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St Brendan’s bid for the Hogan Cup

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4 years ago

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FOUR-TIME WINNERS: The Sem last won the Hogan Cup in 2017. Gavin White Cian McMahon and Patrick O'Sullivan are pictured with the trophy. Photo: Tatyana McGough

By Eamonn FitzgeraldIt is a big day for St Brendan’s College tomorrow (Thursday) as they will contest the Hogan Cup final v Naas CBS at Croke Park.

We wish all the players, management team and the parents/supporters the best of luck in this eagerly awaited decider.On the way to the final Naas CBS have been the form team, especially in the recent All-Ireland semi-final where they trounced St Jarlath’s, Tuam, the leading college in Hogan Cup victories.Jarlath’s have been by far the most successful team - winning the Hogan Cup on 12 occasions. Strangely enough Kerry colleges have fared poorly overall since the Cup was introduced in 1946. It is named after Brother Thomas Hogan, not the man who gave his name to the Hogan Stand. That was Michael Hogan and you guessed it, Thomas and Michael were brothers.The Sem won the cup on four occasions, the first in 1969 and later in 1992, 2016 and in 2017.Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, Daingean Uí Chúis won in 2014 and again in 2015. Intermediate School Killorglin won their only title in 1996 as did Coláiste na Sceilge (2009).The 2019 winners were St Michael’s College, Enniskillen and the competition was deferred since then due to COVID restrictions.

St Brendan’s are very keen to lift the trophy for 2022. Going back two years they were Munster champions in the Frewen Cup U16 and a half and were due to play St Pat’s, Navan in the All-Ireland semi-final. TV pundit Colm O’Rourke is principal of that school. Cían McMahon was captain of that Frewen team, so he will be hell bent on lifting the Hogan Cup on the Hogan Stand on St Patrick’s Day.

It is really almost the same cohort of players who are now bidding for glory. The only one of the starting 15 eligible for the Kerry minors this year is full forward Alex Hennigan.

Great battlers

Brendan’s have battled very bravely to reach this final. They were pushed to the limit in most games including that late winner especially against Coláiste na Sceilge. They had to dig deep in the semi-final against St Mary’s Magherafelt, Derry.

The sides were level going into time added on. Who would blink, not so the Sem who drove on with two late glorious points and a deserved passage to the final.

Injuries

Luke Crowley has been in and out of the team with a back injury during this campaign. He came on at the three-quarter stage in Mayo and kicked two valuable points.

He is a former Kerry minor in hurling and in football and is a current member of Declan O’Sullivan’s Kerry U20 squad. Team management and supporters will be hoping that all players will be available and fit to start including the versatile Glenflesk man Luke Crowley.

How good are Naas CBS?

I enquired from a friend in Naas very close to the Sem’s opponents. “Naas are very strong, especially down the middle. They just edged out Maynooth by one point in the Leinster final. They have never won the Hogan Cup and were runners up last time out.”

I presume the CBS has a high student enrolment considering the population of Naas, effectively a satellite town of the over populated Dublin.

“They have in the region of 1,000 students (The Sem have up to 800) and what’s more they have head-hunted good players from Eadestown, Straffan, Rajendra, Sallins and Two Mile House, all well outside their catchment area.”

St Flannan’s College, Ennis know all about that strategy. They lead the way with 21 Harty Cup hurling titles strengthened by young good hurlers from neighbouring Tipperary, Limerick and Galway.

It will be a titanic battle for the Sem to bridge that gap since their last Hogan Cup victory in 2017 pitted against a Naas CBS side bidding for their first ever such title. However, spurred on by the pandemic hiatus and their never say die spirit, particularly in the closing stages with the outcome on the balance, this Brendan’s team will battle to the end. Hopefully, they will produce the goods on the day. Good luck.

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Mastergeeha Under 12s advance to fourth round of SFAI National Cup

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7 hours ago

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15 November 2025

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Mastergeeha FC Under 12s have powered through to the fourth round of the SFAI National Cup following a decisive home victory over Killavilla from Tipperary at Kilbrean Park last Saturday.

The match, played in torrential rain, saw strong support from parents and friends despite the tough conditions.

Mastergeeha scored early, 14 minutes in, following superb build-up play.

Sean Breen in midfield delivered a through ball to Josh O’Sullivan, who found Oliver Stachowiak. Stachowiak rounded the keeper to score in the bottom right corner.


Oliver Stachowiak struck again five minutes later, pressing the opposition keeper on a kick-out to win possession and tap it home, putting Mastergeeha up 2-0.


The Mastergeeha defence was outstanding throughout the physical game, with Josh O’Sullivan, Thomas Corkery, and Nathan Cronin singled out for their composure and dominance.

Goalkeeper Ronan O’Leary was excellent in goal.

In midfield, Sean Breen and Ronan O’Neill dictated the play, while Dara O’Keeffe and Dara Burchill pressed hard on the wings.


Killavilla pulled a goal back in the 42nd minute from a free kick, making the score 2-1.


However, Oliver Stachowiak completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute.

Dara Burchill attacked down the left wing, beating the right back and slipping a ball through to Stachowiak, who ran half the field and finished clinically to secure the 3-1 victory for Mastergeeha.


Man of the Match was awarded to Oliver Stachowiak for his hat-trick performance.

The team’s overall strong defence included Nathan Cronin, Josh Sullivan, Thomas Corkery, Conor McCarthy, Aidan McGuire, and Ronan O’Leary.

The midfield and strike force were also praised for their dominating performance and work rate.


The Mastergeeha committee provided a much-appreciated spread of hot food, sandwiches, and refreshments for both teams and families after the match.


The Mastergeeha U12 Boys now advance to Round 4 of the SFAI National Cup, where they have been drawn at home to play Adare.

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Rathmore Social Action Group wins at Pride of Place awards

The Social Action Group Rathmore CLG was honoured at the All-Ireland Pride of Place community awards on Friday evening in Limerick. The scheme won the Age Friendly Communities category, with […]

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11 hours ago

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15 November 2025

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The Social Action Group Rathmore CLG was honoured at the All-Ireland Pride of Place community awards on Friday evening in Limerick.

The scheme won the Age Friendly Communities category, with Westmeath Community Development coming runner-up, along with the AgeWell group in Meath.

Cllr Martin Grady congratulated the Rathmore Social Action Group.

“As Mayor of Killarney Municipal District I want to pay a massive tribute to all participants and a massive congratulations to Rathmore,” he said “ This shows the hard work and dedication over the past 12 months and no doubt it will give them the motivation to continue on with consistent hard work and determination. They provide a great service and are a credit to themselves and the community they serve.

Judges praised the longevity of service.

“The Social Action Group are based in Rathmore and celebrate 50 years this year, testimony to a lot of hard work and persistence. What started a youth project wanting to make a different has developed into a significant service provider mainly for older people including the provision of social housing.

“The Social Action Group’s community centre Teach Íosagáin accommodates the needs of the wider community, particularly young people. It serves as a home for youth activities, including dance and disco, and is the canteen for the local secondary school. It provides a community gym, with reasonable membership fees, along with meeting rooms for wider community use. It really is the beating heart of the community,” said an official statement.

The awards, hosted by comedian and broadcaster Dermot Whelan, took place in Limerick’s Strand Hotel, with 400 community volunteers in attendance.

Sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place competition was initiated 23 years ago though a Co-operation Ireland programme to acknowledge the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers and those involved in local community development.

Two other Kerry projects were nominated for awards namely; Cúnamh Iveragh CLG and Cromane Community Council CLG.

It has grown into the largest competition recognising community development achievements on the island of Ireland.

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