The Echo Sport Podcast

The Echo Podcast crew return just in time for the throw-in of the national hurling and football leagues.

Cork footballers take on Cavan before the hurlers host Waterford in an attractive double-header in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, where both teams need a winning start to the campaign.

John Cleary's charges got a boost with a first competitive victory in Killarney since 1995 over Kerry, albeit in the McGrath Cup final, which won't be causing the old enemy to lose any sleep.

Still, late points from Brian Hurley and Chris Óg Jones gave the Rebels the narrowest of victories in a game where the contentious new rules that lead to frees being advanced 50 metres worked in their favour.

Cork have been in the lower leagues since 2016 and haven't really looked like returning, largely down to slow starts to the season. With four away games, they'll need to pick up points on home turf.

Clearly and his management team are vastly experienced at this stage but the vibes are more positive at this stage than they were last year, with a decent blend of youth and experience.

The hurlers won't be prioritising the secondary competition after ending a 27-year wait for silverware last term but Ben O'Connor will be eager to get wins on the board early to allow them to look at their options in the coming weeks. The new bainisteoir has already stated there won't be radical change but tactically there will be tweaks from the long-ball style of last year.

It's a hectic time of year, with UCC and MTU Cork, who have impressed to date, busy with the Fitzgibbon Cup.

There's a look at the form of both Cork teams in preseason, as well as a breakdown of the recent Fitzgibbon and Sigerson action and the Corn Uí Mhuirí and Harty matches.

There's a discussion of the appointment of Ian Maguire and Darragh Fitzgibbon as Cork captains, replacing Brian Hurley and Rob Downey. Plus they flag up the young players to watch in the coming weeks and examine the prospects of the rookies who are on the hurling and football squads.

Now in its fourth 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.
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The Echo Podcast crew wrap up on the Cork GAA season with a look back on the highs and lows of 2025.

The focus is on club action, with the Reardens All-Star teams announced in ladies football, camogie, hurling and football. They break down the 15 picks in each code and reveal some of the players who were very lucky not to make the cut.

The county champions, St Finbarr's, in camogie and football, Éire Óg in ladies football and Sarsfields in hurling, are understandably to the fore in the All-Star line-ups.

A big effort was made to take in those who performed impressively without lifting silverware as well, even if their teams didn't get past the quarter-final stages or even ended up in relegation battles.

As has been the case since the first Reardens All-Stars in 2012, there is a blend of marquee inter-county players and unsung club heroes in the teams.

A weekend washout impacted the local matches and saw the Tom Creedon Cup final and U21 games postponed but the All-Ireland camogie final double bill in Croke Park went ahead.

Ballincollig couldn't build on a strong run midway through the first half and a Leah Hannigan goal in their intermediate decider against Camross. The Laois said had that bit more in the second half to win by four points.

The Collig didn't have any major complaints after and while they missed out on an All-Ireland, they laid down a marker by being the first team in the club to reach that stage.

St Finbarr's were left more frustrated as, though they'll have another chance in the January replay, they were in a superb position coming down the stretch in the senior final against Athenry. After performing so well for so long, they conceded 1-3 without reply.

The Barrs had twice needed extra, extra time on their journey to Croker, so they appreciate the fine margins at this level.

They simply have to dust themselves down and go again after Christmas.

What was definitely a huge plus from the action on Jones Road was the quality of both finals, which reflected very well on Cork camogie

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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Echo Podcast crew discuss the main issues impacting Cork GAA fans after a packed weekend of action for December, which included three Munster finals, two schools finals in the Páirc and a pair of U21 hurling semis.
The major talking point was St Finbarr's loss to Dingle at Semple Stadium where a very harsh call by the ref saw a decision on a free go against Ian Maguire and then the ball advanced by 50 metres because Dylan Quinn picked it up as the whistle sounded.
The result was a monster two-point free as time elapsed to see the Barrs beaten the minimum.
While Brian Roche's side know they should have been more clinical in the last quarter, as they only scored one point after the 40th minute, they were still aggrieved with how the game was decided. It won't be any consolation for them but it was one of the most enthralling Munster club football finals of all time, lit up by an incredible 16-point haul from Steven Sherlock.
In the other provincial finals, Buttevant and Aghabullogue were well beaten by their Kerry opponents, confirming the Kingdom's utter dominance of the intermediate and junior grades.
Clonakilty Community School produced an excellent display on Friday night to defeat Coláiste Choilm and capture their first Simcox Cup while Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG retained the Dr O'Callaghan Cup after a belter with Christians. A brilliant decision by the Cork County Board to stage the games on the big stage in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Midleton and Shandrum will contest the U21 A hurling final after their victories on the 4G and while the Magpies will be favourites.
For hurling fans, the spotlight this week was on the new senior management after coach Niall O'Halloran departed Ben O'Connor's set-up in preseason. Cork are training extremely hard since their return but it was very unusual to see a chance in the backroom at this stage.
There's also a preview of the All-Ireland camogie club finals coming up at Croke Park, with St Finbarr's and Ballincollig in their first national finals on Jones Road.
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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we enter the home stretch of the Cork GAA season, the Echo Podcast crew look at the major action at club, schools and third level.

There was Junior A joy for the hurlers of Kilshannig and the footballers of Kilmacabea. In a double-header at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the two clubs with that bit more experience got the job done and will move up to Premier Junior for 2026.

There was an extra incentive for Kilshannig as they paid tribute to jockey and former player Michael O'Sullivan, who tragically lost his life following a racecourse fall. Wing-back Kieran Twomey was Man of the Match in the decider but it was a collective effort as they dominated a Ballinora outfit bidding to complete the double.

Kilmac pushed for home in the last quarter of their clash with a youthful Donoughmore unit, turning their West Cork dominance into county glory after a series of disappointments in recent seasons.

At Munster level, Kilbrittain are closing in on a trip to Croke Park after an emphatic Munster Junior Hurling final showing. In camogie, St Finbarr's and Ballincollig secured their All-Ireland final trips with terrific semi-final showings up the country, the Barrs prevailing after extra, extra time for the second time in recent weeks.

Closer to home, Midleton outgunned the Collig in one U21 A quarter-final but the Valley Rovers hurlers pulled off a massive shock in the other by defeating a Glen Rovers unit that looked the part in the City Division.

It's now Midleton v Newcestown and Valleys-Shandrum in the last four, with the Magpies aiming to retain the county.

We preview the Munster football finals, as Buttevant, Aghabullogue and St Finbarr's can on the best sides from Kerry, eager to improve on Cork's recent record in the competition, especially in the junior and intermediate grades.

The knockout stages of the Corn Uí Mhuirí are set while Coláiste Choilm and Clonakilty collide in the Simcox Cup final. In the Dr O'Callaghan Cup decider there's a Harty Cup group stage rematch when Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG face Christians.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Echo Podcast crew review the Cork GAA action and look at the major issues impacting clubs and supporters.

All three Cork football clubs got the job done in their Munster semi-final, with Buttevant, Aghabullogue and St Finbarr's meeting Kerry opposition next month.

The Leeside winners lived up to their billing as favourites, though Aghabullogue, perhaps understandably, a week after a hurling county final, needed to dig deep in the last quarter of their game.

Once again, Matthew Bradley was in deadly scoring form, even though he'd been in soccer action 24 hours earlier.

Now they'll take on An Ghaeltacht for Munster silverware. A daunting prospect with Cork powerhouse Aidan Walsh a serious addition for the Kerry kingpins.

Brian Hayes grabbed a headline-worthy hat-trick for the Barrs in their semi-final. There's huge depth in the Togher squad, with a host of strong bench options, and they'll need those if they are to defeat Dingle in what will be a cracking Munster showdown.

Buttevant will take on Ballymacelligott in the junior final and with an eye for goal and the ability to range orange flags will be confident of lifting the trophy.

They also look at the major talking points in Cork GAA, including the new rules regarding amalgamations between clubs at underage level.

Ibane Gaels fell just short against a powerful Douglas team, spearheaded by Sean Coakley, in the U21 A football final at the weekend.

The combination of Barryroe and Argideen Rangers has been very successful in recent years, competing in the top tiers at minor in both codes, but the Cork County Board have stricter rules now in place.

The aim is to encourage clubs to field separate teams in lower grades to protect their identity but is it the right move given rural depopulation?

Ballinora continue their double bid after making the Junior A hurling final and Donoughmore and Kilmacabea are into the JAFC decider.

There are still five game left in the U21 A Hurling grade, with Midleton and the Collig retaining their divisional crowns over the weekend.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.