West Cork teams qualify for Munster semi-finals

Both U12 and U13 inter-league squads through to last four

THE West Cork Schoolboys U12 and U13 Inter-Leagues have qualified for the last four of this year’s inaugural Subway SFAI Munster Plate competitions.

Last Sunday was one of the most memorable in WCSL Inter-League history with Shane Hurley’s U12 and Danny McQueen’s U13 squads registering victories in their respective Munster Plate quarter-finals.

The SFAI’s decision to introduce a new knockout competition for any schoolboy leagues that failed to reach the Munster championship semi-finals has reinvigorated West Cork’s Emerging Talent Programme (ETP). 

West Cork U12s travelled to Moneygall for a Plate quarter-final meeting with North Tipperary last Sunday after finishing fourth in their provincial group behind Cork United, Waterford and West Waterford East Cork.  

Taking on a North Tipp side on their home ground was no easy task but this group of U12 players has improved with every match and registered a hard-earned 4-3 win to progress to the semi-finals. 

Cillian O’Mahony (2), Prince Iyalla and Charlie McShane found the net for West Cork and set-up a last four meeting with West Waterford East Cork (WWEC), who overcame Limerick County 1-0 in their quarter-final. The WCSL and WWEC’s tie promises to be a cracking encounter as the sides drew 1-1 earlier in the campaign. 

The West Cork Schoolboys U12 Inter-League squad included Billy Curtin (Castlelack), Brian Horgan (Togher Celtic), Sam Bailey (Lyre Rovers), Tom O’Connor (Bantry Bay Rovers), Caolan O’Driscoll (Dunmanway Town), Prince Iyalla (Clonakilty AFC), Eoin Hurley (Drinagh Rangers), Charlie McShane (Ardfield), Keith McCarthy (Dunmanway Town), Eoin Bowden (Bantry Bay Rovers), Sean Murphy (Dunmanway Town), Eli Reynolds (Bantry Bay Rovers), Eoin O’Brien (Bunratty United), Timmy Cullinane (Lyre Rovers) and Cillian O’Mahony (Castlelack).On the same afternoon West Cork’s U12s registered a marvellous inter-league knockout victory, the region’s U13 squad matched their younger counterparts with an equally impressive result. 

Taking on Limerick County in the SFAI Munster U13 Plate quarter-finals, Danny McQueen’s side made it a memorable afternoon by winning 3-1 to make it through to the last four of the knockout competition.

Goals from Edward Myers, Sam Pickering and Tom McQueen ensured the WCSL’s Inter-League campaign would continue with an upcoming semi-final against South Tipperary. 

That should be an occasions to savour as the sides played out an entertaining 1-1 draw on January 14th. 

The West Cork Schoolboys U13 Inter-League squad inlcudes Conor Whelton (Ardfield), Conor O’Sullivan (Lyre Rovers), Mikey Orpen (Beara United), Callum McElhinney (Bantry Bay Rovers), Dan Andrews (Bantry Bay Rovers), Tom McQueen (Drinagh Rangers), Sam Pickering (Leeside), Edward Myers (Sullane), Tom Ryan-Purcell (Bunratty United), Tommy O’Sullivan (Bantry Bay Rovers), Fabian Wadolowski (Bantry Bay Rovers), Colm Hayes (Ardfield) and James McKnight (Bunratty United).