Castlelyons come up short again in tight encounter.

Castlelyons 1-15 Fr O Neills 2-14

We took on, Fr O Neills, leaders in the Division Two IHL at home on Friday evening last in splendid conditions.  However, despite going reasonably well we came up short in a tight encounter. Aidan O Sullivan got us going with the first 0-1 but we lost ground as Fr O Neills sent over a great score from far out and shortly after a defensive mix up let in Eoin Motherway for a soft goal. However, Anto Spillane and Aidan O Sullivan combined excellently for Anto to bang in a great goal and we added a few more points to go 1-6 to 1-3 up.  Then while the game was intensive we allowed Fr O Neill’s back in the game to leave it 1-10 apiece at half time.

Fr O Neills put over a good score from a free to go 0-1 up after half time but we came back well with three points which included one from a free by Anto.  This put us up 1-13 to 1-11 and there was some serious hurling for upwards of 8 minutes.  One of the features of this period was Tommy Carroll thundering out with a ball and a Fr O Neills player bounced off him and hit the deck. Tom had despatched a great pass to Alan Fenton who was on for a score when the Referee blew up as the Fr O Neills player was out flat.  On the resumption there was an indirect free awarded which Fr O Neills turned over and Billy Dunne scored a point for them.  Fr O Neills played a neat possession game with short layoffs and managed to stay ahead.  Then their midfielder Rob Cullinane intercepted a Castlelyons pass and got in for an opportunist goal to put us chasing the game.   

Fr O Neills sensing victory went defensive and put a “fear ag scuabadh” at the back and we found it hard to break down this defensive set up although we did get the last two points.  Recent systems used by opposing teams are interesting but we have got to look at our own game and cut our basic errors that allow us giving awkward passes, getting hooked in possession and committing basic fouls.  A little tidy up in these departments individually on the ball and in moments of engagement will really help our game.  Overall, this was a reasonable performance by the lads land we are improving our game all the time.  Hopefully, we will have another game before the championship as we need to be on full throttle for the Inniscarra lads.

Team: - Jack Barry, Brian Carroll, Colm Barry, Keith O Leary, Jamie O Leary, Tom Carroll, Colm O Neill, Eoin Maye, Ronan Bransfield, Alan Fenton, Shane Moroney, Darragh Lawlor, Aidan O Sullivan, Anthony Spillane, Michael Spillane.  Subs: - Declan Sexton for Jamie O Leary (25 mins, inj), Ronan Fenton, Ronan O Regan.  Scores: - Aidan O Sullivan 0-6, Anthony Spillane 1-5 (0-1 free), Alan Fenton 0-2 and Darragh Lawlor 0-1.

Referee: - The game was referee by Ger Scully, Killeagh who generally did a very good job.  What a pity we didn’t use the now famous ‘second strip’ as the jerseys looked much the same especially on ‘reel’.

Midleton record facile victory over our Junior team.

Midleton 1-16 Castlelyons 0-9

We were at home to Midleton in the East Cork Division 2 Junior Hurling League on Saturday evening but short a lot of the panel could not match the Magpies.  Midleton were on top all through the game as we were short many regulars.  We now have just two points from three games as Carrigtwohill head the league table with full points.  It would be great to have the full panel for these games but we may have to wait until the championship and unfortunately this is often too late to get any system going.  Well done to all who played and gave it a hard hour.

However, there are a number of games left in the League and as outlined in early April it is imperative that we have a functioning and committed second team as many players like to get games and surely if we are to prosper as a club the second team will keep up the standards for the Intermediate team.  In 2015 a strong detailed list prepared included forty-three players available to train and play on the Intermediate and Junior hurling teams as we had tremendous success at underage level.  I think there is only one player that would have retired on age grounds since and about five more players have come of age this year to bring us to forty-eight possible players.  So lads come along and enjoy that manly game of hurling and you could be a medal winner in 2016 as our management team are finding it hard to get numbers at weekends.  Overall, there are great numbers available and with a good attitude it augurs for a great future for the club.   

Team: - Shane O Sullivan, Mark Murphy, Mike Cronin, Padraig Murphy, Shane Fenton, Colm O Neill, Noel McAuliffe, Brian (D) O Donovan, Ronan O Regan, Ml Geary, Ml Hegarty, David Beausang, Andrew O Neill Brian O Donovan and Ian Ronayne. Scores: - Ronan O Regan 0-6, Michael Geary and Brian (D) O Donovan 0-1.

Club Launch of our new Main Sponsor ZEUS on Friday 20^th April at 9.30 pm

At this stage in a fast moving “twittering and Facebook” world it may be old news but on Friday evening at 9.30 pm we are launching the new Main Sponsor for our Club namely ZEUS Packaging Products. While ZEUS have come on board with us since early in the year it was just a matter of arranging a date suitable to all and particularly to their Chief Executive Officer Mr Brian O Sullivan.  A special thanks, of course, to our sponsors of the last nine years, Mr John O Flynn of South Coast Logistics.

Mr Brian O Sullivan is an outstanding and most successful CEO as ZEUS captured a most prestigious award in March 2016 as it was announced as one of Ireland’s best managed Companies by Deloitte and this was the company’s fifth year winning such an award.  The Company were also presented with the gold standard accolade having secured Best Managed status for a fourth consecutive year.

Accordingly, we are proud and honoured that ZEUS are our sponsors.  Mr Brian O Sullivan is a Castlelyons man and deserves our support.  We can do this by securing or acquiring any possible business for ZEUS and purchasing their products when possible as Mr O Sullivan has so kindly seen fit to sponsor his home club.  Mr O Sullivan praises the dedication and hard work of his staff in acquiring a gold standard award from Deloitte in 1916.  No doubt, he will talk on topics that will appeal to the business and sporting fraternity and life in general on Friday evening next.

So on Friday evening at 9.30 pm we welcome our Sponsors and members of the ZEUS Packaging Group together with members of the Juvenile, Camogie Clubs, other Sponsors, all Players, Club Officers, and Club member who are cordially invited.  The evening will kick off with a special showing of a “Reflections – Rolling back the Years – Photo Album”.  There will be a Presentation of medals to last year’s U21 footballers, winners of the East Cork Championship.  Then the main purpose of the evening the Launch of our Sponsor and a keynote talk from Mr Brian O Sullivan.  So come along to the Community Centre. 

Congratulations.

At our recent Club meeting the “Thomas Kent Commemoration Committee” were congratulated on their outstanding preparations and hard work which made last Sunday such a wonderful day in the Parish as Castlelyons remembered the events of 1916.  It was an outstanding and deserved tribute to the Kent Brothers and their families.  Also, well done to the Barrymore players who made an outstanding historic video, to the boys and girls of Castlelyons National School with Mr Nelius De Róiste and so many more that made the day the centenary commemorations so memorable.

Weekly Club Lotto Draw -  16.5.16.

The Numbers drawn were 8, 15, 18 and 30.  There was No Winner.  There were eight Lucky Dip winners of €20 each as follows: - Martin Dorgan, Nicole Barry, James O Brien, Ellen O Brien, Kieran McGann, Fiona Feeney, Leo Sexton, Sean Burke.

Next week’s Jackpot is €9, 200. 

Thanks for your support and you can continue to play our Lotto Online or buy tickets from the usual outlets.

Castlelyons Main Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group