BEARA United were crowned the 2025 Club of the Year at the West Cork Schoolboys and Schoolgirls League and Academy Awards in the Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery.

Beara took home the coveted award that recognised their on-going efforts – on and off the field – in promoting football throughout their local area.

Described as an all-round, multifaceted award, Beara won because of its exponential growth, participation across multiple age groups and increased Academy representation.

There were many great stories from the night, including Castlelack striker Jack Allen winning four awards including the overall WCSSL Martin Briscoe Player of the Year accolade. The Brinny-based striker claimed the WCSSL Player of the Year, U15 Schoolboys Player of the Year, U15 Academy Player of the Year and Academy (overall) Player of the Year awards.

The WCSSL Committee organised a superb event with David Hall expertly composing the evening’s proceedings in front of a large attendance.

Other schoolboys Player of the Year winners included Lyre Rovers’ Sonny Crowley (U12), Dunmanway Town’s Danny Carroll (U13), Skibbereen’s Fiachra Garrett (U14) and Bay Rovers’ Con Desmond (U16).

The past season’s outstanding schoolgirls footballers were also highlighted. Ella Murray (Riverside) and Matilda Kaiser (Drinagh) shared the U12 Player of the Year award, both were outstanding for their respective clubs. The same is true of Clonakilty’s Eirinn Coppinger (U13), Sullane’s Lily Scannell (U14) and Drinagh’s Sarah Buttimer (U16).

Castlelack’s Isabella Santos was a popular winner of the newly-introduced Schoolgirls Goalkeeper of the Year trophy.

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As well as individual players, the WCSSL also took time to pay tribute to its region’s volunteers, teams and clubs. 

Castlelack U15 schoolboys and Drinagh Rangers U16 schoolgirls shared this season’s Team of the Year accolade. Both teams registered league and cup ‘double-doubles’ during 2025, underlining their quality.

Last season, Lyre Rovers reached the U14 Schoolboys Cup final. Their opponents, Clonakilty AFC, were unable to play on the designated date at MTU Cork. Rather than claim the cup via a walkover victory, Lyre insisted on rescheduling the match so that the final could go ahead. Rovers won 3-0 and, as a result, were worthy winners of this year’s Fair Play Award.

Also five players from the West Cork Academy were honoured. The Academy’s U12 Schoolboys Player of the Year is Daniel Brady (Riverside), while other awards were presented to Danny Carroll (Dunmanway Town), U13 Schoolboys; Max Bramoulle (Dunmanway), U14 Schoolboys; Jack Allen (Castlelack), U15 Schoolboys; and Oisin McCarthy (Dunmanway Town), U16 Schoolboys. The overall winner was Jack Allen.

Clonakilty AFC’s Sam Doherty and Riverside’s Michael Burgoyne were deserving recipients of the Club Volunteer of the Year trophies. Both Sam and Michael have given many years dedicated service to their league and respective clubs.

Niall O’Donovan received the Referee of the Year award on the same evening Matthew Craig (Castlelack) and Eileen and Niall Hurley (Togher Celtic) shared the 2025 Coach of the Year trophies.

One of the evening’s most poignant moments was the announcement of a Special Recognition Award for the late Patrick Hurley. The long serving and highly respected referee passed away at Marymount University Hospital and Hospice at the beginning of January. The well-known West Cork League and West Cork Schoolboys and Schoolgirls League referee is sadly missed. No-one would have been prouder to accept such a prestigious award for his many years of dedicated service than the late Patrick Hurley.

The full list of winners is as follows:

2025 West Cork Schoolboys and Schoolgirls League Player of the Year winners – U12 Schoolboys, Sonny Crowley (Lyre Rovers); U13 Schoolboys, Danny Carroll (Dunmanway Town); U14 Schoolboys, Fiachra Garrett (Skibbereen AFC); U15 Schoolboys, Jack Allen (Castlelack); U16 Schoolboys, Con Desmond (Bay Rovers). U12 Schoolgirls, Ella Murray (Riverside Athletic) and Matilda Kaiser (Drinagh Rangers); U13 Schoolgirls, Eirinn Coppinger (Clonakilty AFC); U14 Schoolgirls, Lily Scannell (Sullane); U16 Schoolgirls, Sarah Buttimer (Drinagh Rangers); Schoolgirls Goalkeeper of the Year, Isabella Santos (Castlelack).

Coach of the Year: Mathew Craig (Castlelack) and Eileen and Kevin Hurley (Togher Celtic). 

Volunteers of the Year: Sam Doherty (Clonakilty AFC) and Michael Burgoyne (Riverside Athletic). 

Fair Play Award: Lyre Rovers U14. 

Teams of the Year: Drinagh Rangers U16 Schoolgirls and Castlelack U15 Schoolboys. 

Club of the Year: Beara United. 

Special Recognition Award: Patrick Hurley (Posthumously). 

Referee of the Year: Niall O’Donovan.

2025 West Cork Academy Players of the Year Award winners – Academy U12 schoolboys, Daniel Brady (Riverside Athletic); Academy U13 schoolboys, Danny Carroll (Dunmanway Town); Academy U14 schoolboys, Max Bramoulle (Dunmanway Town); Academy U15 schoolboys, Jack Allen (Castlelack); Academy U16 Schoolboys, Oisin McCarthy (Dunmanway Town); Academy Player of the Year, Jack Allen (Castlelack).

Declan Deasy and Tadhg Curtin present the 2025 Volunteer of the Year to joint winners, Michael Burgoyne (Riverside) and Sam Doherty (Clonakilty). (Photo: Paddy Feen)

2025 Boys U14 Player of the Year Fiachra Garrett, Skibbereen AFC, receives his award from Declan Deasy. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Tadhg Curtin, WCSSL Treasurer, presents the 2025 Boys U13 Player of the Year award to Danny Carroll, Dunmanway Town. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Declan Deasy, WCSSL Chairman, presents the 2025 Team of the Year award to joint winners, Castlelack U15 boys, represented by Alex Bemelmans and Jack Allen. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Tadhg Curtin, West Cork Schoolboys and Schoolgirls League Treasurer, presents the 2025 Team of the Year award to joint winners, Drinagh Rangers U16 girls. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

WCSSL Treasurer Tadhg Curtin presents the 2025 Fair Play Award to the Lyre Rovers U15 team, represented by Evan McAuley. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

2025 Girls U13 Player of the Year Eirinn Coppinger (Clonakilty AFC) receives her award from Tadhg Curtin. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

WCSSL Chairman Declan Deasy presents the 2025 U15 Boys Player of the Year award to Jack Allen of Castlelack. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Tadhg Curtin and Declan Deasy present the 2025 Girls' U12 Player of the Year award to joint winners, Matilda Kaiser (Drinagh Rangers) and Ella Murray (Riverside). (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Sullane's Lily Scannell, crowned U14 Girls Player of the Year, receives her award from Declan Deasy. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Declan Deasy, WCSSL Chairman, present the 2025 Coach of the Year award to joint winner Mathew Craig, Castlelack FC. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Declan Deasy presents the 2025 Boys U12 Player of the Year award to Sonny Cowley, Lyre Rovers. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Tadhg Curtin presents the 2025 Girls U16 Player of the Year award to Sarah Buttimer (Drinagh Rangers). (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Isabella Santos (Castlelack FC) was presented with the Schoolgirls Goalkeeper of the Year award by Declan Deasy. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Tadhg Curtin, WCSSL treasurer, presents the 2025 Coach of the Year award to joint winners, Eileen and Kevin Hurley (Togher Celtic). (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Declan Deasy, WCSSL Chairman, presents the 2025 Club of the Year award to Beara United chairperson Michael John Hanley. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

2025 Academy U12 Player of the Year Daniel Brady receives his award from Declan Deasy. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Declan Deasy presents a Special Recognition Award to Eamonn Hurley, brother of the late Patrick Hurley. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Declan Deasy presents the 2025 Academy U14 Player of the Year award to Max Bramoulle. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Declan Deasy presents the 2025 Academy U16 Player of the Year award to Oisin McCarthy. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Declan Deasy, West Cork Schoolboys and Schoolgirls League Chairman, presents the 2025 Martin Briscoe WCSSL Player of the Year award to Jack Allen. (Photo: Paddy Feen)