New Year to begin with a bang as West Cork League cup competitions kick into life

THE new year will burst into action with the opening rounds of the West Cork League Beamish Cup and Women’s Cup knockout competitions.

Men’s holders Clonakilty Soccer Club and women’s 2025 winners Drinagh Rangers begin the defence of their respective trophies on Sunday, January 4th. Here, we look at the opening round of fixtures in both competitions.

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BEAMISH CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND

Baltimore v Beara United – Disappointingly, Baltimore, last season’s Championship winners, have pulled out of the Premier Division. The Beamish Cup offers the Crabs one last shot at silverware but they face an in-form Beara. The Castletownbere club is firmly in the promotion hunt for an instant return to the top tier having scored over 30 league goals this term. Declan Dunne, Richard Murphy and James Harrington will be pivotal to Beara’s chances. Prediction: Beara United.

Aultagh Celtic B v Ardfield – An all-Championship clash sees Ardfield eager to build on last year’s marvellous Beamish Cup run. The latter lost on penalties to Clonakilty Soccer Club following a thrilling 3-3 draw in the 2025 cup decider at Turner’s Cross. An Aultagh B side with only two league wins will start as outsiders. Aultagh will turn to Luke Chambers and Senan O’Sullivan but Sean Lawless, Conor Twomey and Sam Linehan should inspire Ardfield to victory. Prediction: Ardfield.

Bunratty United v Clonakilty Soccer Club – The visitors’ bid for a third consecutive Beamish Cup trophy begins with an awkward trip to Town Park in Schull. Premier Division champions Clonakilty will need to be at their best against a Bunratty side they defeated 4-1 in last season’s semi-final. United’s in-form Conor Brosnan and Eoin O’Brien will require careful marking, as will Clon’s Chris Collins and Joe Edmead. Drinagh Rangers B await the winners. Prediction: Clonakilty Soccer Club.

Ardfield's Ben Linehan fires the ball past Clonakilty Soccer Club goalkeeper Iain O'Driscoll for his side's first goal in the 2025 Beamish Cup final at Turner's Cross.

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BEAMISH CUP ROUND 1

Bay Rovers v Castletown Celtic – One the WCL’s youngest squads, promotion-chasing Bay Rovers will hope home advantage is enough to see off Premier side Castletown at Kealkill. Rovers will turn to Fabian Wadolowski, Paddy Cronin and Ryan O’Boy for goals. Top scorer Jack O’Callaghan will lead a Castletown team that needs its strongest available lineup to avoid a cup exit. Prediction: Bay Rovers.

Spartak Mossgrove v Castlelack – Expect goals at the Auto Grass Castletownkenneigh if these second-round opponents previous meeting is anything to go by. Spartak and Castlelack played out an exciting 3-3 league draw back in October. More goals are expected when they clash in round one. Jamie Hunt and Brian Lordan are amongst Castlelack’s top scorers this term. On the opposite side, Jack Meade and Richard O’Sullivan will lead last year’s Beamish Cup quarter-finalists attack. Prediction: Spartak Mossgrove.

Skibbereen v Togher Celtic – The Baltimore Road hosts a Championship versus Premier Division round clash where the visitors start as favourites. Togher are always tough cup opponents and have pedigree after lifting the famous trophy back in 2019. Robbie Lucey, Jamie Lucey and Cathal Daly should give an improving Skibbereen plenty of problems. The hosts will look to John Hodnett, Jason Collins and Johnny Dolan for inspiration. Prediction: Togher Celtic.

Dunmanway Town v Drinagh Rangers – The Beamish Cup tie of the round will take place at The Meadows. Local rivals Dunmanway Town and Drinagh Rangers deliver goals, drama and plenty of talking points whenever they meet. This clash will be no exception. Rangers’ Barry O’Driscoll (H) and Town’s Stephen O’Donovan lead their team’s respective goal-scoring charts. This tie is too close to call and may need penalties to decide it. Prediction: Drinagh Rangers.

Aultagh Celtic v Skibbereen Celtic – The battle of the Celtics is an opportunity for two Championship clubs to go for broke and seal a Beamish Cup quarter-final berth. Skibb edged their previous league meeting 2-1 in Nedineagh. The Baltimore Road club’s Cian O’Brien and Luke O’Sullivan are on course to hit a combined 20 goals. Evan Maguire and Oisin O’Connell are regularly finding the net for Aultagh but we’ll give Skibb the nod in this one. Prediction: Skibbereen Celtic.

Can Dan Andrews and Bay Rovers go on a cup run this season?

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WOMEN’S CUP ROUND 1 (FIRST LEG)

Bandon v Drinagh Rangers – Drinagh travel to Bandon in what is a difficult start to the Canon Crowley Park club’s cup defence. Aine Collins, Roisin O’Driscoll and Rachel O’Donovan’s combined scoring prowess should deliver a Drinagh win provided they shut down Laura Brew and Francelina Marques Cabral. Prediction: Drinagh Rangers.

Mizen AFC v Dunmanway Town – High-flying Dunmanway Town will turn to Ellen Healy and Claire McSweeney for goals away to Mizen. The hosts’ Lucy Hurley recently scored five times against Sullane and will require close marking. Prediction: Dunmanway Town.

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WOMEN’S CUP ROUND 2 (FIRST LEG)

Clonakilty United v Sullane – Two teams struggling at the wrong end of the Women’s 7s league table have a chance to seal their place in the cup semi-finals over two legs. Bernadette Collins and Hannah Whelton are Clon’s likeliest scorers in a tie Sullane’s Tara Twomey and Ellen Roche will want to continue their recent scoring bursts. Prediction: Sullane.

Drinagh Rangers B v Lyre Rovers – The tie of the round takes place in Canon Crowley Park where last season’s league champions and cup runners-up, Lyre, face a tough test against Drinagh B. The latter overcame Rovers 4-3 earlier this season and another close match is expected on Sunday. Either Meadhbh Coomey (Lyre) or Kellie Doolan (Drinagh) could decide the outcome of this tie. Prediction: Lyre Rovers.

Beara United v Aultagh Celtic – Another game that’s tough to predict as both sides reached last season’s cup semi-finals. A 0-0 stalemate earlier in the season, coupled with evenly matched teams, means penalties may be needed. Expect Shannon Hanley Murphy of Beara and Aultagh’s Danielle Jackson to feature prominently. Prediction: Beara United.

CUP FIXTURES

SUNDAY, JANUARY 4TH

Beamish Cup preliminary round: 11am, Baltimore v Beara United in the Baltimore Road; 11am, Aultagh Celtic B v Ardfield in Nedineagh East, Dunmanway; 11am, Bunratty United v Clonakilty Soccer Club in Town Park, Schull.

Beamish Cup round 1: Lyre Rovers v Mizen Hob – walkover to Lyre; 11am, Bay Rovers v Castletown Celtic in Kealkill; 2pm, Spartak Mossgrove v Castlelack in Auto Grass Castletownkenneigh; 2pm, Skibbereen v Togher Celtic at the Baltimore Road; 2pm, Dunmanway Town v Drinagh Rangers at The Meadows; 2pm, Aultagh Celtic v Skibbereen Celtic.

Women’s Cup round 1 (first leg): 11am, Bandon v Drinagh Rangers in Town Park Bandon; 2pm, Mizen AFC v Dunmanway Town in Goleen Community Pitch.

Women’s Cup round 2 (first leg): 11am, Clonakilty United v Sullane; 2pm, Drinagh Rangers B v Lyre Rovers at Canon Crowley Park; 2pm, Beara United v Aultagh Celtic in Beara Community School.