Cork v UCC Talking Points: First step for Ben O'Connor's side in what we hope will be a long year...

Fittingly, for a game often played at Christmastime, the Canon O’Brien Cup tends to have something for everyone.

For UCC, it was another trophy to follow on from the league win of earlier this month, leaving them well-set for the upcoming Fitzgibbon Cup. A bonus on that front was the fact that some heavy-hitters were absent, giving manager Ray Delaney and his selectors more to think about ahead of a pivotal clash at home to MTU Cork next Thursday week.

As he pointed out, there were a few players in the red and black ranks who might have felt they were deserving of a chance in the Cork set-up too and good performances there would have had a dual benefit.

Ben O’Connor got to see some of his charges in action, with the knowledge that there are plenty more waiting in the wings. A win would have been nice but, equally, the cup wouldn’t have done a tour of the schools if Cork had won.

It was a first step of what, it is hoped, will be a long year. 

If UCC’s match-winner William Buckley, or Dáire O’Leary or Cian Darcy or Ben Cunningham make a mark with Cork in 2026, those present at the Mardyke – and on the Shakey Bridge – will be able to say they had a feeling back on December 28 that they knew something special was stirring.

COP ON

Cunningham, incidentally, had his St Finbarr’s colleague Ethan Twomey marking him in the first half and, as the pair engaged in what TV commentators feel compelled to call ‘getting to know one another’, we had the strange sight of a referee – Shane Scanlon, just returned from a cruciate injury - having to tell two clubmates to cop on. 

Later in the game, Cunningham had another Togher team-mate, Ciarán Doolan, for company and again, there was nothing spared by either party.

Such is the cross-team nature of the game. For a few years, the opposing managers were brothers - Kieran and Tom Kingston – and here we had Alan and Colin Walsh up against each other. Robert Downey – who captained UCC to win the 2024 edition and skippered Cork to victory last year – didn’t come on but, if he had, he might have come up against his sibling Eoin.

DOUBLE

We did, however, have two Shane Kingstons – Cork’s attacker got a goal after coming on, though he wasn’t being directly marked his by his unrelated Ballinora namesake.

And, of course, Dermot O’Brien, brother of Fr/Canon/Archdeacon Michael, got to present the cup, which is coming up on 13 years in existence. 

As long as it is contested, the great man’s feats with Farranferris, UCC and Cork will be remembered – as they should be.