Cork Draghunting season in review: Sean T comes out on top after huge battle

The 2025 draghunting season will be remembered for all the right reasons with Sean T of Griffin United sealing the senior champion hound title following a consistent campaign.

Trained by the father and son partnership of John and Sean O’Sullivan, the Griffin United hound was brought to the wire by clubmate High Miss in a terrific battle.

In the puppy grade, Slievemish Duchess was simply class and the Clogheen hound produce a magnificent season for proud trainer Damien Wade.

The season began at Whitechurch in mid-March with the John O’Callaghan Northern Hunt-trained Applause winning the senior draghunt and Hannah Bawn from Pat O’Mahony’s Kerry Pike/Fair Hill harriers kennel taking the senior maiden honours.

We had to wait until mid-June for the first major meeting of the year when the international was staged at Aghabullogue.

In the puppy draghunt there was joy for Lorraine and Julie Freyne when the aptly named Born to Run, of Northern Hunt, crossed the tape ahead of Mexican Jet from Shanakiel Harriers and Jamie’s Lad of Griffin United.

The Puppy Maiden draghunt went to the hard-working Shanakiel Harriers trainer Mary Barrett whose charge Lewis Lass produced a riveting finish.

The big race senior honours went to the Ger and Jennifer Kenneally trained Knockane Jack of Southern/ Carrigaline Harriers who saw off the Griffin United duo of Sean T and Knock’s Boy.

The Kerry association landed the senior maiden draghunt with the Joseph O’Driscoll-trained Patsy who pipped the Pat Heffernan, Mayfield-trained Katie Taylor.

The first running of the Mickey Wade Memorial Heat draghunts were held at Coom in Kerry with Don’t Panic Lad, trained by Troy O’Mahony of Mayfield winning the senior with the puppy honours going to the James Green, Kerry Pike-trained Starman’s Son.

We moved on to August with the Munster Championships hosted at Scartaglin in Kerry with Bonnie Kate from the host association winning the Senior draghunt from Mayfield hound Don’t Panic Lad.

In the senior maiden draghunt Kerry Surprise completed the Kingdom double, but the Griffin United hound Jamie’s Boy denied the home association the elusive treble when winning the puppy draghunt.

The Cornell News-sponsored Donal O’Mahony meeting completed the month that saw the big race honours go to the John O’Callaghan, Northern Hunt-trained Authentic.

Mayfield trainer Denise Rall had a one-two in the senior maiden draghunt with Magic’s Beauty getting the better of kennelmate Magic’s Pride.

The puppy winner was Born to Run of Northern Hunt with the Thomas and Chloe Murray, Shanakiel Harriers-trained The Dreamer taking the puppy maiden title.

September was a special month with three top meetings that began with the Garry O’Sullivan Memorial meeting at Rylane. In the senior race a tremendous open running draghunt saw the title go to the Donal O’Donovan-trained High Miss of Griffin United.

In the senior maiden draghunt, the Gerry Murphy-trained Misty, of Shanakiel Harriers, was a worthy winner.

All roads led to Ballyclough for the Puppy All-Ireland and the young hounds were treated to an excellent course that took 36 minutes to complete.

In the end the Damien Wade-trained Slievemish Duchess was crowned champion in style, completing a championship double for the daughter of Slievemish Spring and Misty.

The senior All-Ireland draghunt was hosted at Glenville where sheer hard work by Clogheen member Gary Freyne and Fair Hill stalwart Pat O’Mahony ensured the large attendance were treated to a magnificent setting.

It was fitting that the in-form High Miss, trained by Donal O’Donovan of Griffin United, would land the spoils in a time of 43.25.

The Ger and Jennifer Kenneally-trained Knockane Jack was a gallant runner-up with champion hound Sean T taking third ticket.

It concluded a long season for all trainers, but it was fitting that both puppy and senior All-Ireland draghunts were right from the top drawer and credit to all concerned for organising both races.

SHOCK

There was a huge shock in July when the news filtered through that Mayfield member Anthony Wall had passed away. Anthony was a proud member of club and association, and his unexpected death brought widespread sadness to his family and many friends.

On a final note, last month a great friend of the Cork association, Joe Mather, passed away in England.

Joe was simply different class when it came to looking after Cork members as many stayed with him when he ran the Fox and Hounds in Ennerdale Cumbria. No doubt, Joe joins a long list of wonderful people who once graced the great sport and in times when people and families come together let’s not forget our absent friends.

May I take this opportunity to wish members and clubs a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and best wishes for 2026.