Castlelyons suffer championship defeat as “goals win matches”

Castlelyons 1-11 Inniscarra 4-11.

Pairc Uí Rinn was the venue for our PIHC tussle with Inniscarra on Saturday evening last. The conditions for hurling were ideal as the pitch was in top class order and the weather ideal.  What a sight to see our lads race out into this hallowed ground as their new green and gold jerseys matched the lovely pitch.  Of course, we were down a few men through injury, namely Anto and Colm Spillane, Phillip Mahon, sharpshooter Alan Fenton was also out and Leo Sexton has transferred to Dublin.  Nevertheless, good success at underage level in recent years gave us hope and all the lads looked mighty in the warm up.

We started well as and Ronan Bransfield let in a rocket but it came off the post.  There was a nasty pull on Colm Barry and the Inniscarra player received a yellow card and we got the free out.  Then as the Inniscarra backline pushed out Michael Spillane showed lighting pace to get onto a long ball in and billow the net for a great goal for us.  Shortly after Ml Spillane had a point and Ronan Bransfield was wide.  Then Colm Casey fetched a high ball and made ground for them but his shot went over for a point and their corner forward added another.  Darragh Lawlor who was showing up well had a good point.  Aidan O Sullivan had a point from play and Ml Spillane had a point from a free.  However, while we were keeping the scoreboard at this stage Inniscarra had serious dominance and there was fierce pressure on the backs and while they scored 0-4 they shot an amount of wides. 

The Inniscarra tactic of having their midfielders run at our backs began to pay dividends and surely enough on the 25^th minute the Dan O Connell got in for a goal, just after Padraig O Donoghue set up O Connell for another one and yet again O Donoghue missed a shot but O Connell was on hand to finish his hat trick of goals.  To make it worse our star player Colm Barry had to come off with a shoulder injury.  Darragh Lawler had another point for us. We now we were trailing 3-6 to 1-5 as the referee, Teddy O Donovan, blew the short whistle.   

This ended a good half hour’s hurling but unfortunately the crazy five minutes at the end led to us conceding three goals.  During that half there were only four frees in total three to Castlelyons and just one to Inniscarra.

We started the second half with Colm O Neill on for the injured Colm Barry and Jamie O Leary (who had injury) coming in for Robbie Feeney. We were off target with two easy shots and back came Inniscarra to add to more points to put them nine points up.  However, we made a great comeback as our backs tightened up a lot and our forwards picked up the next five points through A O Sullivan 0-2, R Fenton 0-1, Ml Spillane 0-1, K O Leary 0-1.  This brought us within four points and right back in the game but unfortunately we lost our way again and Inniscarra finished out the stronger with a goal, which completely killed the game for us with a few points. A O Sullivan did put over a consolation point for us but that was it. 

One always looks for reasons in defeat and we can advance many theories.  It is accepted that we had an abundance of injuries which did not help as a number of our key players were out with Colm Barry and Eoin Maye coming off during the game.  I thought it was an ideal opportunity for many of our players who had success at minor and U21 level but it was not to be.   We now take on old rivals Courcey Rovers in three weeks’ time and hopefully we will have our star quartet of Colm Barry, Alan Fenton, Anto Spillane and Cork Minor Captain Niall O Leary all back from injury.  This should balance the back and strengthen the attack.   This with a little more shaping of the team on the field would put us in with a right chance again as a lot of the lads did play well but we must cut out basic errors.  It is tough going on Mick Spillane and his management outfit but all is not lost yet.

Team: -  Jack Barry, Brian Carroll, Colm Barry, Tom Carroll, Ciaran McGann, Cian O Leary, Keith O Leary, Robbie Feeney, Eoin Maye, Darragh Lawlor, Shane Moroney, Ronan Bransfield, Michael Spillane, Aidan O Sullivan and Ronan Fenton.  Subs: - Colm O Neill for Colm Barry, Jamie O Leary for Robbie Feeney, Shane O Sullivan, Declan Varner, Declan Sexton, Liam Moroney, Ronan O Regan, Brian O Donovan, Niall O Leary, Michael John Dorgan. Scores: - Ml Spillane 1-3 (0-1), Aidan O Sullivan 0-4, D Lawlor 0-2, R Fenton and K O Leary 0-1 each.

Best wishes to Fermoy Post Master Michael Hegarty on his retirement.

Fermoy Post Master Michael Hegarty is retiring after 48 years’ service in the Post Office.   Michael served in Dublin and Midleton before he came to Fermoy.  Michael, resident in Castlelyons for many years is an outstanding member of our club where his facility with the cash and the pen has helped our Weekly Lotto flourish over the years as he is the Lotto Cash Officer.

A mighty Déise man Michael won a county medal with his home club Ballyduff Upper in 1971 as he was the goalie in the County Junior Hurling Championship Final when they defeated Rathgormack on a score of 1-9 to 2-4.  His brother Pat now a retired Garda was the full back. Michael was also secretary of Ballyduff Upper that year. 

We wish Michael, his wife Ann and the family Joanne, Christopher, Aoife and Michael many happy years in his retirement.  

Weekly Lotto Draw.

The numbers drawn in Monday night’s weekly Lotto Draw were: - 1, 10, 25 and 27.  There was no Jackpot winner and the eight Lucky Dip winners were: - Martin Francis Dorgan:  William McDonagh:  Angela O Regan:  John Murphy:  John Smith:  James Bermingham:  Noreen O Flynn: Eamon McCarthy.

The Jackpot is now €9, 600

So don’t forget to play our Lotto Online or buy from the usual outlets.  Thanks for your support and we appreciate it.

Club Main Sponsor: - ZEUS Packaging Group