Dessie Fitzgerald, the Charleville hurler who was left temporarily paralysed following an accident during the Cork junior hurling semi-final last October, joined in the North Cork club’s celebrations of their county and Munster junior hurling triumphs last Saturday night, where Cork senior hurling captain Dónal Óg Cusack presented medals to the squad.

For so many years Mervyn Gammell has been the hero for Charleville, starring in the North Cork championship when some of his current team-mates were still in the cradle.

Dessie Fitzgerald has found a willing Cork GAA ally during his time in the National Rehabilitation Centre, Dun Laoghaire.

HE has been giddy with anticipation all week. Ever since he got the green light from the medical staff in the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire to go to Croke Park this evening, Dessie Fitzgerald can scarcely think of anything else.

Tomorrow they compete in the All-Ireland JHC club final in Croke Park but last Friday night another notable event took place for Charleville GAA club.

THEY’RE not done yet – a little matter of a Munster club JHC final on December 11 still to come – but already it has been a season to remember for Charleville.

FOR 40 minutes of this excellent final at Buttevant yesterday, a shock result looked on the cards as unfancied Kildorrery led favourites Charleville by a point.

THE toast was absent friends.

CORK GAA chiefs are aiming to stage the first games in the redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the early months of the 2015 season.

COURCEY ROVERS survived a late rally from Youghal to win the Cork Premier IHC final by 0-15 to 1-10 at Páirc Ui Rinn yesterday — an inspirational display from centre-back and man-of-the-match Vince Hurley going a long way to helping them gain senior status.

Cork 2-11 Kilkenny 2-11

Cork 5-9 Antrim 2-11

Cork 1-21 Limerick 1-10

Avondhu 1-28, Seandun 0-8