Summer of Sporting Success for UCC

Pride on our chest, belief in our heart, sport in our bones. The motto of UCC’s sports strategycertainly shows the high regard in which sport is held in the University. The variety of sports on offeris a credit to the college’s commitment to community and success. The summer months are primetime for competition, and the summer just gone saw many UCC clubs and individual students thrivein many disciplines.UCC Soccer has been played at a very high standard over the years, and the UCC J2 Soccer team gotthe summer off to a cracking start defeating City Wanderers 6-1 in the City Challenge Cup. The 9 th ofJune saw the beginning of the Intervarsity’s Rowing Championship in Lough Rynn, Co Leitrim. UCC’sHugh Sutton won the Men’s intermediate 1x while Ronan Byrne was victorious in the Men’s senior1x. There was also great news for Women’s rowing, as Emily Hegarty and Tara Hanlon were selectedfor the World Cup in Poznan.Rugby in UCC has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and it continues to produce topclass players. John Hodnett was awarded The Celtic Ross Sports Star of the month award inrecognition of his performances with the Irish U20’s winning the Grand Slam. John was also awardeda Munster Academy contract for the 2019-20 season due to his excellent form for UCC, Munster Aand Ireland. The Irish U21’s Women’s hockey team competed in the Four Nations tournament inDublin, where Ireland made the final. UCC’s Hannah Humphries was on the panel for thetournament. The UCC Senior soccer team reigned supreme in the O Connell Cup to top off anunbelievable season, which saw them win The Collingwood Cup, The Munster Senior League andfinish runners up in the Beamish Cup to Avondale United. Rob Slevin of UCC was awarded MunsterSenior League Player of the year and subsequently moved to League of Ireland side, Waterford FC onloan until the end of the season.It was a magnificent summer for Irish Golf, with Shane Lowry producing a sublime performance inRoyal Portrush, but UCC’s very own Seán Desmond won the Munster Student’s Championship inTipperary by 2 shots. Seán continued his fantastic form by winning the South of Ireland OpenAmateur Championship at Lahinch in July. The World Student Games took place in Naples from the3 rd -14 th of July and the Irish Universities soccer squad included several UCC students. Rob Slevin,David Coffey, Gordon Walker, Simon Falvey, John Kavanagh, David Philips and Pierce Philips were allselected for the team which reached the quarter final, with Greg Yelverton at the helm. UCC andCork City FC’s Ciara MacNamara was chosen for the women’s University team, and they got off to afantastic start defeating the defending champions Brazil 1-0. Unfortunately, the Irish women’s teamwere narrowly defeated by Russia on penalties in the bronze medal match.On 6 th of July, UCC Student Grace Furlong competed in the Irish U23 Athletics Championships. Shecame 1 st in the Triple Jump with a distance of 11.75m. Louise Shanahan of UCC represented Irelandat the European U23 Athletics Championship in Sweden in July. In late July and August, it isimpossible to avoid the hype and excitement around the GAA Championship. UCC GAA is one of thebiggest clubs within the college, and many UCC GAA members enjoyed great success. The CorkMen’s U20 team produced an unbelievable comeback in the Eirgrid All Ireland Final against Dublin tobe crowned Champions. Dublin raced into a 1-6 lead without reply before Cork hit back with 3 quickfire goals before half time to win on a score line of 3-16 to 1-14. UCC students Brian Hartnett, JackMurphy, Colm O’ Callaghan, Colm Barrett, Ian Giltinan and Mark Cronin were all involved in thesquad. Kerry were victorious in the U20 B All Ireland Hurling Championship, beating Downcomprehensively 3-22 to 0-12. Two UCC Students, Liam Twomey and Gearoid Fennessy started onthe Kerry team. The 2018/19 season was very successful for the UCC Cricket Club who reached thequarter finals of the Inter-varsities and the final of both the Cork T20 Cup and the Munster Division 2T20 Blast, topping the league stage with an incredible 7 wins in 8 games.UCC and their sports teams pride themselves on dedication and learning. The chemistry andrelationships created through sport, plays a huge role in the success and achievements earned bythe students involved. Incoming first years are always encouraged to join teams, as there is anincredible variety to choose from, and the new energy brought to the club drives the presentathletes to strive for better. It is these new students that keep the future of the clubs alive.