Cork squads for 2015 announced at Neptune

Cork Development Squad members who attend St Fachtna’s De La Salle Secondary School in Skibbereen.

IN Neptune stadium in Cork last Sunday night over 800 parents and players were present for the launch of the 2015 Cork Development Squads in both football and hurling.

The squads named were from U14 to U17 age groups, with 48 players named in each squad. These panels of 48 are now closed for the summer and no further players will be called up.

At the end of August, all county squads will be disbanded for 2015 and then, in late October, Academy activities at regional level will resume and all players will again be welcomed in for open trials and sessions. It is interesting to note that there is an average turnover rate of 20% in all panels annually, so the door is open for players to come in when appropriate

Kevin O’Donovan Cork Coaching Officer, has put together a book with the summer programme 2015 of dates and times of all squads training and matches with every squad listed with the players clubs and schools. All the mentors from the different squads are allso listed.

He gives a detailed account of the players’ physical development programme involving the Mardyke Arena, who are overseeing this programme. He also details the different phases of learning in skills development and team play.

A very interesting page in the book is a breakdown of what clubs and post-primary schools the players come from; you can see by this what clubs have good under-age sections, bringing these players through and developing them at club and school level.

Each player at the launch got a copy of this, so the players, their parents and their club coach can plan their summer with no further dates to be added to this Rebel Óg Academy Summer Programme 2015.

Speakers at Neptune Stadium were Ger Lane, chairman of Cork County Board; John Purcell, chairman of Rebel Óg; Kevin O’Donovan, Cork Coaching Officer; Kevin O’Callaghan, Cork Games Manager, and then, at the end of the night, Mark Collins, Castlehaven and Cork senior footballer, and Seanie McGrath, Cork senior hurling selector and former Cork hurling star.

The main theme coming from them was that the players should enjoy their summer of being on a Cork Development Squad, but not let the chance go and go back to their clubs a better player. Players

Players from Carbery-Beara who are on squads are: U14 football – Michael McCarthy and Paddy Burke, Tadgh Mac Carthaigh; Alex Minihane, Andrew Whelton, Gavin Foley and Sam Burchill, Castlehaven; Dean Harte and Padraig Cullinane, Ballinascarthy; Jordie O’Brien, Gabriel Rangers; Paul Hoddnett, Carbery Rangers; Shane Crowley, Bantry; Kieran Forbes, Sam Maguire’s; Sean Brady, St Colum’s, and Seanie O’Sullivan, Adrigole.

U14 hurling – Thomas Tyner, Kilmeen, and Padraig Cullinane, Ballinascarthy.

U15 football – Matthew Bushe and Jack Collins, Ilen Rovers; Fionn Herlihy, Sam Maguire’s; Darragh O’Neill, Castlehaven; Cian O’Donoghue, Clonakilty; Robert O’Driscoll and Gavin O’Connell, Bandon; Elliot Connolly, O’Donovan Rossa; Darragh McElhinney, Glengarriff; Neil O’Sullivan and Ryan O’Sullivan, Adrigole.

U15 hurling – Brian O’Donovan and Ciarán Nyhan, Ballinascarthy.

U16 football – Eoghan Minihane, Bantry Blues; Michael Whelton, Barryroe; Cathal Hennessy and John Hoddnett, Carbery Rangers; Daniel McSweeney and Ronan Hurley, Gabriel Rangers; Eoin O’Driscoll and Peter O’Driscoll, Ilen Rovers; Damien Gore, Kilmacabea; Dylan O’Donovan, O’Donovan Rossa; Rory O’Driscoll, Garnish, and Jason Harrington, Adrigole.

U16 hurling – Darragh O’Donovan, Ibane Gaels.

U17 football – Mark White and Liam O’Donovan, Clonakilty; Sean Ryan, Ballinascarthy; Cathal Magurie, Castlehaven; Sean Fitzgerald, O’Donovan Rossa; Garreth Crowley, Sam Magurie’s; Dylan Scannell, Ahán Gaels, and Cillian O’Shea, Urhan.

Mentors

The mentors from Carbery-Beara with the squads include: U14 football – Gene O’Donovan and Paudie Crowley, O’Donovan Rossa; Daniel Cronin, St Mary’s.

U14 hurling – Charlie Wilson, Newcestown

U15 football – Aidan Cremin , Adrigole; Diarmuid Duggan, Ilen Rovers; James McCarthy, Castlehaven.

U16 football – Philip Moore, Carbery Rangers; Niall Twomey, Balinascarthy; Ivan Kingston, Bantry Blues.

U16 hurling – John McCarthy, Clonakilty.

U17 football – Brian Herlihy, Sam Maguire’s; Niall Mclntyre, Newcestown.

U17 hurling – Niall Geary, Bandon.

• One may contact James McCarthy, GDA, on mobile 087-779951 or email [email protected] on any coaching matters.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Cork Development Squad members who attend St Fachtna’s De La Salle Secondary School in Skibbereen. Included are players Jack Collins, Matthew Bush, Peter O’Driscoll and Owen O’Driscoll, Ilen Rovers; Elliot Connolly, Dylan O’Donovan and Sean Fitzgerald, O’Donovan Rossa; Alex Minihane and Gavin Foley Castlehaven; James McCarthy, GDA, and Colman O’Driscoll, GAA coach, St Fachtna’s, and David Barry, principal. Missing from picture is Andrew Whelton, Castlehaven.