Cork GAA yearbook reflects and looks back on all things Cork GAA in 2025

As one GAA season has reached its conclusion it's a new beginning for all clubs and inter-county teams as a new one dawns.

Over the festive period there was a time for reflection on what was and what might have been and county yearbooks are of great assistance in that regard.

For those closely involved in the previous campaign happenings and those with maybe just a passing interest, the annual yearbook is almost a must.

League and championship results are very well documented, the book can be of great benefit for management teams at all levels and finding out how their opponents fared in the season that now has the curtain drawn on it.

Over many years now yearbooks have become an integral part of the association and the tireless hours put in by those involved is much appreciated from the top down.

The 2026 Cork GAA Yearbook is another superb follow on production to past editions and at first glance the thinking would be that it is bigger and better this time.

From one year to the next this fine publication has continued to evolve and in the words of County Board chair, Pat Horgan it is a valuable chronicle of developments in Cork GAA over the preceding 12 months and not for the first time the publication shows the extent and vibrancy of the GAA in the county.

Over the past number of years we have reviewed the publication and you would have to suggest that there's something for everybody contained in it.

Communications Officer, PRO of the County Board, Ger O'Sullivan and Echo hurling correspondent, Denis Hurley were responsible for compiling in the yearbook's compiling and it goes without saying that their work has been superb.

The production follows a similar pattern to other years, the opening 40 pages or so are devoted to the success and failures of the various intercounty teams.

The Cork senior hurlers travelled on a very positive journey and being victorious in the NHL and in the Munster championship provided renewed optimism that the lengthy sojurn in the All-Ireland wilderness was about to end.

And for 35 minutes on that July Sunday in the first ever final against age old rivals Tipperary that belief remained, going to the dressing rooms six points to the good.

But great expectations were quickly dampened and what followed was a horror story of gargantuan proportions, just a brace of points being added to the half-time tally and a 15 point trouncing when the last whistle sounded.

All sorts of nonsense was spouted afterwards about dressing room happening during the interval, all, of course, one hundred per cent untrue.

It was a huge disappointment for everybody involved and the best that could be said in the aftermath was that before every dawn comes the darkest hour.

Let's hope in 2026 that theory will come to pass next July.

The story of the Cork U20 team and their narrowest of losses to Clare is recalled and on a more positive note was the successful provincial campaign of the minor hurlers.

Unfortunately, the Banner County boys had their revenge in the All-Ireland semi-final.

On the big ball front it was another tale of woe against the old enemy from over the county bounds and losses to the Kingdom are becoming all too frequent.

Sarsfields triumph in another of those all East Cork county finals against Midleton is well documented and the sight of team captain, Conor O'Sullivan holding the cup aloft 17 years after winning his first title was a joy to behold in Riverstown.

One of the most informative features of all the county championships in the five grades was the comprehensive list of all the group games, their outcomes and the follow on journey in the knockout stages.

The Barrs footballers ended up top of the pile again after pipping age old rivals from their own division, Nemo Rangers and again there are results from every game played in the SFC.

And those results are a great reference going forward and for those charged with previewing the games for the 2026 campaign, they are a huge benefit.

Ballinhassig supporters will delight at how their club became a senior unit again after lifting the PIHC title and it is a similar good news story for the premier intermediate footballers of Aghabullogue.

For the much younger generation, the yearbook will be something that they can look back on in years to come and how their own club fared out.

The happenings in all the divisions are well documented and the winners of the various grades are listed.

Club features are numerous in this excellent publication, Passage among them as they celebrated 140 years of pride, passion and community.

There is a very interesting article on the Glanworth club, penned by Paul Cotter with the minutes from a club meeting all of 130 years ago making for a fascinating read.

Former County Secretary, Frank Murphy pays a very well deserved tribute to two of the heroes of that great All-Ireland triumph of 1966 who were called to their eternal reward, Fr Mick Waters and Denis Murphy.

There is a superb picture of both alongside another departed great of that team, John Bennett leaving Croke Park after that famous victory over Kilkenny.

There is a fine tribute too from Ger O'Sullivan on a Cork footballing hero of the '50s Dan Murray who was taken from us too in the past year.

The goings on in Rebel Og and in the Coaching and Games Development review are also given ample space in the publication.

The young players in those reviews are the future of Cork hurling and football and head of Coaching and Development Niall Twomey has comprehensively detailed so much information.

Sadly, some wonderful GAA servants in the county were called to their eternal reward, among them Castlehaven's Bernard Collin and Bernard Hurley, Duhallow's Dan Dennehy and former Barrs great Dessie O'Grady.

Midleton lost the great Ger Fitzgerald and his vast contribution as a truly outstanding hurler and person is wonderfully penned by John Coleman., And Sarsfields lost a player and a person of immense stature in Ray Ryan and the club that he gave so much too fittingly remembered a true great who was taken far too prematurely.

A fine article on the Castlemartyr club is included and the pride that club has in its first All-Star Ciaran Joyce.

Club sponsor John Mullins is remembered too, another taken far too early.

Mary Newman recalls the journey of the Cork senior camogie and how their great season ended in Croke Park heartbreak.

The Cork GAA Sports Star Award continues to be a huge success under the direction of Finbarr McCarthy and the 12 monthly winners are remembered for the contribution that they made.

Space does not permit us to include everything that is contained in the publication but there's a simple answer to that, make sure you get your hands on it.

It's a terrific read, excellent photographic material with plenty of information for readers.

As they say, something for everybody in the audience.