Students honour Canon O’Brien

Saturday’s Waterford Crystal Cup clash between Cork and UCC at the Mardyke takes on extra significance as it will also be the first staging of the Canon O’Brien Cup.

Canon Michael O’Brien, who is now an Archdeacon, led UCC to eight consecutive Fitzgibbon Cup titles from 1981-88, added two more in 1990 and ’91 alongside Willie Smyth and Dan Beechinor and led Cork to the 1990 All-Ireland senior title.

O’Brien, affectionately still known as ‘the Canon’, was at the helm as Farranferris won Dr Harty Cups in 1969, ’71, ’72, ’73 and ’74, adding All-Irelands in ’72 and ’74.