State of Play - UCC Sports Round Up & Cluichí Gaelacha
By Mark Cooper & Orla Leahy
Le deireadh an tséasúir do na clubanna CLG bheith ag teannadh linn, bíonn breacadh nua i bhfoirm cluichí CLG na hollscoile. Is é sin le rá toisc go mbíonn na coirn éagsúla: Corn Mhic Shigiúir, Corn Mhic Ghiobúin, Corn Ashbourne, agus Corn Uí Chonchúir ar fad le bheith ann i rith na míosa seo chugainn, beidh níos mó ná 50 imreoirí ag iarraidh seans a fháil an bhlaosc agus croschnáma a chaitheamh sna comórtais sin.
Ag Comórtas Mhic Shigiúir na bliana seo, beidh iarbhainisteoir peile Chorcaí, Brian Cuthbert, ag iarraidh cúiteamh a dhéanamh ina chéad bhliain. Bhí díomá mór ag baint leis an bhfeachtas a bhí ag an Ollscoil anuraidh mar theip orthu sa réamhbhabhta is bhí siad amach as an gcomórtas go hana-luath ar fad don chéad uair le fada. Níl aon dabht ach go mbeidh tionchar mór ag taithí Billy Morgan ar chúrsaí caide na foirne; ar bhonn áitiúil is náisiúnta, mar imreoir agus mar bhainisteoir ina phost mar roghnóir ar an bhfoireann i mbliana. Bhí an chéad chluiche ag Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh in aghaidh Ollscoil Luimnigh ar 26ú lá de Dheireadh Fhómhair, agus bhuaigh na fir ó Luimneach le cuúilín amháin.
Beidh jab deacair ag iarbhainisteoir mhionúirí Chorcaí, Joe O’Carroll, chun dul céim níos faide le foireann an Choláiste i gCorn Uí Chonchúir, toisc gur bhuaigh Ollscoil Luimnigh orthu sa chraobh anuraidh le cúilín aonarach amháin. De bharr go bhfuil foireann fhíorthréitheach ag an gColáiste i mbliana beidh mná na Mairdíge ag troid go bás ag barr an tábla arís. Beidh an fhoireann ag brath ar na himreoirí is óige as an mbliain seo caite agus ar an dtaithí atá acu mar chabhair do mheascán d’imreoirí tréitheacha nua as an bhfeachtas iontach de chuid na bhfreisear anuraidh. Le bua ionatch in aghaidh Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál an tseachtain seo chaite, mar a deirtear, tús maith leath na h-oibre!
Maidir le foireann Chorn Mhic Ghiobúin, tá Tom Kingston ar bís an bhlaosc agus croschnámha a thabhairt chun barr an tábla maidir leis an iománaíocht tríú leibhéil. Tar éis 2 bhua bheith acu sa bhliain 2019 agus 2020, bhí díomá ag baint lena bhfeachtas anuraidh nuair a thit siad in aghaidh DJ Carey is a fhoireann ag an gcluiche ceathrú ceannais. An bhliain seo, bíonn brú láidir faoi lán tseoil chun na botúin den séasúr seo caite a cheartú, agus cuimhní nua a chruthú. Ní féidir le héinne bheith cinnte maidir le painéal an Choláiste ach beidh siad féin dóchasach go maith. Tar éis bua cinntitheach Céadaoin seo chaite in aghaidh Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Oirdheiscirt Port Lairge i gcluiche sraithe, beidh na h-iománaithe lán le muinín.
Maidir leis an gCorn Ashbourne leis an liathróid bheag, beidh mná COC ag iarraidh díoltas a imirt ar DCU de bharr gur bhuaigh siadsan orthu tar éis am breise anuraidh is lean DCU orthu sa chomórtas chun an corn a thabhairt leo. Tá Emmett Fennell ina bhainisteoir i mbliana, agus ní phost éasca a mbeadh aige. Tá an comórtas buaite ag COC 35 uair is beidh fonn nach beag ar gach éinne an corn a thabhairt leo i mbliana. Tá an chuid is mó de phainéal na bliana seo caite ann fós is cabhróidh an taithí sin go mór leo i mbliana. Chaill na mná amach in aghaidh Ollscoil Luimnigh ar an Máirt seo chaite le cheithre chúilín. Mar sin féin, cluiche cóngrach a bhí ann, agus tá sé lua go fóil sa séisúir. Le Orlaith Kelliher agus Emma Murphy ag imirt príomhpháirt, níl aon dabht ach go bhfuil seans maith ag na mná sa chomórtas.
Rugby
With the appointment of Michael Bradley as head coach of UCC for 2022/23 (The 150th anniversary of UCC Rugby), there was hope the former Connaught, Edinburgh and Zebre man could bring new life to the programme in the University. With the addition of former Irish internationals Paul McCarty and Ken O’ Connell to the coaching staff, there was a real sense of optimism as UCC entered into the ‘Energia All Ireland League’ campaign with a clean slate, having dropped into the second division (1B) of the competition following last season.
The first block of fixtures has been extremely positive, with three strong performances on the bounce earning victories against Malone and City of Armagh as well as an impressive comeback win against St. Mary’s College from only this past Saturday. Cian Bohane crossed twice for the second weekend in a row, with James Taylor converting both, as well as Richard Cassidy’s try to take the Students into the lead. The UCC men stayed strong in the final phases, as the legs tired, to avoid giving away a penalty and allowing Mary’s to take the win. A satisfied Bradley stated after the match that he would love to see some serious support behind his charges in the coming months as they seek to keep their momentum going; “Hopefully, there’s a good feeling now in the club, people are enjoying it and wouldn’t it be great to get crowds to fill the Mardyke?”
Commendation is also in order for UCC Quercus scholar Edwin Edogbo who well and truly justified his selection in the Munster starting line-up against the Bulls, following three spritely substitute appearances. With three carries in the first eight minutes, there was no doubt that Edogbo was enjoying himself on the big occasion. The UCC player even went close to a try on 35 minutes, before reloading and heaving Gavin Coombes over the line for a settling score that helped push Munster towards victory. All at the University are incredibly proud of our Quercus scholar, and have no doubt there are even bigger occasions ahead for the talented nineteen-year-old.
The annual U20 Conroy Cup will also bring a wealth of talent as it returns to ‘The Farm’ on Curraheen Road this year, with UCC going toe to toe with the likes of Trinity, UCD and Queen’s, and should make for an exciting weekend of competition.
Soccer
Having won the Collingwood Cup three times in a five-year spell between 2015 and 2019, a tough draw for UCC away to UCD resulted in a 3-0 quarter final ending to the 2022 campaign after the 2020 campaign was cancelled due to the pandemic. The College will be looking to regain their position to the fore of third-level soccer this year, with the successes of Cork City FC sure to inspire a fresh generation of university footballers. This past week, UCC secured a hat-trick of impressive victories, with a 5-1 win over TUS Midlands in the CUFL Premier Division, a storming 12-0 rout in the CUFL Division 3 also against TUS Midlands, as well as a 5-0 D4 victory against Kerry College. The future is most certainly bright right down through the ranks of UCC soccer. The women’s soccer team are also in flying form, taking a well-deserved victory over local rivals MTU Cork in torrential conditions on Wednesday last. The eyes of the players and management will be on the Intervarsity Kelly Cup, with the squad looking to go all the way this season.
Sailing
The Irish Universities Sailing Association competed in the Ride’r Cup against the British Universities S.A this month, with co-captain and UCC Quercus Scholar Johnny Durcan leading the Irish contingent to a 14-7 victory. It is always a source of pride to see our elite athletes making strides on the international stage. A massive congratulations to all involved, including our other seven UCC Sailing members who played a massive part in the competition.
Rowing
With newly appointed College coach Sanita Puspure winning a bronze medal in the World Rowing Championships held this Autumn in the Czech Republic, she has most certainly set the standard for the students under her care at the UCC Rowing Club. With medical student Paul O’Donovan once again displaying his world-dominating talent taking a gold medal, as well as a bronze for Mags Cremen and Aoife Casey. With Puspure’s guidance and wealth of experience, one has no doubt even more talent will continue to progress through to the top-level of the sport.