Grenagh u16s and u14s take January Rebel Óg award

Grenagh's u16 and u14 teams are the very worthy winners of the January 2020 Rebel Óg Monthly Award.

This monthly event awards scheme, sponsored by the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs and Cummins Sports (Award Sponsors) in association with RedFM and The Echo (Media Partners), established in 2012, continues to award the best of Cork’s young GAA talent on a monthly basis.

2019 winners were Sarsfields, Glanmire and Cork Ladies Gaelic Football and Camogie Star Olivia McAllen, who was awarded the December Trophy. In November Glanmire U14 Hurlers and Footballers were awarded and they in turn followed October’s winners Valley Rovers U14 Teams who won both hurling and football county championship titles. In September, Cork Minor Footballers, who won the All Ireland Title after a lapse of many years were honoured and they in turn followed August winners the Cork Minor Ladies Gaelic Footballers, who also won the All Ireland Title. The July Trophy was presented to the Cork U14 Ladies Footballers. In June the five Féile winning teams shared the Award – Ballyhea/Milford Camogie Team, Clonakilty Camogie Team, Bandon Hurlers, Killeagh Ita Hurlers and Éire Óg Camogie Team.

The Cork Minor Camogie Team won the May Trophy, April winners were the Patrician Academy Mallow Hurling and Football Teams, Sacred Heart Secondary School Clonakilty’s All Ireland winning Camogie Team received the March Trophy, February winners were Midleton CBS who won the Dr. Harty Cup in an all Cork Final and St. Colums Minor Footballers, winners of the Rebel Óg Minor C Football Championship, were awarded with the January 2019 Trophy.

GRENAGH GAA CLUB was founded in 1934. Based in the village of Grenagh in the Muskerry division of Mid Cork, it draws its players from the Grenagh village, Rathduff and the surrounding areas. 2013 was a wonderful year for the Club winning the County Intermediate Football title along with the County Junior A hurling title. Since then it boasts a magnificent extra new pitch, astro pitches and hopes to see a ball alley in the not too distant future

2019 was a wonderful year for the Juvenile section of the club. The under 14’s ended up being crowned County Division 2 Hurling Champions and the under 16’s won the County Division 3 Hurling championship along with the County Division 2 Football Championship.

There is great work going on in the club at the moment with huge commitment and dedication shown by the Club officers and mentors across all ages.

Playing in the North region the under 14 hurlers had a remarkable Championship beating Buttevant 0-17 to 1-1, Ballyhea 5-12 to 2-2, Kilavullen 2-13 to 2-5 then a narrow one point win over Ballygiblin in the semi-final 0-12 to 1-8. They met Kilavullen again in the final coming out on top 2-13 to 2-5 to win the North Championship. In the county Semi-final Grenagh got the better of Cloughduv 2-15 to 2-9 which set them up for a County final against Fr O’ Neills in Pairc UI Caoimh. Dan Twomey, a key player all year, opened the scoring, Fr O Neills edged in front but a Sean Henchion goal gave Grenagh a lead they would not relinquish. Great defensive play and some opportune scores at the right time gave Grenagh a foothold and they withstood a great fightback from Fr O Neills late on.

U14 Hurling County Champions

Team Lineout: Z Hickey, I Walsh, Fionnan O’Riordan, M Russell, J Twomey, J O’ Keeffe, Capt, O Falvey, D Twomey 0-7 (0-3F), P Ahern, S Walsh 0-1, P O’ Connell 0-2, S Brown, S Henchion 1-0, I Walsh 1-0, R Coleman 0-1, Subs D Warren for S Brown, R Sherlock for S Henchion, L Leahy, C Doyle, S Morley.

Well done to all the players who played their part throughout the year also in winning the North league hurling plate and football championship plate and Feile Cup runners up. The management team who worked tirelessly all year Brendan Walsh, Derek O’Keeffe, Tim Walsh, Joe Leahy and Sean Bourke.

Playing in the Mid South Division 3, the under 16 hurlers had wins against Raonaithe na nGael 1-17 to 1-11, Diarmaid O’Murchus 4-13 to 3-4, winning the final against Mayfield 2-17-0-2, beating Kilshannig in the County Semi-final 3-21 to 5-7. The final on a cold November Day in Ballyhea was against Croke Rovers. Grenagh started well with Evan McCarthy, David Coleman, Ted Twomey and Sean Joyce on the scoresheet to lead at half-time 0-11 to 1-4, Jason O’ Keeffe exchanged goals with Darragh Burke but with Evan McCarthy and David Coleman in great scoring form Grenagh were not to be denied winning on a scoreline of 2-16 to 3-07.

U16 County Hurling Champions

Playing in the Mid-South Division 2 Football Championship, Grenagh had wins against Raonaithe na n Gael 3-13 to 2-10, against Donoughmore 1-11 to 1-3, Whitechurch in the final 4-12 to 1-8, In the County Championship semi-final a win against St Colums 4-9 to 1-10 to set up a final in Pairc ui Caoimh against Kileagh Itas. Grenagh started well to lead at the break 0-10 to 1-4, Grenagh were physically stronger and better balanced with some outstanding scorers in their ranks. They survived an injury time scare when Killleagh Itas came close to a fourth goal to go to extra time but Grenagh held firm and were deserving winners on a scoreline of 1-15 to 3-7.

Team Lineout: C Cronin, L Buckley, S Buckley, F O’ Riordan, C McCarthy, J Murphy, 0-1,P Ahern T Twomey,0-1 D MacSweeney, 0-1,S Joyce, 1-3(0-2f), D Coleman, (Capt) 0-2, M Corcoran, D Twomey,0-2, E McCarthy, (capt) 0-5 (0-1F) C Osborn, Subs P O’Connell for M Corcoran, J O’Keeffe for C Osborne, M O’Callaghan, R Daly, J Twohig, O Falvey, C Hegarthy, L Dalton,

The under 16 footballers and hurlers were unbeaten in 2019 after playing 27 games (mid-south league double also). Great credit goes to their management team of Miley Murphy, Donie McCarthy and Brendan Twohig.

The future for Grenagh is bright.

U16 County Football Champions