Ringmahon Rangers opt for black humour in wake of Cork All-Ireland semi loss

Irish Rail have also gotten in on the act.

SCHEDULE CHANGE: Ringmahon Rangers were due to play Bohs on July 19. Picture: Larry Cummins

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026 - 20:34

John Fallon

Ringmahon Rangers have reached for some black humour in appealing tongue-in-cheek for friendly opposition on All-Ireland hurling day after their FAI Cup walkover stance backfired.

As first revealed by the Irish Examiner last Monday, Caoimhin Kelleher’s schoolboy club forfeited their second-round tie against Premier Division Bohemians for fear of a scheduling clash with the Croke Park showdown.

As the FAI set Sunday, July 19 at 2pm for Ringmahon’s home fixture, due to Conference League commitments by Bohs, the Munster Senior League champions predicted a paltry turnout of both fans and players, some of whom were due to attend the decider.

Ringmahon Rangers seeing the ironic side of their withdrawal from the FAI Cup in the wake of Cork's All-Ireland SHC semi-final defeat on Saturday.

Ringmahon complained that the FAI applied a deadline of last Monday for confirmation of fixture details, placing them in what derided as ‘an impossible position.’

It also emerged separately that the Cork club rejected an offer from Bohemians to reverse the fixture to Dalymount Park, allowing Ringmahon players with tickets to thereafter attend the hurling clash at nearby Croker.

That won’t come to pass after hot favourites Cork were well beaten by Galway in Saturday’s semi-final at GAA HQ.

A planned return to training last Tuesday for Ringmahon players was also cancelled.

Gaillimh Abú pic.twitter.com/NPMbtz7SWk
— Bohemian Football Club (@bfcdublin) July 4, 2026

Ringmahon themselves have now seen the humorous side of the forfeiture row by posting a social media post shortly after full-time in the semi-final, posting a poster which read: ‘Ringmahon seniors - pre-season friendly wanted on Sunday, July 19. Willing to travel.’

Meanwhile, Irish Rail have also taken to social media after Cork's exit.

Amid reports of all train services between Cork and Dublin being booked out on the All-Ireland final day, they posted: ‘I can confirm that all bookings for All-Ireland hurling final day are restricted until the finalists have been confirmed.

‘There will be availability for Cork services soon. And PLENTY OF IT.’

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