THE Clona Milk Carbery U21 hurling championship finals take place this weekend as the local club season moves towards its final acts.
The U21A decider is between neighbours Bandon and Newcestown on Sunday in Ahiohill (2pm). Two sides here are the two ranked Carbery clubs at adult level too.
Champions Newcestown are hoping to defend their title, and head into the final off the back of a 2-15 to 3-9 win against Ibane Gaels in the semi-final. Ciarán O’Donovan and Niall Kelleher got the vital goals. Oisín O’Sullivan (0-8f), Patrick Twomey (0-3), Flor Kenneally, Humphrey Canty and Dan Flanagan also got on the scoresheet in their win over the Barryroe/Timoleague amalgamation.
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Bandon received a bye into the final and are bidding for their first title since 2012.
The Lilywhites can call on players from this year’s adult team that reached the county intermediate A hurling championship final, including Jack Cullinane, who was a key scorer for Joe Burke’s team. Bandon also reached the Premier 2 minor final against St Finbarr’s so would like to add another underage achievement to the 2025 list.
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The U21B final sees Ahán Gaels (a St Mary’s and Diarmuid Ó Mathúna combination) take on Clonakilty in Newcestown this Saturday (2pm). Ahán beat Kilbree in the semi-final, 3-12 to 0-13, with Mathúnas forward Caolan O’Donovan starring.
Clonakilty beat Cill Mochomóg, a Bantry and St Colum’s combination, 1-16 to 1-13 in the quarter-finals before they received a walkover from Kilbrittain in the semis.
The Black and Amber did not fulfill the fixture last Sunday because of ‘health and safety concerns’ for their players. The club played a Munster junior hurling semi-final the day before, winning away against Limerick outfit Knockaderry.
On the club’s X page, Kilbrittain commented: ‘Having consulted with the players and management of our U21 team, we will not be fulfilling today’s fixture due to health and safety concerns for our players who played the Munster semi final yesterday.
It is not fair for us to ask our players to represent us again today.’
Clon’s main players from their quarter-final were top scorer Fionn McCarthy (0-8), Jack Byerley (0-4), James Costello (1-1), Oisín Hassett, Fergal Murphy and Matt Murphy. For either Clon or Ahán Gaels, a win would be a massive boost for the future with their adult clubs competitive in the divisional junior A grade.
Also, the U21C game sees Dohenys host Randal Óg on Saturday (1pm). The Dunmanway club saw off St James in the semi-final by 3-16 to 3-15, while Randals beat O’Donovan Rossa, 3-11 to 2-3.
