Corn Uí Mhuirí: team-by-team guide, including the ones to watch, for Munster Schools SFC
Champions: Beat To Maiden Are Tralee's Stack Teams After Park Ui Rivals This Earlier Austin Tralee Pic: Success Domnick Of One In Again Year Walsh Mhuiri The Tow Against Cbs Corn Their Mercy Mounthawk
: Eoghan Buckley (St Michael’s), Eamonn Hennessy (Carrigaline).
: Donnacha Reddington (Douglas).
Roco lost to Coláiste na Sceilge but made it out of the group by beating De La Salle and Pres Milltown last season. They defeated Coachford College in the preliminary quarterfinal before running into eventual champions, Mercy Mounthawk, losing by six points. Four starters remain from that team, while they’ve welcomed four Cork minors into the set-up.
Talented dual player Ronan Dooley from Douglas will give Roco’s attack a focal point while Neville O’Shea of Nemo Rangers brings a touch of class to their half back line. Joe Lyons, also of the Nemo stable, will be between the sticks. The longer Roco stay in the competition, the better chance they have of seeing Sean Coakley. The Douglas man is recovering from long term injury and is a classy inside forward.
: Like Coláiste Choilm and St Flannan’s, Roco are flying the dual flag at the top level of schools’ GAA this season. They have pedigree in the competition and are drawing on highly successful Douglas underage teams as well as the nous of Nemo Rangers. They’re primary target will be to get out of the group and to try and build momentum. They are capable of that and with a young and exciting team, they can put it up to anyone on their day.
: Denis Keohane (Naomh Abán), Darren Farry (Nemo Rangers).
: Darragh Clifford (Éire Óg).
Coláiste Choilm failed to make it out of the group last season. Just like last year they will open their campaign with a clash with St Brendan’s of Killarney and they will be hoping to avoid defeat on this occasion. They then lost their second game to the Patrician Academy of Mallow and with their scoring difference not in the healthiest of positions, that was that. They did finish off with a good win over St Flannan’s.
Captain Clifford is currently on the injured list and their defence will be led by Cillian Power of Ballincollig, who is a classy wing back. Two Ballincollig players will also lead the line up front. Cian Ahern was centre forward on the team that won the county and was also a Cork minor this year. Danny Miskella, son of John, is a player of serious potential.
: Coláiste Choilm’s preparations have been hampered somewhat by Ballincollig’s run to the final of the Premier 1 Cork MFC and the demands that go with being a dual school. However, they will hope to ride some of the wave of momentum that Ballincollig created by beating Mallow. That will certainly boost morale and the longer they stay in the competition, the stronger they should become. St Brendan’s aren’t the ideal opening challenge, but their second game against Roco could be pivotal.
: Kieran Herlihy, Arthur Fitzgerald, Diarmuid O’Callaghan, Mike Leahy, Dónal O’Doherty.
: Jamie Moynihan (Glenflesk).
The fell to the eventual champions, Mercy Mounthawk of Tralee, at the penultimate stage last season. They defeated Mallow and Coláiste Cholim in the group stage while they had to settle for a draw against St Flannan’s before besting Clonakilty Community College in the final eight. Interestingly, Mounthawk recently beat them in the semi-final of the O’Sullivan Cup in Kerry.
Jamie Moynihan, son of the great Seamus, is a chip off the old block and is comfortable anywhere around the half back line and midfield – he kicked 1-6 from midfield against Clonakilty in last season’s quarterfinal. Dara Stack of Kilcummin is a solid presence in the full-back line while Oisín Fleming of Legion is a bright forward who played with the Kerry minors this summer. About a half dozen of the class of 2023 remain in situ.
: The Sem are the aristocrats of this competition and have won two of the last three editions of the Corn Uí Mhuirí. As such, they will be targeting a place in the knockout stages for starters. The conveyor belt continues to roll. They reached the last four of the Frewen Cup last season, are in the final of it again this year and will always take beating. They will look to go at least as deep as last season.
: Gary Brennan, Kieran Sweeney, Mark Ó Domhnaill, Gearóid Hanrahan, Ikem Ugwueru.
: Ronan Kilroy (Banner).
They failed to make it out of the group in 2023. An opening round loss to the Patrician Academy of Mallow put them on the back foot though they did respond well by earning a draw against St Brendan’s in round two. They needed a huge change in their favour in scoring differences to have any chance of making it out of the group, but that depended on them beating Coláiste Choilm. They didn’t.
Captain Kilroy hails from the Banner club and is an extremely versatile and athletic operator. He was a minor footballer for Clare in 2022 and lined out for the U20 hurlers this season. Conor Hill from Lissycasey was full-back on the Clare minor team that made it to the Munster semi-final earlier this year. Diarmuid Boyle of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield lined out at centre-back on the same team giving Flannan’s a nice spine to work from.
: The Clare nursery will need a big leap in form to make it out of a very competitive and challenging group. Their first task will be to try and make themselves hard to beat, starting in Knocklong against Rochestown. A good performance there will give them something to build on after a disappointing 2023 campaign. If that goes their way they can start looking up, but they will have their work cut out for them to be major players this season.
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Micheál O’Sullivan, Ken Meade, Mike ‘Haulie’ O’Neill, Pat Gilmore.
: Cillian Twohig (Kilmeen).
Drew with St Patrick’s Castleisland in their first outing and after a terrific fightback beat Abbey CBS by a single point to qualify second from their group for the knockout stages. Lost to a Jamie Moynihan inspired St Brendan’s Killarney in the quarter-final. Around half the players carry over from last year.
: Timothy Cullinane (Carbery Rangers), Sean Whelton (St James) and Dylan Harrington (Clonakilty). These three in particular bring plenty of experience from last year’s campaign, with Cullinane a member of Ray O’Mahony’s Cork U20 squad as well. Cullinane and Whelton are likely to impact up front, while Harrington would be the one to drive them on from the back.
: With a number of last year’s panel to call upon, anything less than a quarter-final would be seen as a step back. However, progress last season was from a group of three. This time they find themselves in a competitive group of four, so the initial aim will be to try and get out of the group.
: Ronan Buckley, Seán O’Regan, Johnny O’Sullivan, Seán O’Shea.
: Jack O’Sullivan (Kenmare Shamrocks).
Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine won the Munster U17B competition and many of these players have made the step up to the senior panel. They join the large cohort who remain from the senior panel last year who were defeated in the Munster U19B competition.
Jack Tangney (Kenmare) has had a very strong debut season with the Kenmare seniors. He is well able to score and has an eye for goal. Barry Fitzsimons (Kenmare) is an excellent modern day goalkeeper, good kick-outs, comfortable on the ball and able to split the posts from long range. Donncha O’Sullivan (Tuosist) A Kerry minor this year, he is a powerful ball carrier and takes his score when the opportunity arises.
: It is Inbhear Scéine’s first time competing at Corn Uí Mhuirí level following good underage success in the area. Players from Kenmare, Templenoe, Kilgarvan, Tuosist and Sneem make up the panel. Qualifying from the group would be seen as a huge achievement but this will be hard earned against experienced Corn Uí Mhuirí teams.
Paddy Lordan, John O'Sullivan, Noel Griffin, Dan Peet.
: Jack Cullinane (Bandon).
Started the campaign well with wins over CSN Bishopstown and Skibbereen CS before being beaten by Tralee CBS. They then faced Abbey CBS in a preliminary quarter final but unfortunately came up short. Four players that played that day are back this year.
Jack Cullinane (Bandon) is one of their more established players and is in good form again this year. Oisin McCarthy (Valley Rovers) was crucial last year in midfield but has been hampered by injury that has kept him out of most of the club campaign this year. Hopefully he will be ready. Billy Curtin (Valley Rovers) was involved with Cork 20s this year and is a very important player for them.
: Big turnover of players with most of the spine of the team gone. A lot of the group won the Cork U16 A schools competition two years ago so will be hoping to build on that. Hopeful of giving a good account of themselves but know all schools will pose a significant threat, especially Clonakilty CC, which is a local derby with many playing on the same club teams.
Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown
: Anthony Seymour, Darragh O’Connor, Sean Linehan.
: Cormac Dineen (Inniscarra).
Bit of a mixed bag. Beat Corn Uí Mhuirí finalists Tralee CBS in the group stages in a nine-goal thriller, 6-12 to 3-11, at the Banteer 4G. However, there was a six-point defeat to HHS Bandon, and then in the worst possible weather conditions they lost to Skibbereen CS by the minimum 0-8 to 1-4 in Skibbereen. After all that, they exited at the group stage. The bulk of last year’s team has moved on.
: Cormac Dineen (Inniscarra) was a member of the Cork minor hurling panel in 2023. He excels in both codes, and was crucial to the Inniscarra team that won U17 mid section football title. Matthew Ahern (St Finbarr’s), a Cork minor footballer and dual player who is captain of the club minor football team. Neil Crowley (Bishopstown) is another good prospect and helped the ‘Town to the Premier 1 minor football semi-final this year.
: A young team with only four starters from last year. However, you can’t beat a winning mentality, and back-to-back Simcox Cups will count for something - their most recent against Clonakilty CC in March.
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: Aidan O’Shea, Ciarán Costello, Luke Mulligan.
: Paddy Lane (Austin Stacks).
Crowned first-time champions by beating crosstown rivals Tralee CBS 0-15 to 1-9 in their first-ever final appearance. Recorded a series of hugely impressive victories en route, chief among them their statement performance to end The Sem’s three-in-a-row bid. Saw off Naas CBS in an All-Ireland semi-final but defeated by Omagh CBS in the Croker showpiece. They’ve retained six starters and eight panelists.
Paddy Lane (Austin Stacks) was Mercy Mounthawk’s scoring star last year with 2-66 across eight games, including 2-22 from play. In the meantime, he won a Munster U20 medal and featured for Austin Stacks in the Kerry IFC final. Tomás Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys) registered a score in every game last year for a 2-12 total and goaled against Cork in the U20 decider. Daniel Kirby (Austin Stacks) is another Kerry U20 and club senior; a towering midfielder with an eye for a score.
: Mounthawk have seen a lot of leaders graduate ahead of their title defence but they still possess incredible talents in Lane, Kennedy, Kirby, and Kingdom minor captain Ben Murphy. They will be hoping their new faces can step up. In that regard, the early form is good, advancing to the Kerry Colleges O’Sullivan Cup final with a 0-23 to 3-8 victory over The Sem. Lane and Kirby are still juggling club commitments ahead of Stacks’ Kerry IFC final replay against Laune Rangers.
Seán Mullins, Conor Sweeney.
: TBC.
Major progression as the Tipperary town school advanced to the quarter-finals in their first Corn Uí Mhuirí appearance for 10 years. Finished second in their group after mixing a comeback victory over St Patrick’s Castleisland with letting a lead slip against Clonakilty CC. Booked their last-eight ticket with a preliminary quarter-final victory over Hamilton HS before being eliminated by Tralee CBS. Eight starters remain.
Adam Ryan and David Ryan (both Arravale Rovers) have proved their dual credentials as part of the Tipperary minor hurling team which took Munster and All-Ireland honours. Adam scored a goal in the quarter-final against Tralee CBS, while David put in some all-action showings in defence. Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers) is a lively defender who features equally well going forward with his piercing runs. Lined out with his club in the Tipp IFC final at the weekend.
: Mercy Mounthawk are no easy opponents first up but after their performance last year, Abbey CBS will be hoping to position themselves to have a chance of qualification entering the final round. The dual school’s hurlers got off to a winning start in the Munster B competition which will help with confidence and momentum. They were the first Tipperary school to reach the last eight since 2016 and will hope to keep the flag flying at this grade with another positive showing.
: Micheál Kelly, James McCarthy, and Colman O'Driscoll.
: TBC.
Finished third in a seesaw group with one win from three games. Lost their opener to Tralee CBS but recovered to gain revenge on CSN Bishopstown in a repeat of the previous year's quarter-final. That set up a must-win contest against Hamilton HS but having led by six, they were left stunned by a spectacular late turnaround.
: Frank Hurley (O’Donovan Rossa) featured at midfield for Skibbereen CC last year and remains a key figure this term. Seán Connolly (Ilen Rovers) contributed 1-8 in last year’s Corn Uí Mhuirí, with the goal arriving against Tralee CBS in their competition opener. Donal O’Callaghan (Castlehaven), like his clubmate William O’Donovan, will be important figures to nail down any opposing threats after reaching the Premier 2 minor final this month.
: Skibbereen CC have a strong selection back from last year but injuries have hurt their panel heading into the opener. They will hope to strengthen as the rounds go on. Castlehaven’s minor progression is a boost, while some players will be involved with O’Donovan Rossa’s U21 in the coming weeks. An ambitious team full of potential and spirit, Skibbereen will be targeting qualification from the group and a strong showing in Cork’s Simcox Cup.
: Pa McCarthy, John O’Sullivan, and John Forrest.
: Owen O’Connor (Currow).
The All-Ireland C champions made the major leap to top-tier football and were competitive throughout. Led Abbey CBS for much of their debut outing until a late reversal of fortunes. Then gained their first point with a draw against Clonakilty CC but with their schedule completed, results didn't go their way in the final round. Half that team returns this year.
Evan Brennan (Castleisland Desmonds) is a veteran of the All-Ireland success two seasons ago and anchored the team from full-back last year. Owen O’Connor (Currow) was part of that All-Ireland-winning full-back line with Brennan. Centre-back now with both school and his club Currow’s Premier Junior team. Conor Martin (Ballymacelligott) is an influential midfielder who has also featured in goal for his club.
: Having taken plenty of lessons from last year’s debut campaign, St Pat’s Castleisland will be hoping to go one step further and escape their group. This cohort won the Munster U15C and U17B as they came up the grades, while they also feature players from last year’s U17A Frewen Cup final appearance. They are further boosted by St Kieran’s success in the Kerry minor championship, with 17 players represented across both panels, including scorers Michael Horan, Killian Dennehy, and Conor Cahill.
: Eamon O’Connor, James McGlade, Mark Lenehan.
: Gearoid Daly (Mallow).
Returned to the Corn Uí Mhuirí after a number of years spent in the lower grades. Beat St Flannan’s, Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig, and Coláiste Na Sceilge to go all the way to the semis. In reaching the school’s first Corn Uí Mhuirí semi-final since 1998, they prevented an all-Kerry last-four line-up.
Captain Gearóid Daly (Mallow) was corner-back on the Cork U20 team that reached this year’s Munster final. He will hope to bring the experience of that campaign to bear at schools level. Ben O’Shea (Mallow) was a starting Cork minor forward earlier this year, while Ryan Crowley (Kilshannig) was also a member of that Cork minor panel.
: Although down nine of last year’s semi-final team, Patrician Academy will pull heavily from the school side that beat a path to the Frewen Cup (U16½ A) semi-final in the spring of 2023. Added to that, Mallow reaching the recent Cork minor football final means several players are coming into this Corn Uí Mhuirí campaign match sharp.
: Micheál O’Shea, John Buckley.
: Corey Campion (Listry).
Competed in Senior B last season and were not involved in the latter stages of that competition.
Adam O’Neill (Laune Rangers) was a member of this year’s Kerry minor panel. He was Killorglin’s top-scorer in their recent O’Sullivan Cup quarter-final defeat to Mercy Mounthawk. Tadhg O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) and Seán Griffin (Milltown/Castlemaine) have both lined out for Kerry development squad teams in recent years.
: Eanna Murphy, who was at half-forward for the Kerry minors this year and is a younger brother to Ruairí, is sidelined for the entirety of the group stages with a back injury. He is unquestionably a loss. Recent 3-20 to 3-5 Kerry Colleges O’Sullivan Cup quarter-final defeat to reigning champions Mercy Mounthawk was an eye-opener as to the standard required.
: Liam Long, Shane Ryan, Bobbie O’Dwyer.
: Cormac Bourke (Macroom).
Finished winless and pointless in Group 2. That, however, does not tell the full story. The margin of defeat was two, three, and four points respectively against Coláiste Na Sceilge, Milltown, and Rochestown.
In the 2023 All-Ireland minor quarter-final when Cork fell narrowly to Dublin after letting slip a six-point lead, corner-forward Denis O’Mullane (Kilmurry) was Cork’s top-scorer from play with 1-2. His Kilmurry clubmate Sean O’Leary was on the bench that afternoon at Nowlan Park. Tom Browne (Kilmichael), centre-forward for the school last season, will be another important figure in the weeks ahead.
: Like every other school in this group, they will see last-eight involvement as a realistic and achievable ambition. In March of 2022, De La Salle Macroom reached a Frewen Cup (U16½ A) semi-final. The players still around from that group will drive their bid for a top two finish.
: Willie Duggan, Cillian Bohane, Tadhg Whelan.
: Eoghan Kirwan and Cian English (both Mitchelstown) are joint captains.
: Posted 1-20 to comfortably beat Listowel and secure the school’s first-ever Munster Senior B title. Subsequently lost out to Ashbourne Community School in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Cian Coughlan (Kildorrery), Cian English (Mitchelstown), and Diarmuid O’Brien (Glanworth). O’Brien, a Cork minor panellist last year, was an integral component in Mitchelstown’s run to Senior B glory from centre-back. He’ll likely wear again that No.6 shirt and coordinate their defensive effort from there.
: The three players mentioned above are the only three survivors still around from last season’s Munster Senior B winning side. With such a large turnover, making an immediate impact at the top table will be difficult. Against that, however, they couldn’t have asked for a more favourable group as all the big Kerry hitters have been avoided.
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: Marc Ó Sé, Liam O’Sullivan, Alan O’Sullivan.
: Luke Rochford (Ballyduff).
Beaten finalists last year when losing to Mercy Mounthawk in an all Kerry final. Ronan Carroll leveled the contest in the 56th minute but Mounthawk got over the line with a couple of late points. Winners of the Frewen Cup for the last two seasons, there is a strong likelihood they will top this group. They beat Skibbereen in their group, lost to CSN but beat HHS Bandon. Tralee then beat Abbey CBS and PA Mallow on the way to the final.
Ronan Carroll (Austin Stacks), Eoin O’Flaherty (Ardfert) and Ryan O’Driscoll (Austin Stacks). Carroll is a two-year Kerry minor, who made eight appearances, scoring 1-13. He usually plays on the 40 and has helped his school win two Frewen Cups. Flaherty is The Green’s fullback and is also a Harty Cup player as he captained the Kerry minor hurlers in 2024 and scored 1-1 with the Kerry minor footballers. He is also a champion athlete and sprinter so a big player. O’Driscoll missed most of the Kerry minors campaign because of injury but is a deadly finisher on the edge of the square. Potential match winner as he showed when coming on as a sub and scoring 2-1 against Roscommon in June.
They have 12 survivors from last year’s final plus Eoin Moriarty who was injured and would have started. They have reached the O’Sullivan Cup Final in Kerry with consummate ease and their aim will be to win the Corn Uí Mhuirí and it is difficult to see them being stopped. The one negative is that they have about nine from the squad playing Harty Cup.
: Dan McKenna (manager), Eoin Fitzgerald (Spa), Brian Crowley (Templenoe).
TBC.
Won a first game in their second year in the Corn Uí Mhuirí last year. They lost to Colaiste Na Sceilge in tight battle and then beat DSL Macroom in Banteer 2-15 to 2-12 with Darragh Clifford and Evan McCarthy getting their goals. But then they were unable to play their final game against Rochestown on the date allotted and despite efforts to decide who would advance from the group, St Francis College were awarded the game and Milltown were left frustrated and out of the competition.
Ruadhán Donovan (Annascaul), Michael Lynch (Milltown/Castlemaine), Cian O’Brien (Milltown/Castlemaine). Ruadhán Donovan is a quality defender and played at cornerback in all of Kerry’s five games last year on their run all the way to the All-Ireland semi-final. Micheal Ly was the Kerry minor fullback and also made five appearances. Cian O’Brien is a strong and forceful player and will trouble most defences and will often find the net if allowed any latitude.
: Short answer is that they will struggle as they have only four survivors from last year and two of them are injured and not certain to in the opening round. They are a good, young side and whatever they do this year will probably be with next year in mind. Michael Lynch and Ruadhán Donovan played in the last line of defence for the Kerry minors last year while Cian O’Brien is one of the few U-19 players they have this year and Liam Harmon (Firies) is a player to watch. Their big game will be against PS Corca Dhuibhne.
: Eoghan Ó Gealbháin (Manager), Éanna Ó Conchúir, and Tomás Ó Beaglaoich.
: TBC.
PS Corca Dhuibhne were kicking themselves last year after losing their opening game to first-timers Coachford by a single point on a poor surface. They should have been home and hosed but allowed a 67th minute goal from the Cork side to basically end their season. Despite beating Coláiste Chríost Rí well, they lost to Mounthawk after giving them a good game for forty five minutes but made an early exit.
: Seán Ó Cuinn, Cian MacGearailt, and Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich (all Gaeltacht). Ó Cuinn is a two year Kerry minor who made 10 full appearances, scoring 0-4 from wing back. He is a strong defender in the Peter Crowley mode and is the son of one of Gaeltacht’s finest. Pól. Ó Beaglaoich is another bright prospect and has two years playing with the Kerry minors behind. He is solid centre back who likes to drive forward. MacGearailt is another 2024 Kerry minor who played in all of Kerry’s five games and he topped scored for his school in this competition last year.
: Will be fancied to go through as runners up to Tralee CBS but are capable of taking a big scalp. They have four of five marquee players but the rest of the squad is young and they do not appear to have the same numbers as other schools. They should emerge from the group, however, with the game against Pres Milltown being the key game.