Castlelyons take Intermediate Hurling League Points.

Castlelyons 3-20 Castlemartyr 0-14.

The weekend was bad weather-wise but kind to Castlelyons. There was a pitch inspection on Saturday at dinner time after a night’s rain and poor morning too. However, the sanding, and care given to Páirc an tAthair Peadar O Laoghaire paid off as it was past fit for our intermediate hurling league game versus Castlemartyr at 6 pm and it was in good condition with the drying later.

It was cool, dry, calm and fine at 6 pm as the fading light mingled with the floodlights referee when Jim Hennessey threw in and Eoin Maye immediately fed Anto Spillane for a good point. Jack Barry was on for goal and shot straight at the goalie but looked to have dragged his leg. Alan Fenton combined with Anto who scored another 0-1. Then Ronan O Regan came on for Jack Barry after four minutes. We wish Jack a speedy recovery. Anto Spillane had two more points (1 free, 1 play) before Castlemartyr had their first attack on six minutes. Alan Fenton was fouled so the Castlemartyr player objected and started protesting and referee Jim Hennessey rightly moved on the sliotar and Anto pointed again.

Castlemartyr had their first score from a free, a point, on 14 minutes. We were well on top and had further points from E Maye, Aidan O Sullivan, Ml Spillane and Anto Spillane while Castlemartyr had three points from frees. Then Ciaran McGann broke through for a good goal and we finished the half with a well taken point by Ronan O Regan after great work by Darragh Lawlor. The half time score was Castlelyons 1-10 to Castlemartyr 0-4.

Castlemartyr started the second half well by scoring 3 points as we committed a few needless fouls. However, we began to find our form again as the backs particularly Colm Barry, Tom Carroll and Darragh Lawlor got on top and Shane O Sullivan was finding his men on the puckouts with great accuracy. In the forwards Anto Spillane was deadly from frees and play and Ciaran McGann kept up a good work rate in setting up a few scores as Eoin Maye and Anto put the game beyond Castlemartyr with two well taken goals.

It was difficult to judge the quality of the opposition as the Lawton brothers were absent for Castlemartyr. However, this is the winning start our management wanted and add in the St Colman’s stars, Declan Varner, Cian O Leary and Colm Spillane into our mix they will be a potent outfit.

Score: - A Spillane 1-11 (6f’s, 1 65’), E Maye 1-2, C McGann 1-0, M Spillane 0-2, A Fenton 0-2, R O Regan 0-1, R Bransfield 0-1, B O Donovan 0-1.

Team: - Shane O Sullivan, Brian Carroll, Colm Barry, Tom Carroll, Colm O Neill, Keith O Leary, Darragh Lawlor, Michael Spillane, Eoin Maye, Jack Barry, Ciaran McGann, Ronan Fenton, Alan Fenton, Anthony Spillane, Aidan O Sullivan. Subs: - Ronan O Regan, Liam Moroney, Ronan Bransfield, Brian O Donovan, Darren Tobin. All Subs got game time.

We now play Aghada in the next round away on Sunday 12.3.17 at 11.30 am. Aghada were defeated by Watergrasshill 1-14 to 0-15 at the weekend and will be targeting a win at home against us to say in the hunt for promotion. Likewise, we must keep it going ourselves by driving to win the League and ultimately the Premier Championship crown.

Bleak weekend for Cork with defeats in Hurling and Football Leagues.

The last weekend was a bleak one for Cork as defeat was our lot in both the National Hurling and Football Leagues. After a fine first half showing against Kilkenny in the hurling in Nowlan Park the second half was a tame affair as Kilkenny with a few newcomers totally took over to win easily. Fair play to our own man Colm Spillane he done well in difficult circumstances. However, the football showing is a cause for concern as Clare dominated this game in Ennis despite missing two of their better players. In fact, Clare came out in the second half and put up a further four points on the board before Cork raised a flag and they went on by eight points. The song says there will be days like this and the book says there will be better days but lads please we need a few good days soon so let’s raise the game.

There is still a fierce rivalry at County level. These true rivalries generate high levels of energy and support so much so that we will now have the Super 8 in football and hopefully a similar competition before long in hurling. However, the binding tribal rival rivalry that delivered so much to Cork over the last 100 years is now on the way out as far as under age structures are concerned. We moved from the original structures many years ago, like the pillars of Imokilly, Avondhu, Carberry, etc, that delivered to much for Cork hurling and football through history into Rebel Óg East, West, Central Divisions, etc, and despite it being there for seven or eight years there are few All Irelands coming our way at under age level. Now we have the latest initiative the “Soft Borders” Competitions. Hopefully, this will be good for our underage players but true rivalry is about tradition and pays off in games of great feeling which is mighty for clubs, players and supporters. So yet another initiative to kick-start Cork underage again ach is maith and scéalaí an aimsir.

U21 Footballers Championship game off.

Castlelyons are out against Youghal in the East Cork Under 21B Football Championship and as it was not played last week the date is not yet fixed due to the St Colman’s lads being involved in Croke Cup. In any event the lads are doing a bit and the selectors Donal Barry and James Maye are hopeful of defeating Youghal so best of luck to all.

Weekly Lotto Draw Results for Monday 6.3.17. 

This draw was held in the Community Centre. The numbers were 16, 20, 22 and 23. There was no winner. The Jackpot is now €9, 200. The Lucky Dip winners of €20 each were as follows: -

1. Alan O Regan.

2. Sean O Dowd.

3. Paul Cashman.

4. Wallace Family.

5. Michael Roche.

6. Catherine Verling.

7. Jacinta O Leary.

8. Maureen McNally.

The next draw is Monday the 13th March in the Abbey Tavern. Thanks to all for your great support and please advise your friends that they can play our Lotto Online or purchase tickets from the usual outlets.

St Colman’s called off on Saturday. 

St Colman’s College, Fermoy were due to play in the All Ireland Quarter Final of the Post Primary Schools (Under 18.5) A Grade Hurling in Kilmallock on Saturday. However, it was called off as the pitch was unplayable. There opponents are St Brigid’s Vocational School, Loughrea, Co. Galway. St Brigid’s defeated a highly-fancied Presentation College, Athenry to win the Connacht title. David Burke and Johnny Coen current Galway hurlers oversee the team and they have a few very tidy hurlers and Galway minors but Colman’s should have both the backs and firepower to take the day. We wish St Colman’s and our own Castlelyons men the best of luck on Wednesday as they rise from Harty ache and hit the open road again and we will know the result by the time of reading this.

Fixture: - 

Sunday 12.3.17 in Aghada at 11.30 am; IHL division 2; Aghada v Castlelyons

Club Main Sponsors: ZEUS Packaging Group.