The Echo Sport Podcast

• No lead is safe in Cork hurling and football finals...

  The clocks have gone back and the countdown to Christmas has begun but the big games keep coming on the Cork club scene.The Echo Podcast crew reflect in this week's episode on the Premier Intermediate and Intermediate A Football finals and the Senior A Hurling decider, along with the divisional and U21 action.All the marquee matches ended in a welter of excitment, with Ballinora grabbing a draw against Ilen Rovers when Neil Lordan held his nerve to bomb over a two-point free. While Ballinora were hugely relieved to force a replay, they had some standout performers, including former All-Ireland winning Cork U20 hurler Shane Kingson who was named as Man of the Match after kicking 0-4 from defence.Ilen, led by Dermot Hegarty at midfield, raised two green flags and appeared to be heading to glory coming down the stretch in their first adult county since 2008. Instead they'll meet again in two weeks.Agabullogue and Uibh Laoire looked to be heading to a rematch as well in the PIFC final until Matthew Bradley landed the late winner. The Mid Cork side atoned for their loss last season and have a busy few weeks ahead with a Munster campaign and the delayed Intermediate A Hurling clash with Bandon. They're now favourites for a second double in three seasons.After a dour draw, Bride Rovers and Castlelyons served up a classic in the Senior A Hurling final, only decided in additional time when David Barry's point capped off a run of 1-3 without replay for Bride. There no shortage of excellent individual displays and a fascinating duel between Cork hurlers Brian Roche and Niall O'Leary but Cillian Tobin offered a reminder of his underage pedigree in Rebel red with a magnificent showing from centre-back.At divisional level, Donoughmore lifted the Mid Cork crown for the first time since 2011 after a late burst of 2-2 to deny Aghinagh, young gun Seán O'Hanlon grabbing both goals.There was county action at U21 and Junior A, with Douglas' U21 footballers beating Ballincollig and Ibane Gaels surviving a penalty shootout to defeat Kinsale. Nemo's third team and Kilmacbea are into the JAFC semis alongside Donoughmore, while the hurlers of Cobh, Newmarket and Kilshanning are also through to the last four. Now in its third season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Changes to the Cork hurling panel plus football joy for Barrs, Knocknagree and Buttevant

  Another bumper weekend of action saw football silverware handed out at Premier Senior, Senior A and Premier Junior level though the Senior A hurling decider will have to be replayed and the Echo Podcast crew reviews the action.Buttevant ended 99 years of hurt to collect an adult county title with a terrific display that left underdogs St Nicks too much to do in the Premier Junior final. The Avondhu outfit had been favourites for glory before a ball was thrown in but it was still admirable how slick they were in the Páirc.Their ability to nail two-pointers, clipping four, was a crucial difference while Conor Hanlon and Mark Lenahan nailed the big scores and former All-Ireland winning Cork minor Michael O'Neill grabbed the goal.Knocknagree completed their remarkable rise from Junior A in 2017 to the top tier as their blistering start left Cill na Martra with too much to do. Defeat in two previous Senior A deciders no doubt had John Fintan Daly's charges tuned in from the off.In the marquee match on Sunday afternoon, St Finbarr's recovered from the concession of a first-half goal to end their county final hoodoo against Nemo, with Brian Hayes' green flag vital to their cause. Hayes offered another reminder of what a loss he is to Cork football by collecting Man of the Match.The finish was nail-biting. Conor Horgan landed a boomer to level, sub Cillian Meyers Murray clipped the lead score and only the post denied Horgan, condemning Nemo to a third defeat in a row when it looked like a replay was on the cards.In the SAHC final, Bride Rovers and Castlelyons will meet again next Saturday night after a tense 0-14 apiece stalemate.Also on the hurling front, Ben O'Connor and his management team have been reshaping their training panel, with the likes of Luke Meade and Conor Lehane, who is injured anyway, making way for some fresh blood in Jack Leahy, Daire O'Leary, Hugh O'Connor, Brian O'Sullivan and more..The Echo Podcast crew also look at how the action is progressing at divisional level.There's a bit to run in terms of county finals as well, with another busy schedule of games coming up as we head into November.Now in its third season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Hurling glory for Sars, Ballinhassig and Kilbrittain, bumper football final preview.

  Three trophies were handed out on Leeside over the weekend while torrential rain forced the postponement of the Intermediate A and Senior A deciders.Kilbrittain got the sliotar rolling with a gritty win over Glen Rovers, whose second team represented the club superbly in the Premier Junior decider.Just a point separated the sides at full-time, with Kilbrittain lifting the cup on the same day Oisín Gillain would have turned 19. The gifted youngster died tragically and his team-mates honoured him in fitting fashion under Friday night lights.Mark Hickey was picked as Man of the Match with Ronan Crowley and Philip Wall also nailing big scores.Saturday's double-header was put back at short notice due to the orange weather warning but Sunday's two games went ahead.Ballinhassig were outstanding in the Premier Intermediate final against a Ballincollig team that came in with huge momentum after winning four games on the bounce. Hassig took over midway through the second half when the sides were level at 0-16 apiece, ramming in two goals and finishing six points in front, the same margin they defeated Collig by in the opening round.Patrick Collins' nous in goal, Ger Collins' deadly free-taking, the poise of Darragh O'Sullivan and impact of second-half sub Evan Cullinane were critical factors. Ballincollig were allowed hit full stride though Brian Keating landed some sensational points from play.John O'Sullivan's side will be strong contenders for Munster success now, especially if they can get their injured hurlers fully firing.Senior Munster champions Sars lived up to their billing as favourites against Midleton in what was a disappointing Premier Senior final. The loss of Conor Lehane and Eoin Moloney to injury was too much for the Magpies to bear, with James Sweeney raising two white flags and Jack O'Connor selected as Man of the Match.Incredibly, Sars veterans Craig Leahy, Daniel and William Kearney and Conor O'Sullivan captured the Seán Óg Murphy Cup for the sixth time since their breakthrough in 2008. The aim now for Johnny Crowley and Diarmuid O'Sullivan's charges is to return to the All-Ireland stage in January, having lost last season's final.The Echo Podcast crew also break down the action at divisional level, with a number of Junior A finals across the weekend.They preview the five county finals next weekend, a mix of hurling and football, headlined by a classic St Finbarr's v Nemo Rangers showdown on Sunday.Now in its third season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Footballers put their hands up for Cork duty, Nemo survive, hurling county final preview.

  All five Cork county football finals are set after a largely brilliant weekend of club action on Leeside, as the Echo Sport Podcast reviews the games. Newcestown came close to pulling out a massive upset against Nemo when they charged into a seven-point lead midway through the second half, only to fall short by the minimum after extra time. David Buckley's ability to raise orange flags and a magnificent showing from Cork hurler Luke Meade lit up Páirc Uí Chaoimh but Mark Cronin continued his excellent form for the Trabeg side, who grabbed two crucial goals. St Finbarr's overcame a slow start against Ballincollig with Steven Sherlock (who else?) guiding them back to the main event. The Barrs, whose camogie team retained their county over the weekend, are capable of more but know how difficult Nemo are to beat in finals. Knocknagree and Cill na Martra both excelled in the Senior A semis and the potency of their forward units suggests their showdown in two weeks will be a belter. At Premier Intermediate level, it'll be Aghabullogue, last year's runners-up, against Uibh Laoire in a Mid Cork derby. New Cork U20 football manager Ray Keane has Aghabullogue, in the hunt for a double, producing some superb stuff. Uibh Laoire, coached by Niall Allen, are ripping it up as well, with Chris Óg Jones as the spearhead of their exciting attack. Ballinora, under the guidance of former Cork keeper Ken O'Halloran, are the surprise finalists at Intermediate A, though they are drawing from their U21 crop that lifted divisional silverware last spring. They can call on Cork senior Neil Lordan but have a very balanced team. Ilen Rovers made their first county final since they lost to Nemo at the top grade 17 years ago when they squeezed out Adrigole after extra time. Dan Mac Eoin boomed over a pair of two-pointers to rescue them when four down in normal time. At Premier Junior, brilliant Buttevant outgunned Canovee and will now be hot favourites against fearless St Nick's, who rallied to edge out Cobh. The Echo Podcast crew also preview the five county hurling finals this weekend, which have been overshadowed by injuries to some marquee players including Conor Lehane. They discuss the success of Éire Óg in ladies football and St Finbarr's in camogie, with three Cahalane sisters winning two counties in 24 hours. Now in its third season, every week Éamonn Murphy will be joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field. You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Club hurling finals set in Cork after cracking action, plus bumper football semi-final preview.

  We're down to the last 10 clubs hunting the major trophies on Leeside after a cracking weekend of semi-finals and the Echo Sport Podcast crew review all the action. The Premier Senior games were absolutely riveting, both decided by a puck of a sliotar to leave us with a repeat of the East Cork derby two years ago when Sarsfields beat Midleton. Both clubs came from behind in the semis, Midleton reeling in Blackrock before Conor Lehane's clutch free from deep in added time of extra time, and Sars using all their experience to shut down the Barrs late on. Lehane grabbed the headlines for the Magpies but Pa White nailed a staggering 0-7 from play. Sars had their usual spread of scorers but Jack O'Connor, top-scorer from play across the whole campaign, clipped 0-4. The Rockies were left frustrated and came agonisingly close to victory on a day when they were paying tribute to their former goalie Trevor Barry, who tragically died earlier in the week. It'll be an Eastern affair in the Senior A decider as well, after Castlelyons upset the odds by putting four goals past Blarney, including a David Morrison hat-trick, and Bride Rovers edged out Carrigtwohill. Rovers had been knocked out at the semi-final stage for the previous four years, making it a hugely significant win for the club. At Premier Intermediate, Ballinhassig take on Ballincollig in a rematch of their opening group game, where the Carrigdhoun side won comfortably. Injuries have been an issue for both teams across the last two months, which makes reaching the final more commendable. In the IAHC, it'll be Aghabullogue, on a mission to bounce back after relegation, against a Bandon side spearheaded by former Cork senior Michael Cahalane. In Premier Junior, Kilbrittain will take on Glen Rovers' second team, who defied expectations by eliminating Cloughduv. On this week's podcast, we also preview the football semi-final weekend, including Nemo v Newcestown, Barrs-Ballincollig, Cill na Martra against Éire Óg and Uibh Laoire and Aghada. Now in its third season, every week Éamonn Murphy will be joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field. You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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