Cobh News April 12th

Brendan laid to rest

A sad day on Monday, as Brendan Mooney — the greatest sports journalist in my humble opinion that ever put a pen to paper in this country — was laid to rest in Passage West. There was a huge gathering at his funeral mass at St Patricks Mt Oval, from many sports, but mostly athletics a sport he himself excelled in.

The mass was so emotional and so uplifting and consoling for his wife Ann and family members who lost a loving husband, his mother's son too ill to attend, a loving father, grandfather, brother and deeply mourned by many relatives, and friends. The tone was set by his loving daughter Joanne, whose heart rending eulogy, captivated the attention of a packed church, keeping them enthralled in giving a personal insight into the many facets of his life.

Again, in my humble opinion, it was the best I've ever listened to. Fr Sean led the mass with total professionalism Joined by Fr John of Rochestown and The retired bishop John Buckley was also present. I was privileged to preach the homily. 

Brendan left us after a short illness patiently borne Ann told me. Brendan is a huge loss to his family and to all who knew him for his factual and unbiased reporting, in all the sports he covered from boxing to cycling, GAA and especially athletics. I was privileged to have been with him at many Olympics, World Championships and European championships.

I know, especially at the Olympics, he worked around the clock, to get the copy into the Evening Echo and Examiner, always a deadline to meet. After completing each story he could spend 2 hours or more relaying it back to the office, often on a faulty phone line, with a lady on the other side struggling to get the proper spelling of the foreign names in particular. It's so much easier now. He always got his work done without complaint. 

For me in my profession doubling up as a journalist and photographer it was his deep faith that made a huge impression on me. The first question he would always ask, was when was I saying mass on Sunday. I could go on and on and that would take me hours. I leave for Dublin on Tuesday to go to Boston on Wednesday for the Marathon on Easter Monday. I will meet up with Joe Brice the first of the 25 athletes I was associated with, who got athletic scholarships to US universities.

Joe went to the University of Lowell outside Boston. Brendan wrote many stories of his progress in the Discus and shot putt., which he did for so many more budding aspiring sportspeople long before they reached the top of their sports and he took a personal interest in every one of them, I know so many who are indebted to him especially when they needed him most, when things were not going well. 

We are all so indebted to him for his calm and compassionate demeanour and the joy which exuded from his charming personality, with that reassuring, calming smile. 

The presence of former Presidents Ronnie Long and Liam Hennessy included was uplifting. Present too were work colleagues including Billy George and Jim O'Sullivan, John Mullvahill, and Frank Greally, Irish Runner magazine. Olympians I noticed included Sonia O'Sullivan and her dad John, Donie Walsh, Derval O'Rourke, Rob Heffernan, Noel Berkeley Dermot and Deirdre Nagle who travelled from Dublin, John Buckley John Walshe and a host of local sports enthusiasts, who joined the many others who came to a bid a fond farewell.

Rest gently dear friend, rejoice with your maker, you loved so much, your name is written in the book of life and it will always be written in our hearts.

Ryan makes it a century of park runs

Congratulations to Ryan on reaching a milestone 100 parkruns a fantastic achievement. Ryan has been coming to parkrun since we started and every week he lights up the track with his smile and enthusiasm. Ryan is joined every week by his brother Chris and his sister Holly also comes along to support. Ryan's parents both volunteer regularly at parkrun so it really has become a family affair. Well done Ryan!!!

Basketball

Amy off to Wales to play for Ireland

Amy Duggan @cobhbasketball front row 3rd from the right pictured with @basketball_ireland ☘️ 𝗨𝟭𝟴 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺, en route to Wales. 

💫 Special shoutout to Lucy Coogan & Sarah Hickey, who are both celebrating their 18th birthday today on the way to the Four Nations. 

CLBB Ladies Senior / Premier League

While our male teams were involved in championship fare over the weekend, our Senior / Premier ladies had back-to-back league fixtures with Crosshaven and Brunell.

First stop was a trip across the harbour to Crosshaven on Sunday night. Having beaten Crosshaven in the home fixture, the ladies were hoping to complete the double in this senior league game. Lots of opportunities were missed at the start of the game and it took a while for the Cobh girls to get into their rhythm. With Jane Palmer in inspired form it wasn’t long before Cobh were marking up the scores. Jane hit the first eight points for Cobh including six out of six free throws. A three pointer from Anna Ring saw Cobh lead 11-8 at the end of the first quarter.

Mia Tarrant and Dara Diggin added baskets at the start of the second quarter and Cobh soon stretched into a commanding lead. The second half was a similar story with Cobh combining to score some beautiful baskets and remain in control of the contest. Dara Diggin was the game’s dominant player and had a season-high of 28 points. It was also a season-high 15 points for Jane Palmer, so all in all a very impressive win on the road for the Cobh girls. 

Monday night saw the girls at home to Brunell in a Premier League game. The away game in early March had seen Cobh come away with a narrow six point win in the Parochial Hall. Orlaith Finn open the scoring for Cobh. 7 points from Eimear Diggin were added to with a three pointer from Dara Diggin and a basket from Jane Palmer to give Cobh a 20-12 first quarter lead. 

Brunell faster way back into the game at the start of the second half quarter and with the call scoring drying up, the lead was cut to 26-23 at the interval. 

Three pointers from Orla and Darragh got Cobh back on track at the start of the second half and with the girls running in some lovely layups, they took control of the game and an 18-3 quarter saw Cobh lead 44-26 at the end of the third. 

Zara Smith added 4 points in the last quarter to increase the lead. With Anna Ring and Amy Morrissey playing excellent defence, Cobh got many opportunities to fast break and it was great to see Mia Tarrant getting some minutes under her belt as she continues her rehab from illness. Over the two games Eimear Diggin showed great composure in the point guard role and a 51 point total from her sister Dara shows what a talent she can be. Orlaith Finn is starting to get the scores her work rate deserves. Two good wins. 

Team: Mia Tarrant, Amy Morrissey, Anna Ring, Orlaith Finn, Dara Diggin, Eimear Diggin, Zara Smith, Jane Palmer. 

Coach: Dominic Foster, Cathy Duggan.

Callum Walsh confidently on the move

@callum_walsh1 You’d want to be years at it and I’ve given my life to this sport sacrificed everything, I haven’t been home to see my friends and family in over 15 months and MAY 12th I’m going to demolish another opponent because of how hard I’ve worked and no man will take this from me.

Supporting Ukraine

Staff at Don Ryan Solisitors in support of the people of Ukraine wore the Ukranian colours to work in a fundraiser event and raised €500 WHICH WILL GO TO TROCHAIRE. who have partners on the ground to support the families in Ukraine

GAA Feile

Under 15 Hurlers are playing in the Feile qualifiers this Saturday 16th April at Mayfield GAA Club.They have 2 games against Castlelyons and Fr O Neills and if successful in those will play in a winners group final at 1.30.

Under 12 hurlers

Well done to the U12 Hurlers who had a hard fought narrow win against a good Brian Dillions team in terrible conditions. Thanks to Brian Dillions for their Hospitality 🟢🟡

Cobh 4 Football

Great to see the Stephen Ireland Astro Turf at Old Church Park again at the centre of the community last Week. Big thanks to Train with Trevor and Cork Sports Partnership for bringing various strands of the local community together to facilitate a hugely positive sporting/physical activity experience made this a really rewarding project to be involved in with 275 local children attending.

While we were disappointed with the support we received Politically on a national level and from the Football Association it is great to see how the facility has flourished and is now a cornerstone of the community not only in Cobh but in East Cork. 26000 people alone have used the location on google maps since it was added at the start of November.

We still have a long way to go to make this facility what it needs to be so hopefully days like this will focus attention on how important the development at old church Park has been and will be into the future for the town.

Congrats to Timmy Wilk another top class display

Ramblers lose away

FT Longford Town 2-0 Cobh Ramblers 

A goal in each half gives the home side the win tonight 

Next up for the Rams is a trip to Wexford this Friday 

Tidy towns

So not only did we have Michael & Tommy visiting Auntie Tara and getting out to do a beach clean, but we had Finn, who is visiting grandmother Mona, out doing a beach clean at Cuskinny and also making headlines in the Irish Examiner taking part in the Titanic Commemoration over the weekend in Cobh! 

Pirates

Reminder - First meeting for our 2022/23 u20s squad will take place on Thursday April 21st in the Paddocks. For further details contact Ken McNamara @ cobhpiratesu20@gmail.com