Cork U21 hurling final set for December 21 as Midleton meet Shandrum

The orange weather warning for Cork this weekend saw a host of GAA semi-finals and finals postponed.

Chief among the casualties was the Tom Creedon Cup final between Knocknagree and Naomh Abán which had been scheduled for Macroom on Sunday morning. Also postponed was the full slate of U21 games that were fixed for the 4G in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The Cork County Board have refixed the U21 games for next weekend.

The main event, which pits defending U21 hurling champions Midleton against Shandrum has been switched to Sunday, December 21, followed by the U21 B football decider where St Nicks meet the semi-final winner of Robert Emmets and Donoughmore.

Their semi-final is set for Tuesday, December 16 in the U21 B FC semi-final, with throw in at 7.45pm on the 4G at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Donoughmore come into the tie buoyed by a strong run of underage success, having captured back-to-back Premier 2 Minor Football Championship titles. Much of that group has already made the step up. Daniel Holland and Scott Barrett, who combined for 0-13 (1 tp, 0-2 f) in this year’s thrilling minor final win over St Finbarr’s, both started in the club’s Junior A Football Championship final defeat to Kilmacabea.

Liam O’Sullivan, Jack Murphy, Jack McCarthy and Tom Murphy, featured off the bench that day and are expected to play leading roles for the U21s this week.

Their opponents, Robert Emmets – the Newmarket/Lismire amalgamation – have looked sharp too. They won the Duhallow decider and brought down Ballymartle with ease in the quarter-final, winning 4-12 to 0-9.

Former Cork U20 captain Hugh O’Connor – who has been called up to the senior hurling panel for 2026 by Ben O’Connor – will be key for Emmets in the semi-final. He scored 0-12 (3 tpf, 0-2 f) for Newmarket in the SAFC this year.

In the hurling showpiece on Sunday, Shandrum will be hoping to take down the reigning champions, Midleton.

Having blitzed Charleville and Mallow en route to yet another Avondhu title, the Newtownshandrum/Dromina combination took care of Valley Rovers in the semi-final after a stellar showing from Newtown senior Turlough O’Neill.

Midleton will be their toughest opponent yet though – senior hurlers Mikey Finn, Dave Cremin, Evan McGrath and Tadhg O’Leary-Hayes have been flying for the U21s.

Finn has scored 0-30 (0-25 f, 0-2 65, 0-1 sdl), Cremin has tallied 1-17, while minor starlet Peter Barrett has amassed 3-5 to date across their four games.

NEW FIXTURES

FRIDAY, December 19:

U21 B Hurling semi-final: Ballygarvan v Bishopstown, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G, 6.15pm.

U21 B Hurling semi-final: Kanturk-Dromtarriffe v Aghabullogue, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G, 8pm.

SUNDAY, December 21:

U21 C Hurling semi-final: Dohenys v Cobh, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G, 12.15pm. 

U21 A Hurling final: Midleton v Shandrum, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G, 2pm. 

U21 B Football final: St Nick's v Robert Emmets or Donoughmore, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G, 12.15pm.