Castlelyons force a replay in outstanding Minor Hurling Final.

Castlelyons 2-16 Ballygiblin 4-10.

There is an old story about Ham Sunday in Fermoy but this was Hurling Saturday for Castlelyons as we made our way to the County Minor A Hurling final versus Ballygiblin in historic Páirc Mac Gearailt.   We were on the back foot before the game even started as our star goalie John Paul Murphy was hobbling on crutches and unable to play due to a nasty injury received earlier in the week.  Our U16 star forward Conor McCarthy was given the tough job of replacing John Paul and moving back to goal.   We elected to play into the Oliver Plunkett Hill end against a stiff enough breeze. The Reitóir, Mark Maher, from the Cumann Barra Naofa Club got the game going and in fairness to him it was a case of out of the way and let them hurl.  

We knew from early on that Ballygiblin meant business as they started well and got the first two points from George Pendle.  Mark Henley made a great catch and cleared well under pressure and David Morrison won a battle on the ground and parted to Barry Murphy.  Barry showed his class and speed as he cut inside to clip over a great point and the same player again working really hard had a narrow wide for us.  Our goalie Conor McCarthy made a great save from Kieran Fox and when the ball went up field Barry Murphy was on target again with another fine point.  George Pendle replied for Ballygiblin with two points and Niall O Leary fetched from the skies turned and banged over a rousing score.  However, it was Ballygiblin came back and Mark Keane added 1-2 and George Pendle 1-0 from a long range free to leave the score 2-6 to 0-3 and 20 minutes gone.  However, our mentors had rearranged our team a bit and a lot of the lads came to grips with the game with our full back line of Mark Henley, Jamie O Leary and Redmond Walsh doing well and our wing backs of Seamus Moroney and Peter Roche showing mighty improvement.  Roche took up marking County U16 Mark Keane and though smaller in stature made many massive intercepts on Keane.

Then Conor McCarthy made a great save under pressure but Pendle put over 0-1 from a free again.  Keith O Leary put over 0-1 from a free for us and Barry Murphy another 0-1 from play.  Keith O Leary put over another 0-2 from frees and he was now confident and deadly accurate. Mark Keane and Cillian Dillon had 0-2 for Ballygiblin.  Conor McCarthy made another good save from Keane just on half time and as the referee blew the short whistle the score was 2-9 to 0-7 at half time.   This meant Ballygiblin were in command on the scoreboard but our lads were winning a lot of ball and battles as well.

Shortly after the throw in for the second half George Pendle dropped in a high free into the square and it deceived our goalie to really put the men from under the Galtees in the driving seat.  There was some hectic hurling Keith O Leary and George Pendle again traded points.  Despite being down on the scoreboard the lads were roared on by great supporters and our mentors on the line made some shrewd moves Castlelyons kept to the task.  We were rewarded as six minutes into the second half Alex Henley had a cracking goal to put us on the road back.  We really began to win the local battles as Jack Kenny and James Kearney began to win more ball, Ian O Riordan and Mark Spillane were doing nicely too.  We repelled a few Ballygiblin attacks with Jamie O Leary doing so well inside and Conor McCarthy made another good save.  Niall O Leary who was hurling mighty and showing just why he was captain of the Cork Minors last year, won possession with a massive catch, turned and went through the gears at speed which carried him to the 21 when he unleashed a missile to the net to the joy of Castlelyons and again Keith O Leary added a free to leave just a goal in it.  Niall O Leary grabbed another high puck out and sent over a great point from under the stand while Keith O Leary and George Pendle traded frees.  We attacked strong but found Ballygiblin tough in defence and then when the ball went down field they managed another goal. 

The ever dependent Keith O Leary had another 0-1 from a free to leave it 2-12 to 4-10 with eight minutes’ left.  Then Mark Spillane who was beavering away all day was rewarded as he slipped over a well taken point and James Kearney showing his class pointed from outfield after great work by that man Niall O Leary.  Time was running out and in weaves of high excitement and drama it was once more that warrior Niall O Leary who seemed seven-foot-tall grabbing another high ball over under the Stand but was grounded. Keith was on hand to send over the resultant free and bring it to just one point behind.  Barry Murphy was narrowly wide as he shrugged off tackles under massive pressure and it fell to our marksman Keith O Leary to level matters at 2-16 to 4-10.  We were now really on our game and this writer thought we would have taken it as there was a few minutes’ left in extra time but the referee blew up and we are back again for a replay at 4 pm next Saturday at the same venue.

This was an outstanding game of hurling with both teams giving it their all, displaying great skills and outstanding commitment.  I cannot wait for the replay as I think we are in with a right chance of reaching the summit.  It was Muhammed Ali who said “The fight is won or lost faraway from crowds, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights” and it must be said our boys have put in some work all year so well done to them, our mentors Shane Hickey, Jimmy O Leary, Anthony Spillane, Bryan Carroll and work of the Juvenile Club.  Role on Saturday. Castlelyons Abú.

Panel: - Conor McCarthy, Mark Henley, Jamie O Leary, Redmond Walsh, Seamus Moroney, Jack Kenny, Peter Roche, Niall O Leary, James Kearney, Ian O Riordan, Keith O Leary, Mark Spillane, David Morrison, Barry Murphy and Alex Henley, Pearse Varner, Andrew O Neill, Michael Buckley, Jack Ronayne, James McCarthy, Shane O Flynn, Eoin O Neill, John Paul Murphy.           

Castlelyons Weekly Lotto Draw on 3.10.16. 

This draw was held in the Abbey Tavern and the numbers drawn were 4, 14, 21 and 22.  There was no winner.  The eight Lucky Dip winners of €20 each were as follows: -  

1. Jacinta O Leary.  
2. Annette Conran.  
3. Catherine Murphy. 
4. Finian Waters. 
5. Joe Hartnett. 
6. NLAP Hegarty. 
7. Chris Sheedy. 
8. Cal Moroney. 

Next week's Jackpot is €5,000.  You can play our Lotto Online or purchase tickets from the usual outlets.  Thanks for your support.

Result of Fundraising Draw on 3.10.2016.

This Draw was held in the Abbey Tavern last  Saturday Night and the following were Winners of all the valuable Prizes: -  1^st Prize – Fr G Colman, 2^nd Ina O Brien, 3^rd Pa Granville, 4^th Diarmuid Moroney, John Barrett, 6^th Lorna Murphy, 7^th, Andrew Meade, 8^th Pat Clancy, Fermoy, 9^th Catriona O Sullivan, 10^th Rita Parker.  Thanks to all for supporting our Draw which was a great success.

Good win for Junior B Hurlers in Division 2 Junior B Hurling League.

Castlelyons 5-11 Watergrasshill 3-15  

Castlelyons concluded the JBHL Division 2 League season with a good win over Watergrasshill in Castlelyons last Friday night.  Despite being short many players and a fear of relegation the lads showed great commitment all through.  Shane Hickey our minor trainer was called in at the last minute for goals and did very well. We were down three points at half time.   The evergreen Barry Fitzgerald operating at centre forward was scoring freely we were down a point at full time but Michael “Dunny” O Donovan banged in a mighty goal to win it in added time. 

Team: - S Hickey, M Murphy, L Moroney, F Waters, S Fenton, M Geary, C Cotter, A O Regan, W Daly, I Ronayne, D Beausang, B O Donovan, B “Dunny” O Donovan, Barry Fitzgerald and Ml John Dorgan.  Sub: Declan Sexton came on at half time as he travelled from Dublin.

Tickets for the Cork GAA Clubs Draw are now on sale.

Tickets are now on sale for this this Draw.  It is a risk free fundraising promotion available to our Club and, indeed, all Clubs across the County.  Tickets cost €100 per annum with a guaranteed 45% contribution to the draw members club rising to 58% on agreed target achievement.  Since its inception in 1992 communities have benefitted by more than €19 million in funding their local club developments.  The Draw has three aims -

1. Investment in games development and coaching
2. Risk free funding for clubs
3. Capital projects support

Accordingly, a special meeting will be held on next Monday night at 8.30 in the Community Centre to discuss ticket sales.

Best wishes to Fermoy in County Hurling Final.

Fermoy contest their first ever Premier Intermediate County Hurling Final on this Sunday in Páirc Uí Rinn at 2 pm as they take on Bandon in what should be a great day for all Cork Gaels as Glen Rovers take on Erins Own in the Senior Final later at 4 pm.  Fermoy have had an outstanding season and are on the cusp of success.  We wish them the best of luck on the day.

Votes of Sympathy.

At the last Club Meeting votes of sympathy were extended to the Clancy family, and the Rooney family on their recent bereavement. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainmneacha go léir.

Club Main Sponsor; Zeus Packaging Group.