THE new SFAI National Inter-League season began with the West Cork Academy competing across three age-grades last weekend.

The West Cork U14 schoolboys squad got their campaign off to a winning start at home to Limerick County in Brinny on Sunday.

An entertaining Group A clash saw the home side dominate the opening half. Kingsley Osagie Crosby broke the deadlock after 14 minutes, converting from the penalty spot to edge West Cork in front. Finbarr O’Mahony doubled his team’s advantage nine minutes later. An own goal via a corner kick handed the WCSSL Academy a deserved 3-0 interval lead.

The second period saw Limerick County pull one back but West Cork saw out the remaining time to register a terrific 3-1 triumph. Eli Zabala, Danny Carroll, Ryan Crowley and Finbarr O’Mahony were the pick of the winners’ best performers.

Limerick Desmond and Kerry are the other two counties in West Cork’s group. Next month’s Group A visit to Kerry precedes December’s home clash against Limerick Desmond.

The West Cork Academy U14 schoolboys squad includes Eli Zabala, Aodhan O’Mahony, Conor Collins, Danny Carroll, Dylan O’Brien, Ed Hough, Donagh Griffin, Finbarr O’Mahony, Kingsley Osagie Crosby, Ryan Crowley Healy, Rory Hurley, Jack Horgan, Charlie Daly, Sam Kingston, Tristan Hayes, Daniel O’Sullivan, Ben Machie, Rocco O’Reilly Bermueller and Caden Walsh.

West Cork's U13 Academy schoolboys squad that were defeated by Kerry Schoolboys in the opening round of the SFAI National U13 Schoolboys Inter-League.

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Killarney was the venue for Friday evening’s West Cork Academy U13 Schoolboys SFAI National inter-League opening tie.

Home team Kerry were the opponents and dominated the encounter despite West Cork enjoying large spells of possession. Creating the greater number of chances, Kerry scored twice in the opening half and added three more in the second period for a deserved 5-0 win.

Limerick Desmond and Cork United are the other two counties in Group B. The West Cork U13s will host Limerick in mid-November before wrapping up their opening phase away to Cork the following month.

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Three of the West Cork Academy’s Schoolboys fledgling squads were also on the pitch last weekend. A friendly away to Cork Schoolboys League club Ringmahon Rangers saw the academy’s youngest U10 recruits get their first taste of action on Saturday.

Clonakilty Rugby Club hosted a double-header of SFAI U12 Schoolboys group games the following morning. Drawn in Group A, West Cork Academy’s U12 A team hosted Cork Athletic and were tied 0-0 at the end of an even first half. The hosts missed a first half penalty but lost 6-1 following a powerful Cork Athletic second-half display. It was still a useful opening day runout for a talented squad, who all saw game time, and will improve as the season progresses.

The West Cork Academy U12 schoolboys squad includes Ben Cronin, Morgan Coleman, Rory Murnane, Cian Twomey, Kyryl Pereviedientsev, Luke Browne, Caolan Cleary, Gavin Kerr, Gearóid Linehan, Nicholas Lynch, Arlo Rose, larlaith Rohan, Rory Harrison, Charlie Beamish, Robbie Murnane, Seán Hamilton, Ciaran O’Farrell, Daniel Kenneally, Eoin Healy, Eoghan O’Driscoll, Riley O’Leary, Stephen Hayes, Kuba Bak Bak, Cathal Ronan, Charlie Leung, Jack McCarthy and James McDonagh.

Cork United were the West Cork U12 Development team’s opposition in a Group B opener that went the way of the more experienced visiting team. A West Cork team made up of mostly U11s played well in spells with Gearoid Lenihan, Isabella Santos, Rohan Santos and Ciarán O’Farrell impressing.

The West Cork Academy U11 schoolboys squad includes Colin Ronan, Aaron O’Connor, Max Carey, Paddy Hegarty, Oisin Hourihane, Robbie O’Callaghan, Charlie O’Leary, Chris Moynihan, Isabella Santos, Rohan Santos, Zac O’Connor, Tomas Hayes, Alex Collins, Edward Kingston, Fionn Connell, Jack Hayes, Kyle McSweeney-Leitis, Ryan O’Donovan, Eolann Hayes, Fionn Connolly, Colm Buckley, Dara O’Regan and Darragh Hourihane.

The West Cork Academy's U12 development team that put in a commendable display at home to Cork United.

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Eighteen counties, split into four groups, will contest the 2025/26 SFAI U15 Schoolboys National Inter-League competition.

Galway, Mayo, Clare and the Midlands (Group A), South Belfast, Dundalk, Inishowen and Donegal (Group B), Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Carlow and Kilkenny (Group D). The West Cork Academy will compete in the Munster regional group (Group C), alongside Cork, Kerry, Limerick District and North Tipperary.

The opening round of U15 schoolboys group games is scheduled for the weekend of November 15th/16th where West Cork are pencilled in to host North Tipperary.

This season’s SFAI U16 Schoolboys Inter-League group phase has been split into four regional groups. The West Cork Academy, as part of a three-team set-up, has received a bye on the opening weekend. The Cork Schoolboys League and Limerick District will meet before the latter hosts West Cork on November 15th/16th. A local derby sees West Cork welcoming Cork in their final group outing on the first weekend of December.

Depending on where they finish, the West Cork Academy could face any of the following counties in the knockout stages early next year. Group B contains Galway, Mayo and Clare. Group C is made up of Wicklow, Wexford and the Midlands while Group D is a straight shootout between Sligo Leitrim and South Belfast over a two-legged matchup.

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The SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys and Schoolgirls League’s domestic season is winding down with only a handful of trophies to be handed out.

Kealkill was the venue for Saturday’s U16 Schoolboys Championship Trophy first leg between Bay Rovers and Dunmanway Town. Brendan Harrington’s early goal handed Rovers a 1-0 interval lead. Dominic Placzek doubled Bay’s lead after 42 minutes before an own goal handed Dunmanway Town a lifeline. A second Placzek strike wrapped up a deserved 3-1 Bay Rovers victory heading into the second leg at Dunmanway.