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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Carrigaline have 'big belief' but must focus on first day out, insists Chris O'Herlihy
2023 saw the fall of Carrigaline from the top-table of Cork club football. 2024 would be the year of their climb. Their demotion to Senior A at the end of '23 came about after a replay loss to Mallow, but only a few months later, a Division 1 league crown was harvested by beating Nemo Rangers. From there, the desire to get back up playing Premier Senior at the first opportunity was evident. And on they marched. Their nail-biting dispatch of Kanturk on penalties in the semi-final gave them a shot at putting right what went wrong a year earlier, and they booked their immediate return to the top grade with a two-point win over Knocknagree in the decider. "It was a very special year," said Carrigaline's Chris O'Herlihy. "We had a very good league campaign which set us up nicely for the senior A championship. "It was a very tough competition as well, so we were just glad to get over the line there." While - on paper - the league didn't go according to plan for the Carrigdhoun outfit in 2025, O'Herlihy insists some factors played into that. The integration of youth has been a positive aspect of the campaign, too. Chris O'Herlihy, Carrigaline, at the McCarthy Insurance Group 2025 Cork Club Football Championship launch, at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Pic: Jim Coughlan. "It was a tough league. We were down and few players and we had a few injuries along the way, but we definitely took a few learnings, and a lot of young players came through. We're happy with where we're at now." O'Herlihy and his Michael Meaney-managed Carrigaline side won't have it easy on their mission to make an impression on their return to Premier Senior level. A group containing Carbery Rangers, Clonakilty and St Finbarr's awaits. "We're going to try and build on last year, we have a very good test this weekend against Carbery (Rangers)," said defender O'Herlihy. "We'll just focus on that, hopefully get a result and push on from there. "If you lose the first game, you're under serious pressure straight away. That's been our big focus really, the first game. All the team are very good, Carbery (Rangers) will be a very tough test." Eyes fixed on an extended run into the latter stages of the competition? O'Herlihy insists they can't afford to take their vision off the here and now. "We have big belief in ourselves, but we haven't been looking that far ahead. We're just focused on the group, focused on the first game. We'll move onto Clon from there." The 2024 league final win was significant for the club as a whole, but particularly for one debutant. Cork senior footballer Brian O'Driscoll - having transferred from West Cork outfit Tadgh MacCarthaigh - made his Carrigaline bow that day. The West Cork native has had a major impact on the camp. "He was huge for us last year, not just the way he was playing, but his professionalism and experience definitely added a lot to us. "It was a huge help to us last year, competing in Senior A and getting over the line in the end, so it's great to have him," O'Herlihy concluded.
Otago Daily Times
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Club semifinal time
Michael Minty previews today's Dunedin golf Senior A Metropolitan semifinals. Last year's finalists are on a collision course to meet again in the 2025 edition of the Senior Metropolitan pennant series final. St Clair Saints and Otago Bombers will host Otago B52s and Chisholm Links today respectively, finishing 1st and 2nd on the ladder with clear air back to the chasing pack. At St Clair Golf Club St Clair Saints v Otago B52s 1. Parker Aluesi v Brian Helton 2. Logan Clarke v Lachlan Coutts 3. Jake Bleach v Lewis Harper 4. Connor Howes v George Prendergast 5. Albie Reed v Andrew Hobbs 6. Tony Giles v Isaac Hobbs This year has been a coming of age for the St Clair Saints, with the introduction of new young faces which resulted in a remarkable season with 10 wins from 10 games — a statistic that is a rare feat in Senior A pennants. The Otago B52s comfortably finished 4th in the end despite a mixed-bag season with different line ups week to week. Despite this they have had some positive individual performances, and veterans like Brian Helton and Andrew Hobbs will spearhead their chances against a red-hot Saints side. However, they will have to be at their absolute best in their matches against Parker Aluesi and Albie Reed respectively, with St Clair looking particularly strong from 1-6, while Connor Howes (Saints) jumps into a provincial rep match with Southland's George Prendergast. With the target being 3.5 games, it is hard to see the B52s upsetting the form side of the competition. A good result for them might be scraping a couple of games — we expect to see the Saints comfortably through to the big dance. Prediction: 5-1 Saints. At Otago Golf Club Otago Bombers v Chisholm Links 1. Callum Judkins v John McIntee 2. Luke Murdoch v Kai Koni 3. Ryan Rosevear v Mike Weastell 4. Ben Patston v Mackenzie Gibson 5. Duncan Croudis v Luke Worthington 6. Brandon Hodgson v Jason Pegler This match looks an absolute ripper on paper. The visiting Chisholm Links have been building nicely, and playing at Balmacewen holds no fears, particularly if the weather cuts up rough. The Bombers have had one of their better round robins — only to be overshadowed by an outstandingly rare season from the Saints, who inflicted both their two losses. On paper, you could make a case for every match going either way, with maybe a couple of matches equally favouring both sides. If the match goes down to the wire, the Links have former Balmacewen member John McIntee up against Callum Judkins at No 1. McIntee has been in fine fettle and will be hard to beat, while Duncan Croudis and Luke Murdoch perhaps look the Bombers' best chances. The battles at 3, 4 and 6 could be anyone's and are likely to go at least 17 holes, so expect a half or 2. With that being said, we see this heading to extra holes, and as usual the home side finishing the better. Prediction: 3-3 (Bombers in play-off)
