Timmy Wilk's finger injury 'held up' as he contributed 2-6 from play for Cobh

Cobh end their 2025 season a few days late, but that’s certainly not a problem they’ll have any gripes with. 

Their U21 county final over Donoughmore took place last Saturday, January 4, and made a great season that bit better.

A 40-year wait for the Jamesy Kelleher Cup and East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship glory was ended in October, and a number of those same players went on to win silverware again last week.

One of those players is of course Timmy Wilk, their star man in both teams. Now, the former Cork U20 hurler has been one of several players brought into the extended panel setup for Ben O’Connor’s first year in charge of the Cork seniors.

But, after missing their semi-final win over Dohenys through a finger injury, there was concern that Wilk may not make it back in time for the final.

Thankfully for Wilk and Cobh, the stitches were removed two days prior to the decider.

“The finger was cut but I got the stitches out there the other day,” Wilk began. “So I said I'd chance it, and it held up grand.” 

Wilk went on to contribute 2-6 from play and assisted two goals against Donoughmore, but he wasn’t alone up front. Some of his Junior A teammates also chipped in comprehensively – Stevie Dennis notching a hat-trick while Adam Lynch managed 2-1, and many more stepped up all over the field.

Ben Geary was superb in defence initially, and later at wing-forward when he was moved up. Aaron Murphy pulled off a sensational block to deny Donoughmore a crucial score that in the 47th minute, a time when Cobh were just starting to wrestle away from their opponents.

GOALS, GOALS, GOALS

“I suppose with our team, we knew that we had the players to get goals,” Wilk said. “And throughout the whole season we were just a team that got goals. Goals win games, and everyone knows that.

“Nearly the whole team got on the scoresheet, and there's players there that are showing throughout the whole year.

“All the boys there are part of the Junior A team, and there're young lads that are going to be coming through next year again and we'll be giving 2026 a rattle as well.” 

Manager Derek Barrett echoed Wilk’s praise, for the entire group effort put in since the beginning of the season.

“Adam Lynch is hurling well with us all year in fairness, but Ben [Geary] was on Erasmus there all year in France,” Barrett explained. “And to be fair to him, he stood up and he did very, very well for us.

“I thought Seán O'Connell, our centre back, was excellent today. I shouldn’t be naming fellas, but even Jack Barrett in midfield.

“I think they all contributed in fairness and especially the second half, when our full-back line came to grips with their two lads inside the full-forward line. And to be fair, Jason Cotter, I must give a special mention to him.

“Our keeper – who's not originally a keeper – because our keeper got injured there last week and Cotter stood in goal today. Not a bother, stood up and that's what it's all about.

“Today's win was for themselves and for the club.”