Reardens Cork Club Football All-Star 15 is revealed with six clubs included

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025 - 07:30

Barry O'Mahony

Recently crowned McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC winners St Finbarr’s have the largest majority on the 2025 Reardens All-Star Football team.

The event will take place on Sunday, January 4 in Reardens Bar at 8pm.

The Barrs have six players on the team. Nemo Rangers, beaten finalists for three seasons on the trot for the first time, have three players.

Newcestown made it all the way to the last four last season and are rewarded with three players making the team. Ballincollig, Castlehaven and Valley Rovers have one each.

It’s no surprise that St Finbarr’s have the largest representation. Goalkeeper Darragh Newman, who was called up to the Cork senior football panel recently, has just got better and better since coming in between the sticks before the start of the 2023 campaign.

St Finbarr's goalkeeper Darragh Newman with the Andy Scannell Cup after beating Nemo Rangers at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Tom Beary/Sportsfile

After missing the 2024 championship due to injury, Billy Hennessy made up for lost time this year with excellent displays. He is joined in defence by his colleague Alan O’Connor.

Ian Maguire was his usual self in midfield, a bundle of energy and hard running with also quality at the end of it. His performance in the county final against Nemo Rangers was outstanding.

Up front, the new champions have two players in sharpshooter Steven Sherlock and Brian Hayes.

Sherlock is arguably after putting down his best ever season in a St Finbarr’s jersey and it’s no surprise that he’s back with Cork. He hit 6-41 in the Cork championship, finishing as the top scorer.

Nemo Rangers have three players on the All-Star team, defender Colin Molloy, midfielder Alan O’Donovan and forward Mark Cronin.

Nemo Rangers manager Robbie O'Dwyer with Colin Molloy. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Newcestown lit up the championship this year as they made it all the way to the semi-final stage. Jim O’Sullivan’s charges were arguably the better team against Nemo Rangers, but lost after extra-time.

They were consistently good throughout the year with their last group win over Castlehaven no flash in the pan.

Defender Paul Kelly was fantastic in his man-marking duties normally tasked with marshalling key forwards.

Luke Meade was one of the standout players in this championship. The former Cork senior hurler was a real leader and it was his work rate and character that summed up Newcestown.

David Buckley continued his strong club form in 2025 with some inspirational displays. He finished second in the scoring charts behind Sherlock.

Newcestown's Paul Kelly wins the ball from Douglas' David Buckley. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Ballincollig made the last four for the second time in the last four campaigns. Having lost to Nemo Rangers in 2022, the Village were beaten by St Finbarr’s this year.

Both of those teams would go on and win the championship. It’s a small consolation for Ballincollig who aren’t far away from making the breakthrough.

Their Cork senior footballer Luke Fahy, after being hampered by injuries in 2024, stayed injury-free for the Collig this year and was an important part in what they did.

After having seven players on the All-Star team last season, Castlehaven just have one this time around. Their three-in-a-row bid fell at the quarter-final stage this year after being beaten by St Finbarr’s.

There were a number of Haven players who shone at different times, but there was one who was an excellent performer every time they took to the field and that was Mark Collins. He had another strong season at wing-back.

His most impressive performance was against Valley Rovers in the second group game when he notched 0-4, all from play.

Finally, even though they didn’t make the business end, the year did end positively for Valley Rovers as they avoided the drop after beating Carbery Rangers in the relegation play-off after a replay.