Glenville defeat St Colmcille's to end 20-year wait for East Cork U21 A Football Championship glory
Glenville captain Ciarán O'Leary is presented with the East Cork U21 A Football Championship trophy by Imokilly's Dick Fitzgerald.
Glenville ended a 20-year wait for U21 glory as they put up a fantastic performance to crush St Colmcille’s hopes of a maiden Mulcahy Steel U21 A Football Championship title in Rathcormac on Sunday morning.
It’s third time lucky for Glenville, and this one is oh so sweet.
They defeated title favourites Glanmire in dramatic fashion in the 2024 semi-final, only to lose out to Aghada by two points in the decider. Then, in last year’s competition, Glenville got their revenge with a defeat of Aghada in the first round of the B championship, only then to fall short against eventual champions Carrigtwohill in the semis.
No such heartbreak would be suffered here for Glenville, and they were fully deserving of this victory.
The first half had been closely fought. St Colmcille’s – the Carraig na bhFear and White’s Cross amalgamation – had put it up to their opponents for the entirety of the first half hour. They even led immediately upon starting the second half when Eddie Coughlan fired over a big two-pointer to leave Colmcille’s 1-10 to 1-8 ahead.
But from there, Glenville raised their game and raced into the distance.
A total of 2-8 unanswered followed that Coughlan two-pointer, as Ciaran O’Leary, Shane Curtin and Cork U20 hurler Jack Counihan kicked some fantastic scores. The goals were taken well by subs Jayden Hennebry and Liam Foley, and that put the game beyond St Colmcille’s reach.
Billy Ryan, Dara Ó Bric and Tadhg McCarthy were in fine form for Glenville while Forde brothers Eoghan and Donnacha ruled the middle third. Rob Sheehan, Alex Flynn and Ciaran Ryan showed up well for Colmcille’s and they hit the final score, but finished 11 adrift.
Glenville now march on to face Castlehaven in the county quarter-final, where the winner of that clash will face the victors of Beara and Carrigaline.
L Foley 1-2 (1 tp), C O’Leary 0-5 (1 tp, 0-2 f), D Barry 1-1, J Hennebry 1-0, J Counihan 0-3, S Curtin 0-2, C Linehan, R Loftus, J Buckley 0-1 each.
S Whelan 0-4 (0-3 f), S Delaney 1-0, E Coughlan 0-2 (1 tp), C Dunne, R Sheehan, R Healy, A Flynn, J Murphy 0-1 each.
C Sheehan; C McHugh, C O’Mahony, S O’Leary; S Curtin, C Linehan, B Ryan; E Forde, D Forde; D Ó Bric, C O’Leary, J Counihan; R Loftus, D Barry, L Foley.
T McCarthy for O’Mahony (HT), J Hennebry for Loftus (45), A Casey for Foley (45), Z Curtin for McHugh (50), J Buckley for E Forde (50).
B Ryan; M O’Keeffe, J Dunphy, D O’Mahony; J Barry, E Coughlan, C Ryan; A Bowen, C Dunne; R Sheehan, S Delaney, R Healy; S Whelan, A Flynn, F Kelleher.
D McGuire for O’Mahony (40), T Sullivan for Barry (45), R Ahern for Kelleher, J Murphy for Healy (both 52).
D Butler (Carrigtwohill)
Scott Molloy was the hero for Cobh as he kicked an added time free to seal a one-point win over Erin’s Own at Midleton’s 4G in Park South on Wednesday night.
Second-half goals from Kai O’Neill and Jack O’Shea had put Cobh four points ahead after 47 minutes, but Erin’s Own responded by reeling off 0-6 unanswered, the best of which was a superb two-pointer from Peter O’Shea. That run pushed the Caherlag side two ahead with 58 minutes gone.
However, Evan Cummins got Cobh back within one to end a 12-minute scoring drought, and Molloy kicked two late frees to win it.
The first half had been tightly matched, 2-2 to 0-8 at the break. Early goals from Darragh O’Sullivan and Matt O’Riordan had pushed Erin’s Own five ahead with 18 elapsed, but a Molloy free and big orange flags from Stevie Dennis and Cummins drew Cobh level.
Cobh pushed ahead early in the second period, only for Erin’s Own to come back and take the lead approaching the hour mark. Cobh, though, would have the final say. They face St Colum's in the county championship.
S Molloy 0-5 (0-4 f), K O’Neill 1-1, J O’Shea 1-0, S Dennis (1 tp), E Cummins (1 tp) 0-3 each, C Morrissey 0-2 (1 tp).
D O’Sullivan 2-1, M O’Riordan 1-1, T O’Riordan 0-4 (0-2 f, 0-1 45), P O’Shea 0-2 (1 tp), D O’Connell, R Dineen 0-1 each.
Castlelyons won the Mulcahy Steel U21 C Football Championship final, beating Glenville 3-11 to 2-11 at home on Friday.
Leading 2-6 to 1-4 at half-time, Castlelyons were pegged back level before the late goal sealed it. Castlelyons now face Kilbrittain in the county section.
S O’Callaghan 1-3 (1 tp), M Rosner 1-2, C Murphy 1-1, A Lardner 0-2, C Sheehan, K Abdelrazik, J Cremin 0-1 each.
J Hennebry 1-3 (1 tp), L Foley (0-1 f), J Buckley (0-1 45) 0-3 each, S O’Callaghan 1-0, M O’Riordan, S Dennehy 0-1 each.
App?
