Castlelyons men Fitzgibbon Cup medals winners.

The number of Castlelyons men holding Fitzgibbon Cup medals has to the knowledge of this writer risen to five.  The Fitzgibbon Cup is the holy grail for the third level colleges scene and dates to 1912.  Dr Edwin Fitzgibbon, a Capuchin Friar, was based as a Professor in UCC was most anxious to Gaelic games donated most of his annual salary to commission the cup. Captaining a Fitzgibbon Cup winning team is regarded as a great honour and there were many famous captains down the years.  Among them Éamon Bulfin, credited with hoisting the republican tricolour flag over the roof of the GPO during the Easter Rising was captain of UCD winning team in 2015. The famous Dr Tommy Daly from the hill of Tulla, Co. Clare captained and won a record six medals with UCD. Fr Seanie Barry of Bride Rovers captained UCC in 1966 they won the final in Croke Park.  In fact, John Arnold told me that that scored 1-4 that day and he scored 1-6 out of 1-11 in the semi-final.  Fr Seanie also an won All Ireland U21 and Senior medals with Cork that year too. Nickie English of Tipperary captained UCC in 1985. 

Our own Eoin Fitzgerald was captain of University College Limerick when they won it in 2002. Eoin, a cracking forward in his day, had so many outstanding games for Castlelyons, Cork minors and seniors before until injury limited his hurling career. Of course, in more recent years the famous Hurley Óg is the brainchild of Eoin and his wife Ciara. Leo Sexton was next with a medal with UCC in 2011.  After a few years with the Dublin Club St Jude’s Leo is back again in the Castlelyons colours.  In 2016 Colm Barry was a winner with Mary Immaculate College Limerick.  Of course, Colm has since been a master of consistency at full back in Imokilly’s three in a row county titles.  Onto to this year and we had two men on UCC winning team, namely Jack Barry and current Cork player Niall O Leary with Jack being the vice-captain.

The lads always give it holly and really enjoy the Cup weekend which has resulted in a few scrapes down the years. However, there was one hair raising moment when the students were quiet and their head down.  This happened in May 1919 when UCC were returning from the Fitzgibbon Cup weekend in Galway by train.  There was a prisoner, IRA man Sean Hogan, being escorted to jail by the RIC on the same train.  The train was attacked at Knocklong by Hogan’s ally the famous Dan Breen. Bullets flew killing two policemen but the UCC students kept the head down and were no injured in the skirmish.  Well we have four of these Castlelyons winners on our 2020 panel and while we don’t want bullets, we need sparks flying when the season resumes.

An exciting game from the archives of 2016 

Castlelyons 4-28 Ballinacurra 8-16 (after extra time)

One of Castlelyons most exciting games in many years was in an East Cork JBHC match which took place in Ballynoe in July 2014.  The game finished level after extra-time with a scoreline of Castlelyons 4-28 and Ballinacurra 8-16. The score once tweeted went viral around the world and was picked up by many of the big reporters.

As the scoreline suggests this was an epic match that had everything with a total of 56 scores registered in the game and forty points each. Now the Castlelyons card was marked as earlier that year in a league game in Ballynoe Ballinacurra scored nine goals so they had an eye for goals. This was a match that began with Castlelyons on top and we raced in an 8-point lead after 15 mins. Ballinacurra cut the deficit to 3 points when they scored 2 goals after 20 mins but Castlelyons replied with a goal from Alan O Regan to lead at half time by 1-12 to 2-03.

The second half was a whirlwind of scores with Ballinacurra scoring five goals in this half to take a commanding lead at times but Castlelyons to their credit managed to bring them back each time and with a late goal from Jack Barry. Eoin Maye put over a mighty leveller just before the long whistle to send the game into extra time.

In the extra time period both teams again scored goals with Ballinacurra racing into a five point lead with five minutes left to play but a goal each from Timmy McCarthy and Robbie Feeney and late points from Jack Barry, Eoin Maye and Timmy McCarthy levelled the match and it went on to a replay after the most exciting match witnessed by everyone in a long time.  What a game with no stats men, tough on selectors to keep the score and on the referee and the umpires dead out from jumping about the place and waving the flags.

We won the replay the following week in a game by 3-16 to 1-11 that did not disappoint either.  Our backs led by Cian O Leary and Declan Sexton were tough out while Timmy McCarthy scored 2-2 and Michael Spillane 0-3 from play.

Panel: - E Barry, M Murphy, L Moroney, C Lawlor, K Kenny, S Cotter, D Varner, C O Leary D Tobin, E Maye, R Fenton, D Lawlor, A O Regan, M J Dorgan, T McCarthy, R Feeney, D Sexton, M Spillane, J Barry, S Fenton and C Cotter.

GAA Learning Programme to help primary and second level students.

The GAA are providing school learning daily through the GAA website.  This is done through a daily learning programme to help parents, teachers, and children learning from home.  It will be for both national and second level students. There will be daily lessons on the GAA website, and it is hoped to email them to county and club secretaries for them to forward on to their networks. The objective is to make them as accessible as possible. Mícheál Martin the Wexford vice chairman and a primary school principle is heading up the project.  He outlines that the key message we want to get out is that we want to help parents engage children in some form of learning, both physical and academic. These are demanding times, but Martin is adamant that this project can provide valuable assistance away from the normal classroom setting.  As a primary school principal, I'm aware it is a struggle for parents to get children to learn from home and this will be of great benefit because it is something the kids will enjoy. Every subject will be covered, it will all be fun and simple.

Community Assistance and Health Information.

During these serious times of Covid 19 just a reminder we are all keeping our social distance, it is important that we look after our own well-being and the well-being of those around us.  We can assist the well-being of others also as Castlelyons GAA have a service available to assist as many members from the adult, juvenile and camogie sections have volunteered assistance to support parishioners who might be worried about leaving their house for: - Shopping pick up.  Medication pick up.  Any urgent matters. Should you need some assistance don’t hesitate to contact any of the numbers below and assistance will be arranged: - 086 235 5486.  087 244 6597.  087 619 3593.  086 853 2359.  086 812 6582. 

 Some tips this week from the GAA this week on keeping well mentally. Take a little personal time-out each day and practice some deep breathing. Sign up to any course or a free course and refresher coaching course at https://learning.gaa.ie/  Limit your time on social media and your consumption of Covid-19 news stories. Sign up to your local library or download Apps (e.g. Headspace/Calm), Podcasts or Audio Books that promote positive mental well-being. Continue to spend time outdoors, by yourself or with your children – walking and playing in open spaces are both safe; but maintain social distancing.  For mental health supports and services visit: https://www2.hse.ie/mental-health/  Best wishes and keep safe all.

Vote of Sympathy

Castlelyons GAA wish to express sincere condolences to the O Connor family, Castlelyons, the Coleman family Ballydorgan, the Hennessy family Coolagown, the Hinchion family Kilnamartyra and the Abernethy family Midleton on their recent bereavement. Solas na bhFlaitheas ar a nainmeacha go léir.

Main Club Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group