Donovan Rossa, are defenders to keep an eye on.
Finally, Clonakilty Community College will be keen to make it out of their group this season after fine margins went against them last time around. They go up against St Brendan’s College Killarney tomorrow in Cill na Martra from 1.30pm.
Former Cork minor football manager Micheál O’Sullivan is over Clonakilty Community College.
There’s no shortage of Cork experience with Oisín Harrington of Kilmeen and Jerry O’Leary of Ballinascarthy part of a formidable defence.
St James’ Seán Whelton and Tom Whooley and Dylan Harrington, both from Clonakilty, have the firepower to help Clonakilty Community College get the scores required to be competitive tomorrow.
Group 2: Hamilton High School Bandon v Patrician Academy Mallow, Ovens, 1pm.
Group 1: Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare v St Francis College Rochestown, Cloughduv, 12.30pm.
Group 2: Presentation Secondary School Milltown v Intermediate School Killorglin, Listry, 12 noon.
Group 3: Tralee CBS v St Patrick’s Secondary School Castleisland, Currans, 12.30pm; Mercy Mounthawk Tralee v Cashel Community School, Rathkeale, 1.30pm.
Group 4: Skibbereen Community School v Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig, Enniskeane, 1.30pm; St Brendan’s College Killarney v Clonakilty Community College, Cill na Martra, 1.30pm.
Group 1: Clonmel High School v St Flannan's College Ennis, Cappamore, 1.30pm.
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