HON THE LITTLE VILLAGE

Newcestown GAA’s X account is always good value for money. We’re still working out the nicknames – Badger, Rocky, Moose, Claw, and the rest of the gang – but the message posted in the aftermath of the heartbreaking PSFC semi-final loss to Nemo hit the nail on the head. It read: ‘Not our day today but the performance that these men have put in today and for the championship is a credit to them. What a team.’ Bang on the money – Newcestown were the breath of fresh air in this championship, the outsider who threatened to upset The Big Three. In fact, they did. Newcestown beat Castlehaven, and that had repercussions. They also rattled Nemo big-time on Sunday, losing by a single point, 2-14 to 0-19, after extra-time. The challenge now is to go again in 2026. Someone has to break the monopoly of The Big Three – why not Newcestown?

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RISING TIDE LIFTS ILEN

This is a rare good story in an otherwise challenging season for West Cork clubs – Ilen Rovers will take on Ballinora in the McCarthy Insurance Group Intermediate A Football final on Sunday, November 2nd, at Páirc Uí Chaoimh (1.30pm). In fact, Ilen are the only West Cork club involved in a county football final, flying the flag in an otherwise forgettable season for local clubs (apart from Newcestown, to be fair). Ilen’s rise this season is even more noteworthy considering their freefall through the grades in recent years – they went from the premier senior grade in 2021 to the fourth tier this season. But they steadied the ship, and turned it around. Unbeaten in five championship games, and having defeated Mitchelstown and Adrigole in the knock-out rounds, Flor O’Driscoll’s men are now one win away from a county title. This will also be Ilen’s first county football final since 2007.

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ROSS REELING

Carbery Rangers’ relegation to the Senior A ranks is going to hurt. They have competed in the top level of club football in the county for 20 years, and there was that magical season in 2016 when Rangers won the biggest prize in Cork club football. The reality is Ross have slipped in recent seasons, fighting to survive rather than competing for the title. Without a group-stage win in the Premier SFC since August 2022, Rangers’ results simply haven’t been good enough. They side-stepped the trapdoor last season, surviving the relegation play-off, but their luck ran out when they lost this season’s relegation play-off to Valley Rovers (1-16 to 1-10). Ross had been in control in the drawn game, but let a seven-point lead slip in the second half – that will sting, too. The silver lining is there is a chance to get back to winning ways at Senior A level, and build momentum from there.

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LAZARUS ALIVE AND WELL

Star reporter Tom Lyons had an interesting weekend – he saw Lazarus not once, but twice, as he covered both Carbery junior A football semi-finals. These were two extra-time epics that saw both winners, Kilmacabea on Friday night and St Mary’s the following day, battle back from big deficits to eventually triumph. Kilmacabea were down eight early in the second half against Kilbrittain, and were five behind with six minutes left, but fought back to earn extra-time where they won 1-25 to 0-16. Tom Lyons, who has watched more local games than most, described this thriller as ‘one of the greatest ever seen’ in the division. High praise, indeed. Mary’s actually trailed Tadhg MacCarthaigh by ten at half time, but dug deep to force extra time and eventually win 2-17 to 0-21.