Defeat to Carrigaline in IH League

Division 2 County Intermediate Hurling League.

Carrigaline 3-14 Castlelyons 0-15

Our Intermediate hurlers took on Carrigaline in the first game of the League last Sunday at high noon in Carrigaline.  They say “tosach maith leath na hoibre” but we had a misfortunate start as Carrigaline had the ball in the net inside the first minute.  Jack Barry made a great save and the ball broke to Declan Varner who was put under pressure and as Jack moved off the goal line to take a pass it was intercepted by their corner forward who banged to the net.   We did make a great recovery and tacked on the next six points without reply as Colm Barry scored a mighty point from way out.  Ronan Bransfield 0-2, Eoin Maye, Darragh Lawlor, and Ml Spillane all had a point apiece from play.

But Carrigaline came back and scored another four points to leave it 1-4 to 0-6 after twenty minutes.  Castlelyons drove on again in a cracking game of hurling and Aidan O Sullivan operating at full forward scored the next three points from play.  Carrigaline had another point from a free and Aidan O Sullivan replied with a similar score from a free. This left us a point up at half time 1-6 to 0-10.

The first half had quality hurling with a great tempo to the game   Our backs were doing well although Tony Murphy, Cork Intermediate hurler, operating between full and centre forward was causing us problems.  Eoin Maye and Robbie Feeney were buzzing at midfield and had the upper hand on Rob O Shea (Cork Senior) and David Drake (Cork Intermediate).  Our forwards won good ball and took their chances and we showed a good level of fitness.

The second half followed the same pattern with a great standard of hurling.  Both teams exchanged points.   Carrigaline then changed around their side a bit with David Drake going into full forward and Tony Murphy coming out to midfield where he had a fierce physical presence.  Also, Kevin Kavanagh, Cork Intermediate captain last year, continued to hurl very well in the half back line for Carrigaline and he even came more into it in the second half. Their changes worked as David Drake got in for a vital goal and they added two more points.  Then our goalie Jack Barry made an awesome save to keep the game alive.

We came back again and at a vital time in the game with just a goal in it when Ronan Bransfield won a great ball and took on the defence.  He was fouled in what could well have been a penalty.  We just got the free which Aidan O Sullivan pointed but then Carrigaline attacked and added another goal to kill off the game.

While a win would be the real deal this was a very good display by our lads as there was high quality hurling all through the game. Carrigaline who were down two regular players in Kevin O Connell and Killian McSweeney and had a high number of wides.  They are a fairly serious outfit. Hopefully we will learn a bit from it.  We were tested in fitness towards the end as the physicality of Carrigaline wore us out a bit.  We should have Anthony Spillane and Alan Fenton back shortly as they missed this game through injury.  We are at home to Ballincollig on Sunday next at 2.30 pm in a game we must target a win in this game.  

Team: - J Barry, B Carroll, C O Leary, D Varner, P Mahon, C Barry, T Carroll, R Feeney, O Maye, R Bransfield, S Maloney, D Lawlor, R Fenton, A O Sullivan, M Spillane.  Subs: - Shane O Sullivan, M Murphy, C O Neill, R O Regan, B O Donovan, M J Dorgan and C McGann. Scores: - A O Sullivan 0-5, Ronan Bransfield 0-2, O Maye 0-2, M Spillane 0-2, C Barry, D Lawlor, T Carroll and R Fenton 0-1 each.

East Cork Under 21 A Football Championship

We are down to play Glanmire in the East Cork U21 A Football Championship on or next Saturday.  The venue is not set to date as Clubs are not releasing grounds due to the bad weather.  The agreement between the teams to play home or away first out of the hat if a neutral venue cannot be secured.

We have done a bit of training and our goalie Stephen Hickey, attacker Anthony Spillane, and the high fielding Jack Barry all Junior B County Medal holders are leaders with many other younger lads, especially Declan Varner, The O Leary twins and Keith O Leary.  Best of luck to the lads, Mark Murphy, Manager, Mark O Flynn, Ronan Fenton and Ml Spillane both sectors.

Colm Spillane already in recovery

Our star man Colm Spillane has had the operation on his injured cruciate knee ligament and is already recuperating.  This can be a tough time on a player especially coming into the summer and we wish him the best and no doubt he will take up a temporary administrative or advisory role with our lads.

Congratulations to Colm Barry.

Congrats to Colm Barry on his Fitzgibbon Cup medal as he was on the Mary Immaculate College panel that won the Fitzgibbon Cup for the first time last Saturday.  They defeated University of Limerick in a classic that went to extra time and was played in CIT Grounds in Cork.

Best wishes to Shane Moroney.

Shane Moroney is on the UCC Panel for the Higher Education Fresher’s Hurling Final versus DCU to be played in Waterford during the week as he has featured in many of the games to date.  Shane Aherne, Fermoy and Shane Walsh, Bride Rovers are also on the Panel and we could do with a win in 3^rd level Colleges to lift the hurling a bit.  This is an excellent competition for young hurlers and best of luck to all.

Thanks to Kilmagnier National School.

A big thank you to Kilmagnier National School who represented Castlelyons Hurling in the Semi-Finals of Scór na bPaistí last Sunday in Lisgoold. Isaac O Donovan Campbell, Ruth Gubbins, Nicole McCarthy, Gemma and Ailbhe Ryan came through the quarter finals in the Ballad Group section and Ailbhe Ryan again came through the quarter finals in the Solo Singing.  They took part again last Sunday and gave great performances but did not qualify.  However, it is all about taking part and thanks to their teacher Ms Stephanie Howard who prepared the students.  It is great to keep the cultural side of the GAA going and we are improving each year in both Castlelyons and Kilmagnier so no doubt we will make the breakthrough in time.

Club Lotto Draw on Monday night 29.2.16 

The numbers drawn tonight were 1, 3, 19 and 29.  There was no winner and the Jackpot next week is €7,000. 

There were eight Lucky Dip Winners as follows: -

1. Tom Walsh – Ned Fitzgerald
2. Evan & Oran Sheedy – John Barry
3. Martina O Regan – Anthony O Regan
4. Shane Collins – John Healy
5. Mary Daly -  Glanbia
6. Michael Barrett – Michael Barrett
7. Kevin Dwane – Dave Hoare
8. Idel Martin – James Martin.

The Jackpot is now €7,000. 

Next Week’s Draw on Monday 7.3.16 in the Community Centre at 9.30 pm.  Thanks for your support and please tell your friends they can all play Online or purchase tickets from the usual outlets.

Our Club Main Sponsor: - ZEUS Packaging Group