PICTURE SPECIAL: Clonakilty Community College mark historic Simcox Cup success

‘IT’S the first time in the history of Clonakilty Community College that we won the Simcox Cup, so it was important we marked the occasion,’ explained Micheál O’Sullivan.

Back in December, a group of young men from the Clon secondary school made history when they won the school’s first-ever Cork colleges senior football title, better known as the Simcox Cup.

The history-makers defeated Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig by 0-17 to 0-11 in the final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Seán Whelton led the charge that night, scoring 0-11, as players from Clonakilty, Carbery Rangers, Ibane Gaels, Kilmeen, St James and Ballinascarthy combined to devastating effect.

Having lost two finals in recent years, it was third time lucky for the West Cork school. And it meant a lot to everyone involved.

‘It’s a big marker for the development of these fellas,’ says O’Sullivan, manager of the Clonakilty team.

‘Because of their success with the school, it helped players graduate to Cork panels.

‘Jerry O’Leary and Mike Collins were pulled into the U20 panel, while Dylan Harrington and Sean Whelton were too, but they got injured.

‘We had five on the Cork minor panel who played in the Munster final on Monday night – Rory Twohig, Conrad Murphy, Riley O’Donovan, Tom Whooley and Fionn O’Donovan.

‘It’s a good indicator of the strength of football in the school right now.’

Current Cork footballer Maurice Shanley, a Clon man, was the special guest at his former school’s Simcox Cup medal presentation. He’s the ideal role model for young footballers in the school because he walked the same corridors on his own rise.

‘It was great to have Maurice because he went through the same regime as the lads went through. He was on our 2018 team that played in the Corn Uí Mhuiri semi-final against St Brendan’s Killarney,’ O’Sullivan explained.

‘Maurice hadn’t played minor for Cork but graduated straight to the U20 team, won an All-Ireland in 2019, went onto the senior football squad in 2020 and is still there now.

‘It’s important that these young lads can see Maurice’s story and relate to it.’

Cork footballer Maurice Shanley with Kilmeen’s Oisin Harrington, Ruairí O'Sullivan, Jason Murray, Olan Murphy, Rory Twohig and Howard O'Donovan. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Cork footballer Maurice Shanley with Clonakilty GAA Club members of Clonakilty Community College's Simcox Cup winning team. From left, Eanna Deiseach, Tom Whooley, Dylan Harrington, Fionn O'Donovan, Ewan Knowles and David Harte. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

The Clonakilty Community College team that defeated Coláiste Choilm in the Simcox Cup final. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

At the Simcox Cup medal presentation in Clonakilty Community College the Deputy Principal Anne Sheerin made a presentation to special guest Cork footballer Maurice Shanley. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Clonakilty Community College's Dylan Harrington made a presentation to coach Pat Gilmore. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

St James' Seán Whelton and Paddy Haughney with Cork footballer Maurice Shanley and team manager Micheál O'Sullivan. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Castlehaven's James Maguire with Maurice Shanley. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Carbery Rangers' Eric Hicks with Cork footballer Maurice Shanley and team manager Micheál O'Sullivan. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Clonakilty Community College's Seán Whelton presented their team sponsor Aidan Hennessy of Hennessey Timber Group Ltd with a team picture of the history-making winning team at the Simcox Cup medal presentation held in the school. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Maurice Shanley with the Ibane Gaels contingent of Callum Collins, Conrad Murphy, Mike Collins, Riley O'Donovan and Jamie Collins. (Photo: Paddy Feen)