Castlelyons GAA Notes WE 20.7.20. 2020-07-23 09:05:00

I H Challenge.

Castlelyons 2-16 Fr O Neills 2-15

Last year’s premier champions Fr O Neills came to visit us in Castlelyons on Friday evening as both teams are preparing for their championship games in the senior shortly.  O Neills had some year in 2019 winning Cork, roaring through Munster, and defeating Ballysaggart in the final, an All-Ireland semi-final win over Tooreen of Mayo but at a price.  Two of their top men Mark O Keeffe both three-time senior winners with Imokilly were unable to play in the All-Ireland final against Tullaroan in Croke Park. Incidentally, the final was a cracker that day in Croke Park as O Neills led the Kilkenny men by 0-5 with 15 mins to go only for Tullaroan to respond with an unanswered 1-7 to lead by five.  O Neills came alive again and goaled to level the game in the 62nd minute. Shane Walsh who scored 0-10 on the day scored his last one on the 65th minute to take the title to Tullaroan. What a pity as the loss of the two boys was so serious.  However, they are a senior outfit this year and show it as they set up with the treatment couch and all modern accessories set up in our ball alley to risk assess and treat their players.  They had the hi-rise video camera to film and review the game. Hopefully, our own club will get to this level of treatment for the championship at least.

Well it was a long way from Croke Park with an attendance of almost 6000 to an attendance of around 200 in Páirc an tAthair Peadar on Friday night last but the hurling was crisp, hard and had a championship atmosphere to it. We started well with points from the Spillane brothers Anthony 0-2, and Mike and Keith O leary to put us 0-4 to 0-1 up.  However, Fr Neills began to make use of a stiff breeze blowing towards the Abbey and their men Mark O Keeffe and Mike Mellerick were hurling well.  Inside Billy Dunne and Declan Dalton were proving a handful.  Dalton dropped in a long range free and after a scramble O Neills finished it to the net to put them 1-7 to 0-2 to 0-2.  A Fr O Neills forward broke loose moved in drew our backs and parted to Dalton who doubled on it and rocket like it hit the net for a typical Dalton goal.  At the other end both Keith O Leary and Anto had shots stopped by the keeper. But Leon Doocey had 0-1 to end the first half 2-9 to 0-8.

Castlelyons reorganised well at half time and despite some injuries the lads that came in made a fierce impression too.  Leon Doocey (0-2) and James Kearney fought for everything and Anthony Spillane banged in a goal.  The backs were now really in control and Keith O leary (0-3 total) and Eoin Maye (0-1) doing well in the middle.  I noted one peach of a ball from Tom Carroll, hurling mighty, through the gap to Anto who was in for a goal but was fouled and he put the resultant free over. Ronan O Regan (0-2) worked hard and we looked to be going well but then Barry Murphy had to come off with injury and Brian Carroll came on. We had a massive half back line in Leo Sexton, Niall O Leary and Colm O Neill and Jamie O Leary really locked down Billy Dunne in the second half as Colm Barry really shored up ball around the square.  Then more trouble as Colm Barry had to come off injured but Leo went in and cleared before him.  Colm Spillane fetched and kept the ball moved all through the game and we saw once again great fight in the younger players as they won dirty ball.  We actually outscored Fr O Neills 2-8 to 0-6 in that second half for a final score of 2-16 to 2-15.

It is very concerning that we had five players pulling up with injury the last day plus Cian O Leary and Peter Roche from the Ballymartle game and now injury doubts for championship. 

Panel: - Jack Barry, Jamie O Leary, Colm Barry, Jamie O Leary, Tom Carroll, Niall O Leary, Colm O Neill, Leo Sexton, Eoin Maye, Keith O Leary, Barry Murphy, Col Spillane, Ronan O Regan, Mike Spillane, Anthony Spillane, and David Morrison. David Kenny, Brian Carroll, Leo Doocey, James Kearney, Ronan Fenton, Chris Cotter, Coran Lawlor, Brian O Donovan, Alan O Regan, Ronan O Regan, Conor McCarthy, Shane Flynn, Shane Fenton, John Healy, Liam Moroney Cian O Leary, Alan Fenton, Cian O’Flynn and Peter Roche

Junior team play on Ballymartle Intermediates.

Castlelyons 4-9 Ballymartle 1-13.

In the second of the games in Páirc an tAthair Peadar on Friday evening we had our Junior B team facing up to Fr O Neills who are up to the Junior A grade this year.  Bodies were scarce as John Healy, Shane Fenton and Cian O Flynn had picked up nasty but not very serious injuries in last Sundays Ballymartle game and were not available.  Full credit to team officials John McCarthy and Ml O Donovan they were ready to roll with a full outfit.  John Kirby was on the whistle for the second game also and it was evident he had made use of the lockdown as he is very fit these days. We were in worse trouble after just a minute as Ronan Bransfield pulled up with hamstring trouble and had to come off.  Ronan back with us again this year is doing well and hopefully this injury will be temporary only.  James Kearney who had a half hour game time in the intermediate game came on as replacement and done very well.  Fr O Neills were strong and put a few good scores on the board but our half back line with Shane Flynn, Shane Cotter and Conor McCarthy in the centre did very well.   Brian O Donovan and Brian Carroll were getting on top and let in the ball.  We duly got goals from Michael John Dorgan, Richard Morrison, and Darren Tobin. Tobin soloed in and as the backs backed off him, he let fly a rocket to the top corner.   James Kearney had 0-2 and Richard Morrison 0-1 while Darren Tobin has 0-4 from play to leave the score 3-7 to 1-8 at half time.

The second half was a dour affair as Fr O Neill pressed again but this time, they found Coran Lawlor, Liam Moroney and Dave Morrison hard nuts in the full back line and Dave Kenny done well in goal.  Seamus Morrison and Dave Kenny got game time in the second half. Ronan Fenton another man coming back into form after injury last year done very well too. They put over 0-5 but Chris Cotter and Brian Carroll had 0-1 each and we held out for a good 4-9 to 1-14 win. While results in challenges games do not matter and its early days yet there are a number of players showing good form and if all are fit, we should have a good side for the championship.  

Panel: - John Paul Murphy, David Kenny, Coran Lawlor, Liam Moroney, Declan Morrison, Shane Flynn, Conor McCarthy, Shane Cotter,  Brian Carroll, Ronan O Regan, Brian O Donovan, Ronan Bransfield, Ronan Fenton, James Kearney, Alan O Regan, Shane Cotter, Darren Tobin, Chris Cotter, Richard Morrison, Michael John Dorgan. John Healy, Shane Fenton, Cian O Flynn,

Return of Castlelyons GAA Weekly Lotto Draw.

Our weekly lotto due to be held on Monday 20th July in the Community Centre at 9.30pm for a Jackpot is €20,000 has returned but was postponed a day to Tuesday the 21st July as a mark of respect to Fr Pete Hegarty who died suddenly, and his funeral was on Monday.  The result of the Draw was not available at time of going to press but will be published on Twitter, Facebook and next week’s Avondhu.

Premier Intermediate Championship Game down for Lisgoold on Sunday 2.8.20

Our intermediate hurlers are due to meet Blackrock in the first round of Championship on in Lisgoold on the weekend of the 2.8.20. The lads have trained well and played tough challenge games.  However, we are shipping a number of injuries and hopefully they will be cleared up in time.  More on our chances next week but an immediate concern is tickets for the game.

Ticketing and attendance at Championship games with numbers limited to 200

The Cork County Board has announced a new online ticketing system is being rolled out to safeguard all involved in upcoming county championship games. The County chairperson Ms Tracey Kennedy outlined it will ensure minimal contact, safe regulation of numbers at venues and ease of contact tracing in the event of a Covid-19 case.  It will be operated by Ticketmaster and Universe system and there is a limit of 200 attendance which includes players, officials, stewards, host club members and spectators. the lot.

This will not please the clubs as we have members working hard at various jobs all year and now come championship day may not be able to attend the game.  It is certainly a questionable rule when one can go into a shopping store with 200 people there and then in a licensed premise with food and liquor for up to 50 people present. Then, in and around a playing pitch in the fresh air only 200 allowed in total. This is the current scene and will be reviewed again on the 11th August. Cumann Lúthchleas Gael have grounds for greater numbers outdoors.  However, we have seen the damage that mass gatherings of socialising have caused during this pandemic. The guidelines are there and if they are honoured in the breach rather than the observance, we are on a dangerous route so we must be careful. It is vital that we are most vigilant now as the competitions commence and for the safe operation of our games that no-one turns up without the appropriate ticket. All details of how to obtain a ticket are set out on the Cork GAA Website.  I see Liverpool have played most important games in their 128-year history to win the Premiership this year behind closed doors and not a cricket in the Kop. So changed times out there too.

 Sudden passing of Father Pete Hegarty.

It was with great sadness that we heard of the sudden passing of Father Pete Hegarty last Thursday.  He was one of our great supporters as are all his family. Born in Coolagown he attended Kilmagner NS and worked at O’Sullivan’s Garage, Fermoy as costing clerk and receptionist. During his time in Fermoy he felt the call to the priesthood. He went to St Patrick’s College, Buchlyvie, Scotland for further education in 1971. Then after extensive studies both in Cork and Kiltegan he was ordained in 1980.  Fr Peter was then appointed to the Diocese of Mzuzu, Malawi, where he would spend the following thirty years. He was instrumental in building a beautiful Church at Chilumba which served as a temporary Cathedral for the newly formed Diocese of Karonga.  He promoted education there amongst his parishioners as he saw it the gateway to a better life for the community.

In his youth Fr Pete was an outstanding athlete. He came from a family steeped in sport and his interest was cycling. He had the distinction of beating the great Sean Kelly in a race in the Mardyke during his student days in Cork. Even on the missions he was never far from a bike as he cycled around his parish the size of Munster. On returning home in 2010 he took up his great hobby again. He often told people that the highlight of his cycling career was winning the Matt Lenihan Shield, named after his late uncle. A trip of 80km was no bother to him and Fr Peter was cycling right up to the end of his life.

Father Pete was a cheerful person, easy to talk with, left one in good form and so good to give a sermon with a message.  Since he came home from the missions, he assisted in parishes all about and visited the sick. On a personal note he was so good to visit a sick family relation, and we thank him for it.  He was a man of great family values and we wish to express our sincere condolences to his sisters, brothers, and all his relations.  Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm uasal.

Congratulations.

Congratulations to Sean Kenny our intermediate selector and his fiancée Ms Lauren McCall who recently announced their engagement.  Happy days Folks. 

Omission from Under 10 Training set up. 

Please note that last week Mr Simon Barry was inadvertently omitted from the report on the Rebel Óg and Under 10 training set up. Any embarrassment caused to Mr Barry is regretted.

 Vote of Sympathy

Sincere condolences to the Burke family on the recent death of Ms Alice Burke, Kent Terrace, to the Kearney family, Fermoy on the death of Joe Kearney and to the O Connor family Aghada on the death of Kieran O Conner. Solas na bhFlaitheas ar a nainmeacha go léir.

Castlelyons Main Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group.




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