Cobh GAA Notes 16th July

Cul Camp: Cork Gaa stars Aisake O hAilpin and Patrick Kelly visiting with Cobh Gaa Summer camp. Pic by Paul Donnachie.

Cobh U12 Footballers deliver a hard earned League Final victory.

Our U12 Footballers travelled to Castlelyons in the East Cork League Final having drawn with them earlier in the league, and lost to them in the East Cork Championship final at the end of May. Following their Championship victory Castlelyons had progressed to the County U12 Final v Mayfield that they lost as a result of a last minute point. Our talented bunch were not at all concerned, and were determined to make their best challenge for the League Title. A notable feature of the U12 Football training this year has been that we have had a panel of up to 36 young players involved, all playing regular games and with 6 players away on holidays, the strength and depth of the panel was about to be tested.

Castlelyons started well and for the early minutes for Cobh it was about defending. Our back six were under a lot of pressure but some great defending by our goalie Max Kahn and full back line of Keith Donnachie, David Coffey and Gearóid Lynch kept Castlelyons scoreless. Our first quick attack put corner forward Dylan Higgins in space and he rounded his marker and scored a great goal. This settled the team, and from then on many of our players began to win their individual battles. Our halfbacks, Pádi Kearney, Adam O’Donovan and Jeffrey McCarthy, started to dominate, and this relieved the early pressure on our full back line. But the Castlelyons players also stood strong and this led to a low scoring, but hard fought first half where scores were at a premium. Castlelyons managed to score 2-2 but each time they scored, Cobh found an answer and stayed ahead. Dylan Higgins again found the net and midfielder David Ogbebor fisted a great opportunist goal. Half time saw Cobh lead 3-1 to 2-3.

The u12 team with their mentors. Pic by Mairead Kearney

Toward the end of the first half and early second half, several positional changes were made up front which all seemed to bring out the best in our players. Corner Forward Jack O’Brien swapped with corner back Keith Donnachie and begun to dominate in this more familiar position, Barry Chandler moved from full forward to centre forward and begun to win some great possession. All told, the many forward positional switches seemed to distract the Castlelyons back line and this also began to turn the game in our favour. Our half backs and midfielders Niall Spriggs and David Ogbebor continued to win great possession, but now we looked like we could turn this into scores. At this stage Charlie Fleming and Seán Hilliard both scored points from play, and the key score was a goal by Neil Harte following a good passing movement involving many of our forwards. This opened up a 5-point advantage for Cobh, which we were to hold until the finish.  The Castlelyons team continued to do their utmost and had some late chances to score but this was to be Cobh’s day. Cobh 4-4 Castlelyons 2-5.  Following the game Neil Harte lifted the trophy and in his speech thanked the great crowd of supporters who had travelled to Castlelyons to support the team. Overall a great team performance, including subs Conor Hogan and Christian Field who also featured during the game. However some players’ efforts stood out throughout the game. In the back line David Coffey, Pádi Kearney and Jeffrey McCarthy all had great games, and up front Dylan Higgins scoring 2 goals was our top scorer, and always a threat to the Castlelyons goal. This finishes in style what has been a very promising Gaelic football season, and the strength, depth and attitude of this U12 panel means they can surely look forward to more finals and victories in the years to come.

U12 captain Neil Harte receiving the Football Lge Trophy. Pic by Mairead Kearney.

Results:
JBHL Fr. O’Neill’s 2-17 Cobh 1-11.  IHchallenge Cobh 3-17 Ballinascarthy 3-11. MHL Cobh 2-12 Carrignavar 1-06.

Fixtures(in Cobh unless stated otherwise): JBHC Cobh v Cloyne, Sun 18^th at 7pm in Caherlag. U14FC away to Glenville, Mon 19^th July at 7pm. MHL v Bride Rvrs, Thurs 22^nd July at 7:30pm.  IHC: Cobh v Dripsey, Thursday 29^th July at 7:30pm in Pairc Uí Rinn.

FAMILY FUN DAY Saturday 31^st July:- Pig Roast, Bouncy Castles, Music & Bar in the Marquee, Fun Races, Long Puck, Penalty Kick & sport for all. Adults: €10  Children: €5 (goody bag incl.)

SPONSORED 5KM RUN / WALK: Supporting: Cobh Community Hospital & Marymount Hospice Sat 7^th Aug. 5km walk from 11:30am. 5km run starts at 12noon.

In the past three years Cobh Gaa Club and its supporters have raised €4875 each for the hospital in Cobh and Marymount Hospice, a total of €9750. Again this year we’re asking all our members, young and old, and their families, to make a special effort to come out and walk/run and help raise much needed funds for our two designated charities.

Mary Black Friday 20^th August :- tickets ( €30 ) are now on sale in the Gaa club pavilion.