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Cork's Seamus Harnedy celebrates scoring a point against Clare. INPHO/Cathal Noonan
New Rebel

Cork's Seamus Harnedy: 'I get slagging that I'm not as good as the mother'

The young forward got man-of-the-match on his senior championship debut last Sunday.

HE MADE HIS senior championship debut for Cork on Sunday, fired over 0-3 as his side won out in a Munster semi-final and claimed the man-of-the-match award.

But Cork’s new attacker Seamus Harnedy has a bit to go before he matches the sporting exploits in the GAA fields of his mother.

Harnedy’s mother Cathy (née Landers) won six All-Ireland camogie medals with Cork and captained the senior side to win the 1983 All-Ireland title.

And 22 year-old Seamus’s father Sean also lined out at inter-county level for Waterford.

“My mother has six All-Ireland medals, I’ve a bit of catching up there,” laughs Seamus. “I get a bit of slagging off the college lads that I’m not as good as the mother.

“She was centre-back for Cork for a few years. She’s from Killeagh (in east Cork) and my father Sean is from Waterford. He had an appearance or two for Waterford, but he wouldn’t be as distinguished as the mother. They met halfway.”

Now Seamus is making blazing his own trail at inter-county senior level. On Sunday he became the first player in history from St Ita’s, a small junior club based in east Cork, to line out for the county in senior hurling championship.

Harnedy remarkably had never played for Cork in championship at minor and U21 level but did feature for the county intermediate side last year where he struck 1-2 for Cork in their Munster semi-final defeat against Tipperary.

But it has been his exploits for UCC that have propelled him into the shop window. Harnedy has been part of the UCC side that have won the last two Fitzgibbon Cup finals and he remembered his former college manager Paul O’Connor, who sadly passed away last September.

The late Paul O’Connor (right)
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

“Paul O’Connor was one of the lads that gave me my original breakthrough with the Fitzgibbon team. God rest his soul, he gave me a chance.

“I’ve no doubt he was looking down on all of us out there. I think there was ten represented from UCC on the Cork team on Sunday (Anthony Nash, Conor O’Sullivan, Shane O’Neill, William Egan, Tom Kenny, Daniel Kearney, Seamus Harnedy, Conor Lehane, Luke O’Farrell and Stephen Moylan).

“Paul along with Paddy Crowley, the Kingston’s and others all put a lot into us and thank God we were able to pay something back. I love Fitzgibbon hurling myself. It’s fantastic. It’s a breeding ground for all the young players.

“I was just delighted (on Sunday) I was able to come on and prove my selection was right. They (the Cork management) put their necks on the line for me. The bottom line is, and I’m sure it’ll be emphasised throughout the country, we’ve had heartbreaks over the years.

“We thought we’d win U21 titles but ended up with no silverware. We’ll go back training with all guns blazing for three weeks’ time.”

UCC honouring the spirit of Fitzgibbon Cup legend Paul O’Connor

5 talking points – Cork v Clare, Munster SHC semi-final

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