The Southern Star Sport Podcast

ON THIS week's podcast, former Cork footballer and Southern Star Sports columnist John Hayes previews the county premier SFC final between Castlehaven and Nemo Rangers, on Sunday in Supervalu Pairc Ui Chaoimh at 3.30pm.The Haven are going for their second Andy Scannell Cup in a row and face a Nemo side chasing their first crown since 2022.The sides battled it out in the final in 2023 too as the Haven won out by 0-11 to 0-9.We discuss where the game could be won and lost, Castlehaven’s experience, kickouts and overall key aspects to the big game.Hayes also gives his final prediction.There are other divisional finals taking place too and we look back at the drawn Carbery junior AHC final between Ballinascarthy and Diarmuid O Mathunas (0-13 apiece).The Carbery junior AFC final is on the horizon too as Kilmacabea, after their semi final win against St Mary’s last weekend, take on Mathunas on Saturday in Dunmanway at 7.30pm.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01 and @seanholland_15Produced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ieSubscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

ON THIS week's podcast, Kieran chats to O’Donovan Rossa captain Laura O’Mahony after the Skibb side’s county intermediate LGFA triumph over Naomh Aban, 0-12 to 1-8.O’Mahony talks about the rise of the club from being in junior C in 2018 to competing in Senior in 2025.Rossa won the junior Cork, Munster and All Ireland crowns in 2023 and have won 19 of their last 20 championship games.It is a fairytale story for Skibb and O’Mahony is one of the key players forefronting their rise.We also look at the Cork county championship semi finals as Castlehaven cemented their premier SFC favourites tag by beating St Finbarrs 0-18 to 0-14.Seanie Cahalane’s team will face Nemo Rangers in the final after the city side saw off Mallow.There was disappointment for Dohenys (senior A), Adrigole and Gabriel Rangers (both intermediate A) as their seasons came to an end at the hands of Knocknagree, Boherbue and Glanmire.We’ll also discuss the current state of play in the Carbery junior AFC as well as previewing the Carbery junior AHC final between Diarmuid O Mathunas and Ballinascarthy.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01, @seanholland_15 and @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ieSubscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

ON THIS week's podcast, Kieran McCarthy chats to Cork Camogie and Courcey Rovers star Saoirse McCarthy.McCarthy was in Croke Park this week for the Launch of Eir as an Official Telco partner of the Camogie Association and three year sponsor of the U16 Camogie All Ireland Championship.She talks about how Camogie brings people together, adapting to Dublin life and Cork’s quest for the O’Duffy Cup three in a row in 2025.We also look at the Cork county championship action as Clonakilty exited the Cork premier SFC in dramatic fashion, losing on penalties for Nemo Rangers.There was positivity for Gabriel Rangers however as they produced the shock in overcoming Mitchelstown.This weekend, Castlehaven, Dohenys, Gabriels and Adrigole are all in semi final action and we will look forward to those last four encounters.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01, @seanholland_15 and @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ieDON’T MENTION THIS IN CMSSubscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

ON THIS week's podcast, we chat to Ballinascarthy forward Brian O’Donovan ahead of their Carbery junior AHC semi final against St James on Sunday at 2.30pm in Enniskeane.O’Donovan has been in two of the last three Southern Star Team of the Week’s across hurling and football.He is one of the most lethal finishers in the Carbery championship and one of Bal’s marksmen in both codes.We also look at the Cork county championship action and indeed disruption.The big story this week was the postponement of big football games last Sunday due to a Met Eireann orange weather warning, including Nemo Rangers v Clonakilty and Carbery Rangers v Eire Og in the premier SFC.Dohenys progressed to the semi final of the senior AFC after their win over Cill na Martra but there was disappointment for Bantry Blues, Ilen Rovers, Urhan and St James.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01 and @seanholland_15 Produced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ieSubscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

BEARA'S Billy Murphy has a new role as their new schools coach and how they can develop as a division.He talks to Kieran McCarthy on this week's podcast.We also cover a big weekend of county football action as Clonakilty, Carbery Rangers, Dohenys and Bantry Blues.The current state of play in the Carbery junior A championships will be talked about too.

PAUL O'DONOVAN was recently awarded for his incredible 2024 with a monthly West Cork Sports Star award, and we took the time to catch up with him in a year that has gone pretty well, it's fair to say.A second Olympic gold medal, a seventh World Rowing championship, starting work as a doctor – it's been a busy year.Thousands flocked to see O'Donovan and the other Skibbereen rowers at a massive homecoming event at the start of September – on this week's podcast, he tells us about why he loves West Cork, what the local recognition means to him, and how 2024 hasn’t been a bad year overall.We also cover a very busy weekend of county and local football, taking you through each grade as we get ready for relegation play-offs and quarter finals in a couple of weeks time.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on Twitter: @dyldonot & @matt_hurley01Produced by Dylan Mangan.***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose the Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community.For more visit www.accesscu.ie

THIS week's podcast is a preview special as we look ahead to this weekend's Cork football championship matches as the final round of the group stage takes place.It looks set to be an exciting couple of days of football as there is still plenty to be decided across the different divisions, with a number of West Cork clubs looking to either qualify for the next round or avoid the dreaded relegation playoff.In Premier Senior, Castlehaven and Carbery Rangers clash in a West Cork derby. Ross know they will need a win to get into the next round, while Castlehaven are already through. Clonakilty are also in action and know a win over St Michaels will qualify them.Newcestown are in a funny position ahead of the weekend, where they could potentially lose and qualify or win and not qualify. They could finish anywhere from 1st to 4th in their group – one to watch this weekend.West Cork has lots of teams in action this weekend, and we take you through the permutations for each one on this week's Star Sport Podcast.We also hear about an exciting charity event taking place this October, and look back at last weekend's hurling action as well.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on Twitter: @dyldonot & @seanholland_15Produced by Dylan Mangan.***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose the Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community.For more visit www.accesscu.ie

PAUL O'Donovan might have chosen to take some time off after winning his third Olympic – and second gold – medal in Paris during the summer. He would have been well within his rights to rest, recover and let everything sink in.Instead, he travelled to Canada just a couple of weeks later and won his seventh World Rowing title. He also started working as a doctor in the interim.His recent achievements, along with his European and national titles got us thinking, at Star Sport HQ, is Paul O'Donovan the greatest Irish sportsperson of all time?There are plenty of contenders to the title: Roy Keane, Katie Taylor, Henry Shefflin to name but a few.O'Donovan has dominated a sport like no other Irish person has, and has raised the profile of a sport in a way perhaps only Katie Taylor can match.We're obviously biased down here in West Cork, but spoke about why he just might be Ireland's greatest sportsperson of all time on this week's podcast.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on Twitter: @dyldonot & @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Dylan Mangan.Paul O'Donovan's medal haul – the highlightsOlympicsGold medal (Lightweight double sculls, Tokyo 2020)Gold Medal (Lightweight double sculls, Paris 2024)Silver medal (Lightweight double sculls, Rio de Janeiro 2016)World RowingO'Donovan has seven World titles, four in the double (2018, ’19, ’22 and ’23) and now three in the single (2016, ’17 and ’24).Olympic rowers' homecomingPaul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy will be joined by thousands of fans, who are expected to descend on Skibbereen this Sunday afternoon for the homecoming thatwill celebrate the incredible exploits of Skibbereen Rowing Club’s Olympians at the Paris Games.For the second Olympics in a row, four Skibb rowers – Paul O’Donovan, Fintan McCarthy, Emily Hegarty and Aoife Casey – flew the West Cork flag on the world stage, and again they wowed.Olympic champs Paul and Fintan won back-to-back gold medals with their victory in the lightweight men’s double in Paris, Aoife finished fifth in the lightweight women’s double sculls and Tokyo bronze medallist Emily was part of the Irish women’s four that won the B final.Since then, Paul has added a seventh World title to his collection with his latest success at the World Rowing Championships last weekend adding another reason to celebrate this Sunday.