Castlelyons Minors go down fighting in outstanding final.

Castlelyons minor hurlers went down fighting and suffering a one-point defeat at the hands of Ballygiblin in the replay of the County Minor A Hurling Final at Fermoy on Saturday last.  This was a cracking game all through as there was so little between the teams.  Of course, in the first game Castlelyons came from 0-10 down to draw the game and our hopes were strong especially when John Paul Murphy was back in goal for us having recovered from injury.  Then again young Jack Kenny was unavailable last Saturday.  The day was calm with the pitch in very good condition and ideal for hurling.

Ballygiblin scored first with 0-1 from G Pendle but Niall O Leary replied with a good point from play after receiving a great pass from Barry Murphy.  Then Keith O Leary scored 0 – 2 from frees after a foul on Barry Murphy after a pick off the ground by an opposition player.  Cathal O Mahony broke through for a goal for Ballygiblin and Pendle struck over a ’65 for them.  Then came one an outstanding score for us as Henley made a great clearance which Ian Riordan fetched took off and banged over the point of the game.  We enjoyed a period of great superiority as all our lads done well but Ballygiblin held out and managed 0 – 2 of their own to leave it 1 – 3 to 0-4 on 15 minutes.

Then we had 0 - 2 from play by Keith O Leary the second a mighty one from play and far out.  Our half back line of Peter Roche and Conor McCarthy (both U16’s) and Pierce Varner were doing very well.  Ian O Riordan passed on a good ball to David Morrison who was fouled and Keith O Leary pointed the free.  Then it was Ballygiblin who got on top a bit as O Mahony and Pendle pointed.  However, young Conor McCarthy kept us in the game with a great block on Sean O Sullivan as he attempted a goal. Pendle pointed the ’65 and O Sullivan pointed again for Ballygiblin who had three wides on the trot.  There was some savage defending by our full backline of Mark Henley, Jamie O Leary and Redmond Walsh too at times as there was nothing given easy with John Paul Murphy rock solid in goals and they cleared a lot of ball during this time.  Then Barry Murphy, always dangerous had 0 -1 and he was receiving great help from our wing forwards Ian O Riordan and Mark Spillane.   Keith had 0 – 1 from a free as David Morrison was fouled going through to leave the half time score Castlelyons 0 – 9 and Ballygiblin 1- 7.

The quality of hurling continued top class for the second half albeit the shooting a little nervous as Pendle and Keith O Leary were wide.  The Sean O Sullivan ran at us from midfield and pointed but Keith replied for us with 0 – 1 after being set up nicely by James Kearney.  Alex Henley now doing well was fouled and Keith put the free over.  However Cathal O Mahony struck a good goal for them and S O Sullivan had another 0 -1 and Pendle had another 0 -1 from a free against the run of play as Castlelyons had applied a lot of pressure without reward. 

There was fifteen minutes left on the clock as we trailed to 0 - 11 to 2 - 10 and we traded frees again as Keith added another one for us.  Niall O Leary who was hurling so well despite being double marked because of his heroics the previous day got possession.  He won a dirty ball out on the left wing and slipped his markers and carried the ball while going through the gears.  He then unleashed a rocket to the Ballygiblin net similar but even better than the one the last day.  We were now just two points behind with 10 minutes left.  Yes that man Keith sent over a monster again from 70 yards out and back came Ballygiblin with 0 - 1 from Pendle but Keith had to more points to level the game 1 – 15 to 2 – 12 on 26 minutes.  There was a hectic and exciting struggle in the last few minutes with both teams fighting for their life as Pendle nailed a handy free for Ballygiblin in the middle of some nervous wides by both sides.  On the final whistle Ballygiblin claimed the title by the narrowest of margins, one point, but our lads had given it everything over the two games. 

These were two games that enhanced Rebel Óg as both clubs and all players displayed supreme arts of hurling over both days.   Congrats to Ballygiblin on a tremendous win.  However, congratulations to our Panel many of who are so young and to the team management : -  Shane Hickey, Jimmy O Leary, Brian Carroll and Anthony Spillane, to the Juvenile Club who had a great year and the parents and supporters with more to come in the League.  Hurling and sport in general is about great moments and we had so many in these games.   As the saying in sport goes “it is not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up” and I have no doubt Castlelyons hurling will come strong from this defeat. 

Panel: - John Paul Murphy, Conor McCarthy, Mark Henley, Jamie O Leary, Redmond Walsh, Seamus Moroney, Jack Kenny, Peter Roche, Niall O Leary, James Kearney, Ian O Riordan, Keith O Leary, Mark Spillane, David Morrison, Barry Murphy and Alex Henley, Pearse Varner, Andrew O Neill, Michael Buckley, Jack Ronayne, James McCarthy, Shane O Flynn, Eoin O Neill. Subs that came on: - Seamus Moroney replaced Mark Henley who received a nasty injury and Andrew O Neill came on as subs. Referee on the day Kevin Murphy of Nemo Rangers had a good game as he brought his own linesmen and all.

Castlelyons Weekly Lotto Draw on Monday 10^th October, 2016.

This draw was held in the Abbey Bar on Monday night.  The numbers drawn were 9, 16, 22 and 29.  There was no winner.  The eight “lucky dip” winners of €20 each were as follows: - Martina O Regan.  Ned & Masie.  Michelle Fenton.  Finan Waters.  Nessa Barrett.  Patrick O Regan. Michael Sheehan. Donal Barry.  The Jackpot is now at €5, 200.  The next draw will be held on Monday 17^th October, 2016, in the Abbey Tavern at 9.30 pm.  You can play our Lotto Online or purchase tickets from the usual outlets.  Your support is appreciated.

Result of Fundraising Draw on 3.10.2016

1^st Prize – Father Gerry Colman, 2^nd Ina O Brien, 3^rd Pa Granville, 4^th Diarmuid Moroney, John Barrett, 6^th Lorna Murphy, 7^th, Andrew Meade, 8^th Pat Clancy, Fermoy, 9^th Catriona O Sullivan, 10^th Rita Parker.  Thanks to all Sponsors and all for supporting our Draw which was a great success.  Also thanks to the Sellers, Donal O Leary our Treasurer and Denis Fenton who coordinated the cards.

Good win for Junior B Hurlers in Division 2 Junior B Hurling League.

Castlelyons 5-11 Watergrasshill 3-15  

Castlelyons concluded the JBHL Division 2 League season with a good win over Watergrasshill in Castlelyons last Friday night week.  Despite being short many players and a fear of relegation the lads showed great commitment all through.  Shane Hickey our minor trainer was called in at the last minute for goals and did very well. We were down three points at half time.   The evergreen Barry Fitzgerald operating at centre forward was scoring freely we were down a point at full time but Michael “Dunny” O Donovan banged in a mighty goal to win it in added time. 

Team: - S Hickey, M Murphy, L Moroney, F Waters, S Fenton, M Geary, C Cotter, A O Regan, W Daly, I Ronayne, D Beausang, B O Donovan, B “Dunny” O Donovan, Barry Fitzgerald and Ml John Dorgan.  Sub: Declan Sexton came on at half time as he travelled from Dublin.

Tickets for the Cork GAA Clubs Draw are now on sale.

Tickets are now on sale for this this Draw.  It is a risk free fundraising promotion available to our Club and, indeed, all Clubs across the County.  Tickets cost €100 per annum with a guaranteed 45% contribution to the draw members club rising to 58% on agreed target achievement.  Since its inception in 1992 communities have benefitted by more than €19 million in funding their local club developments.  The Draw has three aims -

1. Investment in games development and coaching
2. Risk free funding for clubs
3. Capital projects support

Accordingly, a special meeting will be held on next Monday night at 8.30 in the Community Centre to discuss ticket sales.

Thanks to our Stewards at County Finals.

Although we did not make it to the County Finals in Páirc Ui Rinn well done to a number of our lads who assisted with the Stewarding namely Pat Collins, Colm Spillane, Colm Barry, David Beausang and Colm O Neill as they also assisted the wheelchair accesses and mini games at half time. It was disappointing to see our neighbours Fermoy beaten in the PIHC Final but they are a team on the way up and have the football final to come shortly.  This is massive commitment and effort and they surely deserve success.

Votes of Sympathy.

At the last Club Meeting votes of sympathy were extended to the Clancy family, and the Rooney family on their recent bereavement. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainmneacha go léir.

Club Main Sponsor; ZEUS Packaging Group.