Castlelyons face up to Blarney in PIHC Final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday at 7pm.

It is a case of here we go again as we hear for the Páirc on Saturday evening for the county final of the PIHC.  Pity about attendance for our loyal supporters and at this time we do not know how many or even if it is behind closed doors. The Castlelyons club small in stature but big in heart and reaching a Premier intermediate county hurling final is a hugely significant occasion. Amazingly, our first county title did not come until 1989 and that was a county junior B football title.  This was a watershed occasion as many great hurling titles followed and even a county senior hurling semi-final appearance in 2001. These titles did not come easy as there was great work put into coaching, good management, and commitment to training by so many players.

There is a great fondness for the parish and the club.  This is mixed with a sense of honesty. If things were going poorly or fellows playing badly, they are informed and kept grounded in reality. Good work by the juvenile club has facilitated a rich supply line to the adult section as we have maintained a relatively strong intermediate side over the years.

This was another year of serous effort in a most unusual setting as we won all four championship games to date to make it to the county final.  Blarney the bookies favourites at the start of the year are waiting for us in a rematch.  We managed to surprise them in the group game earlier in sun drenched Mourne Abbey on a score 1-20 to 1-14.  However, the rematch is always difficult, and they came through in style running riot in their semi-final against Carrigaline as Pádraig Power returned a hat trick (3-2) with county man Mark Colman returning 1-7 and Shane Power 0-7. All three had outstanding games again for UCC against Blackrock in the senior semi-final.  Blarney have Mark O Leary back in the fray also and a few positional switches since we last met them, and they have a system of changing to a two-man full forward set up and packing the backs to suit the game as required. No doubt they are a form team and we need to review our ammunition.

There is a saying in American bowling that the pitcher often changes his pitch in a rematch and in the States, they say how are you fixed Jack.  Our own management team will be working on a Castlelyons model that has yielded four straight victories and no doubt the matchups and placing of the team will be interesting.  We have a great blend of youth and experience moulded together through good management, commitment, and coaching. Players like Colm Barry, Niall O Leary, Colm and Anthony Spillane, Alan Fenton and Eoin Maye are proven warhorses and if they instil that heart and will to win along the battle lines, we will not be shot down too easy. Is féidir linn.  Castlelyons Abú.

The ladies lead the way as the Camogie club wins first county adult title.

Castlelyons 2-14 Inniscarra 1-5

What a day for Castlelyons Camogie Club last Saturday as they went on to win the club’s second ever adult camogie title.  They defeated Inniscarra in the Junior B county final in Castle Road before a limited crowd.  The heavy lifting was done in the semi-final against Bride Rovers as there was a feeling that Inniscarra were not as good and it proved that way when one looks at the victory margin.  The backs were rock solid from the start as Niamh Barry and Melissa O Sullivan at full and centre back led their lines well.  the girls led 2-9 to 0-5 at the short whistle, with the highlights being Gráinne McCarthy and Jessie O Leary poaching a goal apiece and Leigh Hallihan scoring 0-4 from play.  Castlelyons put 0-5 on the board in the second half to Inniscarra’s 1-0 for a relatively facile victory.  No doubt about it this team comprises a blend of youth and experience and with plenty of young players coming onto the panel they will be able to hold their own in the higher-grade next year.  The captain Niamh Barry received the Cup in a fever of excitement and Leigh Hallahan received the Person of the Match Award amid a fever of celebrations and excitement. There was a real bualadh bos by locals who welcomed the team in a parade through Castlelyons.

It is so regrettable that celebrations were curtailed by regulations to prevent any spread of the current pandemic.  Congratulations to all the girls and their management team of Timmy McCarthy, Trevor Hickey, Seanie Cotter, Mary McNulty, and Orla Hallihan.  Also, well done to Alan O Regan who did a side by side commentary on the game with Inniscarra and the streaming was a serious bonus to the those who could not travel to the game.  There will be another time when the celebrations can flow but the victory will remain in the memory.  Sure, it would it be mighty to take the junior proper title next year and I have every faith in the team and management to do the business again. Hopefully, by then we will have overcome current curtailments and we will enjoy a greater sense of freedom.  Go mbeirimíd beo ar an am seo arís

Team:  Zoe Power, Áine Ní Mhaolán, Niamh Barry, Cáit McCarthy, Clodagh O’Flynn, Melissa O’Sullivan, Sarah Morrison (0-1), Lucy McNulty (0-1), Eva Hallihan(0-3), Aibhín O’Sullivan, Nollaig McCarthy 0-2, Leah Hallihan (0-6), Avril Beirne, Gráinne McCarthy (1-1), Jessie O Leary (1-2) Subs: Áine O Brien, Olivia Sheehan, Abbie Quirke, Rachel Murphy, Katie O Riordan, Billie Shanahan, Anna Greaney and Isabelle Fenton. Subs used:  Billy Shanahan, Anna Greaney, and Isabelle Fenton, Katie O’Riordan and Olivia Sheehan.

Our Junior B team bow out of East Cork Championship.

Midleton 0-11 Castlelyons 0-7

Castlelyons played Midleton under lights in Killeagh on Monday evening in the semi-final of the East Cork Oils Junior B Championship. The game was a low scoring and dour affair but there for the taking.  We started well as Darren Tobin and Cian O’Flynn scored a point each and it took Midleton to put their first score, a point on the board. They gradually got on top and were awarded a very dubious penalty by referee Arthur Murphy who often had better games.  However, the Midleton free taker blasted it over the bar and they added three more points to lead us 0-4 to 0-2 at the water break.  We failed to convert some easy frees and tended to shoot from impossible angles. Our full back line of Coran Lawlor, Liam Moroney and Declan Morrison were outstanding all through the game.  We reached half time and the score was still Midleton ahead at 0-4 to 0-2.

Midleton pressed hard early in the second half but again our backs done well, and Dave Kenny was busy in goals, but his ball handling was very good. When we got into the game our free taking and shooting in general let us down. All we had to show was 0-1 from Ronan Bransfield play and 0-1 from Darren Tobin free. And with ten minutes we were still only two points down.  However, we continued to shoot numerous wides from Frees and impossible positions nine in the second half alone and Midleton finished the better on the scoreboard from limited chances as they scraped home 0-11 to 0-7.  Well done to the lads who put in a good year training and got to the semi-final and to those who played with injury as well.  John McCarthy and Michael O Donovan worked very hard all year and unfortunately lost a few players to the intermediate panel and some through injury.  Great work to put out a competitive second team as all get games.

Team: D Kenny, D Morrison, L Moroney, C Lawlor, J Healy, C McCarthy (0-1 free), S Fenton, S O’Flynn C O’Flynn (0-1), C McGann R Bransfield (0-1), D Tobin (0-4, 0-3 frees), R Fenton, Ml J Dorgan, A O’Regan, S Cotter, P Roche, R Morrison, S Casey, B O’Donovan and G O’Neill, E Barry.

Camogie Fixtures.

• U15 Imokilly: Wed 30th on Sept at 7:00pm: Castlelyons v Dungourney at Castlelyons.
• U16B Plate Semi Final on Sat 3rd Oct at 4:30pm: St Fanahans v Castlelyons at Ballygiblin.
• Minor C County Semi Final on Sunday 4th Oct at 5pm: Youghal v Castlelyons at Youghal.

Results of Weekly Lotto Draw 28th September 2020

This week’s Lotto Draw was held on Monday 28^th September in the Centre. The numbers drawn were 6,16, 27, and 30. There was no winner of the €20,000 Jackpot. The Lucky Dip winners were as follows: - Will & Christy Daly, Megan Moriarty, Joe McGann, Ann Adams, M Fouhy, Pat & Ursula O'Neill, Áine Maye and Claire Carey.

The next draw is Monday the 5.10.20 at the Bar. Thanks for your support and please advise your friends that they can play our Lotto Online or purchase from the usual outlets.

Thanks to our Sponsor and all who have contributed to the Club.

We wish to sincerely thank our main sponsor Brian O Sullivan of ZEUS who has backed us as the club’s sponsor with a few years now.  Also, we wish to thank all who contributed to the recent GoFundMe during the last few weeks as it costs to run the Club.  Finally, to those who have contributed to our county final and hopefully we can bring home the Cup.

Votes of Sympathy.

Castlelyons GAA wish to express sincere condolences to the Burke family Ballyhampshire, to the Carroll family Corrin and Morrissey family, Lismore on their recent bereavements. Solas na bhFlaitheas ar a nainmeacha go léir.

Castlelyons Main Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group.