U14 D1 North Cork Football Champions
What a journey these bunch of players are on from winning U12 shield in 2021, winning U13 Division 2 in 2022 and now they are Division 1 U14 league champions after a magnificent win against Charleville in Charleville last Friday night with a score line of Kildorrery 1-10, Charleville 1-04.
The year started away to St Kevins where we had a convincing win, then we were away to Charleville where we were down a few players and after conceding 3 goals in the 1st 10 minutes went down to our only defeat of the year. Kildorrery bounced back with a big win at home to Croke Rovers which brought us back on track and left our fate in our own hands. We travelled to Meelin knowing we needed a win against the previous year’s finalists St Peters to leap frog them into 2nd place and we put in one of our best performances to come away with a 12 point win. Our last game against Liscarroll/Churchtown was a real battle and the lads had to dig deep to come away with a 2 point win to put us into the final.
The team were underdogs from the start after losing our previous 2 encounters against Charleville but were determined to put a halt to that losing streak. From the start of the match Kildorrery took control and with their trademark massive work rate smothered Charleville and went in at half time a point ahead1-04 to 1-03. After the restart after weathering a lot of attacks from Charleville in the 1st 10 minutes started to take over and with some lovely off the shoulder running from our back line through mid field to our forwards outscored Charleville 6 points to 1 to lift the cup in front of great support from Kildorrery.
This was a massive squad effort with Ronan Stack commanding in goals and with pin point accuracy from his kick outs. Ronan was well protected by a solid fullback line with the tight cornerbacks Ben Yelverton & Mark O’ Regan to the dominant David Murphy at full back who foiled a lot of Charleville attacks. The full back line were well covered by our hard working wing backs of Brody O’ Keeffe & Will Howard who never gave there opponents a moments peace and also set up great attacks. Our captain and leader on the night at centre back kept his best game of the year for the final and was relentless in tracking back and foiling Charleville to then putting Kildorrery on the front foot with some dazzling runs up the field. The engine room of the team comes from our 2 mid fielders Adam White & Jack Walsh who put their bodies on the line to disrupt Charleville and then launch attacks, these guys are relentless in their work rate. Our speedsters and runners are on our half forward line where the wings of Conor Walsh & Ronan Fenton and the centre of Adam Coughlan are the link between the backs and our attack and are constantly offering themselves to take a pass to ensure we get the ball into our lethal full forward line of Oisin O’ Duinnin, Lorcan Roche & Tom Hickey where they contributed 1-05 of the 1-10 and were always making the runs looking for the ball. Scorers on the night were Lorcan Roche 1-01, Adam Coughlan 0-04, Tom Hickey 0-02 Oisin O’ Duinnin 0-02 & Conor Walsh 0-01.
The team would not be where they are without our great squad with Mantas Comber coming on in the 2nd half and thundering into the game and our subs who contributed throughout the year Mason Fox, Tom Rice, TJ Dunne. We were also backed up by some great players from our U12, Luke Walsh, Mark Williams, Joe Gallagher & Tom O’ Regan. With such a great squad we were have great training sessions with some high intensity training games without which we wouldn’t be where we are today. It is the squad that keeps pushing this team to get better.
Behind this great bunch of players are a very committed and passionate bunch of coaches, Austin Walsh, Aonghus O’ Duinnin, Dave White, John Murphy & Pat Fenton. There is great respect and trust between the coaches and players which can be seen by the effort put into training and matches where 100% work rate is always given. Things would not run so smoothly without the great work behind the scenes by our administrator JJ Coughlan who organises training, matches, refs, team sheets and liaises with the club on our behalf and makes the coaches’ jobs so much easier.
Lastly there has been great support from the parents in bringing the lads to training and matches and preparing them for the big games and to our club who give us great support. Cill DairbhreAbu.
Intermediate Footballers Draw
Kildorrery played Cobh in the Intermediate Football League in the local field last Sunday morning. This was a dogged game dominated by both defences with scores hard to come by. As with many football games teams tend to bring players back behind the ball making it very difficult to get scores.
Cobh got off to a good start with a goal from a penalty after six minutes. Kildorrery replied with 2 points, one from a free. In a low scoring first half Cobh added on three points to add to their goal while Kildorrery added on one more point to leave the half time score 1-03 to 0-03 to Cobh.
The second half produced good football from both teams and Kildorrery gradually reduced the lead to level the scoring with four minutes to go. Both teams had chances to win but a draw was probably the fairest result.Cobh 1-06 Kildorrery 0-09. The game was well refereed by Justin Murphy.
Team & Scores
Tony Watson,Conor Kent (0-01) Cormac O'Baoill (0-01) Cathal O'Sullivan, Fintan Daly, Mickey Walsh, P J Keating, Shane Fitzgerald, Pearse Piggott, James O'Sullivan (0-01) William Fouhy (0-02) Kieran Hurley, Cathal Harrington (0-02f) Sean Watson (0-01) James Keating
Subs: David Kelly (0-01) Sean Cunningham
Adult Fixtures this week:
Weds 24th: Ladies Junior football league V Castlemagner in KDY @ 8:00
Sunday 28th May, Intermediate hurling league V Valley Rovers in KDY @ 11:30
Upcoming Juvenile Gaa Fixtures
- 28/5 - U16 football Nth Cork final v St Dominic’s in KDY @ 10.15am
- 29/5 - U12 football v Kilworth Araglen in KDY @ 6 30pm
- 2/6 - U14 football v Croke Rovers @ 7pm. Venue tbc
- 5/6 - U12 hurling v Mallow in KDY @ 6.30pm
Ladies Club Fixtures
- 24/5 - U14 North Cork D3 Football Final v Mourneabby in Mourneabby at 7pm
- 24/5 - Junior Football North Cork League v Castlemagnier in KDY at 8pm
- 27/5 - U12 Camogie v Nemo Rangers at 12pm in Nemo
Club Meeting
On Monday we held our club meeting and it is very evident that we have a lot of great activity happening in the club. The development of our kitchen continues and the team will be back on site again this Saturday.
100 Club Draw
Our next 100 club draw will take place this Monday night coming.
Festival Plans
If you are interested in entering a team for Corks Fittest Family please contact Eamonn Mccarthy. There are still 7 spots available for Corks fittest superstars. It promises to be a huge event with something in the day for everything. The festival line up is also complete and there are quite a number of great nights to come with bands like Qween and the Fogues also coming. It should be great.
Lotto
The Jackpot this coming Monday will be €3400 and you can also play online. Thanks as always for your support.
Cul Camps
Cul camp registration is now complete. We are now looking for over 18 year old coaches for the club this summer. If you are interested please contact Caroline White.
Bingo
There is Bingo in the hall Friday night.The Jackpot is now €1650. Home bingo books on sale in the Community office ,Post office, Centra Kildorrery, and Maxol Mitchelstown. This week’s snow ball prize is €1150. Thank you for your support as always.
Volunteers
The club is always looking for volunteers to support in any way. If you would like to become a volunteer with the club in some area please leave any of the club officers know.
Votes of Sympathy
The club extends its heartfelt condolences to the Thornhill family this week on the sad passing of John Thornhill. John ,a gentleman true and true loved his GAA and sport and was always a great supporter of the members of the community and club. His family are very embedded in the club with his grandsons now playing and his son Tom part of the wider executive. To Kathy, Tom and the wider Thornhill family we express our heartfelt condolences. Ar dheis de. Votes of sympathy were passed to the Frewan and Sheehan family also this week at our club meeting on their recent bereavements.
Next Meeting
Our next club meeting will be Monday May 29th at 8.30pm. This will be adjourned to mark the passing of John Thornhill.