MEET THE MATCH-WINNERS

ONE has scored 1-16 in two games and the other kicked 0-11 in one match, so it’s not stretching the imagination to suggest that Dylan Hourihane and Mark Buckley have the potential to be match winners for their teams on Sunday.

O’Donovan Rossa have scored 1-12 in both their wins against Clonakilty and Castlehaven, and of that 2-24 total, Hourihane accounts for 1-16. There is no point in trying to hide his influence.

‘Dylan is our scorer-in-chief up front and as our captain he is showing great leadership as well,’ Rossa manager Shane Crowley says.

‘If he can keep on this upward curve there is nowhere this kid can’t go. He has been part of the senior panel for the last four years. We asked him to take on a bit of a leadership role this year and he has. If Dylan can keep that going, he can drag this team upwards.’

Dohenys have their own main man – Mark Buckley. A former Cork minor and U20 who leads the line for the Doheny seniors, you’d expect him to stand out at U21 level, and he does. He scored 0-11 against Carbery Rangers in their semi-final win and Dohenys manager Jerry O’Mahony admits he’s the crucial link in the team.

‘Everything goes through Mark on our team,’ O’Mahony says.

‘Everyone knows about him at this stage. He has a burst of pace, he can take a score and he does the sensible things well – like against Carbery Rangers when he fisted the ball over over the bar for a good point. 

‘He has really blossomed and he’s getting better. Mark stood out against Carbery Rangers but that’s what you expect of him. He gives great leadership up front.’

The chance to watch two of the division’s top young guns is another reason why Sunday’s final is not to be missed.