Brian Smiddy

Congratulations to Brian Smiddy of Castlemartyr who became the first player from Castlemartyr to win an All Ireland minor hurling medal on the field of play since Jackie Whyte in 1939. Nick Dowling RIP was a sub on the victorious Cork minor team of 1964. Brian is an outstanding young talent and a credit to his family. His brother Jimmy had worn the Cork jersey a few years previously without the reward that Brian got. It must be a great feeling for his father, Dave, and all his family as medals are not won easily and this is the result of a lot of hard work, commitment and countless miles of driving to training and matches.

Great praise is due to the hard working underage committee who have put  hours of work into looking after all young players in the area over the years. To everyone in the club who helped any underage team in any way, to see a Castlemartyr player win an All Ireland medal is a proud moment and a reward for their endeavours. Hopefully it will encourage young players to keep playing and training and show that hard work gets its reward.Our late president Paddy Walsh, who died this year must have been smiling down on Croke Park last Sunday.

Also congratulations to Kevin Hartnett who gave a great display with Brian in midfield. Kevin is from the Russell Rovers club nearby, another small club like our own, and it is a wonderful achievement for the two clubs to provide the midfield pairing on a Cork Minor winning team.

Incidentally Kevin is a grandson of the late John Burke who passed away late last year. John (the Master) was a star of many a Castlemartyr team in the fifties and sixties. Kevin's uncles, Johnny, Michael and Donal have also given great service to the Castlemartyr club. To Kevin, his parents Liz and Johnny Hartnett and to all attached to Russell Rovers our heartiest congratulations.

To Brian Smiddy, let this be the start of a long and great association with the red jersey of Cork and that many more All Irelands are won. For the record Cork beat Galway in the final to stop Galway completing a three in a row at minor level. The final score was Cork 2-10 Galway 1-8.

The photo on the left is Jackie Whyte taken from the official team photo taken at the 1939 All Ireland Final. Jackie is father of the present club treasurer Charlotte Carroll and the Whyte name has a long and proud association with the Castlemartyr club.