Castlelyons GAA Notes WE 3.5.21. 2021-05-05 19:53:00

Co - Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Draw.

There was a wave of excitement about as the draws for the 2021 Co-Op Superstores County Hurling Championships were streamed live from Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Thursday evening after the Rebels’ Bounty Draw. Well done to the Cork GAA’s media partners the Irish Examiner and their man Colm O’Connor who are streaming these events.  Castlelyons play in the premier intermediate section and it is always a tough championship to win as we know in recent years having lost two finals to Youghal and Blarney. Well, this year we are drawn in Group B with three other top teams in Watergrasshill, Inniscarra and Valley Rovers. 

Watergrasshill came through their own group last year, like Castlelyons, with full points as they beat Valley Rovers, Ballinhassig and Ballincollig.  Their game with the Valleys was close as they just came through 0-17 to 1-18. Shane O’Regan, Daire O’Leary Kevin O’Neill, Brian Fenton and Aaron Ricken are all cracking hurlers and will need motivation for a local derby with Castlelyons.   However, Courceys took the ‘Hill in the knockout stages and, of course, we beat Courceys in the semi-final later.  

We know only too well what Inniscarra are like have on just taken them last year after a lot of anxious moments.  Valley Rovers have a top senior football team and mix both codes with ease.  They will be teak tough with the likes of Chris O’Leary, Kevin Canty and John Cottrell who was sent off early in the ‘Hill game last year and was a serious loss in their one-point defeat. Castlelyons were in great form last year as the team played with good style and matched it with spirit until a tough defeat in the final to Blarney.  Hopefully, we can repeat the form but get out of the group is the first challenge and that will be tough.  This is the month of May and the daisies are up, but no hurling done so we must wait another while but judging any form.  Best of luck lads.

The new Coffee Stalls add Aroma to both Fr Ferris Park and the Village.

Fr Ferris was a great man of the people in Castlelyons in the 1880’s and lived in a hut near the Church. But I doubt if he ever had the pleasure of a cup of coffee as it had not spread to the rural areas at that time. But coffee places had sprung up across in many cities including Dublin and they fast became centres of intellectual debate about politics and religion. Many great philosophers, writers and orators would gather to spread their ideas and discuss the finer points of society while sipping their coffee.  This helped usher in a new age of enlightenment. 

However, here we are in tough times almost 150 years later in a park named in honour of the great priest and Coffee Beo has arrived. Our star hurlers Niall and Jamie O'Leary, Ronan and Alan Fenton were preparing many fine blends, varieties, and coffee tastes on site Saturday morning as many locals a some from afar gathered for a cuppa and chat.  Sure, where else would local and visitors to the Park go for the chat as the pubs, hotels, discos, churches, and the mart are out of bounds. In fact, there was a great buzz all over the village as we have two gathering places for the chat in Castlelyons as you can enjoy a coffee from Coffee Beo and have a chat and bit of fun with your friends and neighbours.  Then up the road at the Centre you can have the best of treats and cakes with a cuppa from Lady Jane. One in three people are now drinking at least one cuppa coffee once a day so it has certainly replaced the traditional pint. Best of luck to the boys and hope they still find time to wield the camán and shine for Castlelyons and the same to Colm and Deirdre Barry in Lady Jane.  Our own fabulous brewers of coffee and treats could well usher a new era of enlightenment in the village and beyond.  

Philip Murphy, Castlelyons takes second Prize in the Cork GAA Rebels’ Bounty Draw.

Congratulations to Philip Murphy, Castlelyons who is just after winning the second prize of €3,000 in the Rebel Bounty Draw last Thursday. Philip, Lorna & family are great supporters of our Club and Philip is a mighty supporter of the County Board Draw for many a year. Another East Cork supporter, namely Jim Dowling, took the first prize of €25,000 and there were thirty cash prizes in total.  Well done Philip thanks for your support and to John Barrett who sold the winning ticket.

Top jockey Davy Russell launches famous Cork Jersey for cancer charity.

THE 1984 Cork jersey was one of the slickest the Rebels wore.  In the Centenary season of the GAA, the hurlers retained the Munster title after a thriller with Tipperary and then lifted Liam McCarthy in Semple Stadium. Now a replica of the classic geansaí is available for purchase in aid of Hurling for Cancer Research. The Cork version has the number eight on the back, recognising the brilliance of captain John Fenton that season, with the Midleton man top-scoring and collecting Player of the Year.

Cúl Sliotars have launched five vintage collection jerseys in support of Hurling for Cancer Research, which is an annual charity hurling match between racing, sports and TV stars and spearheaded by the great Youghal jockey Davy Russell. The Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Tipperary, and Wexford vintage collection jerseys can be bought for €45 from www.culsliotars.ie, with €5 from every one sold donated to the Irish Cancer Society in support of Jim Bolger’s and Russell’s cause.  Davy is a massive hurling fan and to wear this iconic Cork jersey in support of Hurling for Cancer is special to him.  He is asking you to support a great cause and, no doubt Castlelyons and the area, steeped in the tradition of horses and hurling, will give generously.

Coaching Courses.

Cork GAA are conducting online Foundation Courses and Cork GDA, Sean Crowley is arranging them for East Cork. This online part deals with the Theory section of the course and the practical end will be later when it is safe to do so on the playing fields. Those undergoing the courses will have to do the child welfare course if not already done to receive the coaching certificate. Just a few from Castlelyons have done the course while over thirty have done it from some neighbouring clubs.  There is still time and if you are at least 18 years old in the calendar and interested in training our juveniles.  Contact Sean via email at sean.crowley.gda.cork@gaa.ie ASAP to book your place.

Have your say and join Castlelyons GAA today.

Club membership payments are going very well.  These are the most exciting club times in 50 years with discussion decision making and setting out plans for new development.  To have a say you must be a member of the club.  We have record members of players signed up, but we need a few more too as we have three adult teams and only paid-up members for 2021 are eligible and insured to play and use club facilities.  Regarding the facilities we will have a new Gym operational shortly.  There is still a short window for joining as it was extended by the GAA so join today and have your say as a member or non-playing member.   

The adult player membership is fixed at €100, Student at €80.00, Non-Playing Member at €50 and OAP/Social Member at €20. So, please make a note and pay your membership fees immediately to Michael Spillane (Snr) Treasurer and /or Michael Barrett Secretary or, of course register in the GAA Management System “An Foireann”. Our OAP / Social Members will receive a text of all our Games, Venues and Times. Thanks again to Peter Murphy who is facilitating the change of Registration for our Club members to the new GAA Management System called “An Foireann”.

East Cork Board Meeting postponed.

The East Cork Board meeting of the 5.5.21 is postponed.  This is because the County Board are bringing their master fixture plan shortly.  This will the East Cork Board to examine all the options and interlink their own fixtures and endeavour to have the best possible plan for clubs in a shortened playing season.

Castlelyons GAA Club Meeting on Thursday 6.5.21 at 7.30pm.

There will be a club meeting on Thursday 6.5.21 at 7.30pm.  This meeting will be held virtually on “Teams” and it is important that you attend as there are some important decisions on repairs and development to be made.  Declan Sexton and Tom Carroll are preparing a draft of phase development proposals and, hopefully, they will be able to present them on the evening.

County Games start up the weekend.

We have the resumption of the Allianz Hurling League on the weekend with a feast of games to view on TV.  Cork will play Waterford in Division One in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday 9.5.21 at 3.45pm. They were beaten as favourites in last year’s championship opener against the Déise and seemed to lack that bit of extra confidence afterwards so they will surely be up for a winning start to the year.  Talk to Mr Cody during his top years with the Cats as they skimmed up a rake of League titles as well and steadied the team.  It always helped them for the championship. We have two men on the Cork panel Colm Spillane and Niall O Leary and hopefully they will see action and as they are now a formidable part of the set up.  Best of luck lads and to the Rebels.

Votes of Sympathy.

Castlelyons GAA wish to extend sincere sympathy to Pru and the extended Kent families and O’Riordan families on the sad passing of Kathleen Kent.  Also, sincere sympathy to the Kent family, Bartlemy and Jo McGann, Castlelyons on the recent sad passing of John Kent formerly of Mitchelstown.  Solas na bhFlaitheas ar a nainmeacha go léir.

Club Main Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group.

Notes by Kieran McGann PRO




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