Castlelyons Lotto Jackpot at €20,000 draw on 23rd December – Could be yours for Christmas.

Castlelyons GAA Lotto Results – Monday 16.12.24 - Lotto Jackpot at €20,000 

The last draw was held on Monday 16.12.24 and the numbers drawn were 22, 23, 24 and 28.  There was no winner.   The Lucky Dip Winners of €20 each were as follows: - Polly Shanahan, Aidan Dalton, Mattie O’Sullivan, Christine Carroll, Thomas Broderick, Eoin Murphy, Oisin Hegarty and Pat Lawlor.

Next week's Jackpot is again at a monster €20,000.  The next Draw be held in the Community Centre on Monday 23rd December at 8.15pm. Thank you all for your support and don’t forget you can play our Lotto Online or purchase from the usual outlets.  Have a great Christmas.

Castlelyons GAA Juvenile Club Officers 2025.

The following were elected for 2025 at the recent Juvenile GAA AGM.  Chairperson: Mike O Donovan, Vice Chairperson: Daire Ó hUallacháin, Secretary: Nelius O'Brien, Treasurer: Simon Barry, Vice Treasurer: Declan Wallace, PRO: Eoin Murphy, and Club Children's Officer Norah O'Brien. The Coaching Officer position will be filled shortly. Managers and coaches for the various teams will be arranged shortly.

Poc Fada – St Stephen’s Day.

Our Juvenile Club are holding the annual Poc Fada competition on Saint Stephen’s morning at 10.30am. Registration at the Pitch & Putt Clubhouse 10am – 10.30am.  This is a great community event and most enjoyable. Refreshments available from Brew Boys.

Cork GAA County Board Convention 2024

Reports.

The Convention was held on the 10th of December.  There were detailed reports by the Runaí and Officers which are available on the Cork GAA Website. Chairperson Pat Horgan also spoke at the Convention. There was an excellent and open report given by county treasurer Diarmuid Gowen on the accounts of both the Board and Páirc Uí Chaoimh as he covered all details and took questions from the floor.   Diarmuid described Cork GAA’s financial situation as extremely challenging as the servicing of the debt has a serious impact on cashflow and the Board’s overall profitability. The sale of lands owned by the Board at Kilbarry has potential to reduce debt considerably but is delayed due to issues with planning.  Runaí Kevin O’Donovan expressed great gratitude to the players and management for putting cork hurling back on the map this year and any costs associated with the intercounty game were only a fraction of the input of voluntary input and social capital created by our intercounty players.  He really looked forward to future adventures of the Rebels.

Motions.

Midleton had a motion seeking to have the current 60-day time period eligibility in reference to a player playing overseas reduced to 30 days and this was carried.  However, a second motion by Midleton that would allow players to continue playing at a lower grade after one substitute appearance at a higher level was not successful.

The County Board had a motion aimed at tightening the guidelines around players transferring to the ‘first club’ of their father.  Presently in Cork, a change of address is not required for a player applying to transfer to the home club of his father.  The Board motion met with strong opposition from the floor and was defeated. There were some other motions by the Board regularising the composition of the both the executive and committees and they were carried.

Election of Officers.

Ger O'Sullivan from the Canovee club was elected unopposed as PRO for Cork GAA. succeeding the outgoing PRO Francis Kenneally, who had completed his term. John O'Mahony of Macroom was elected as Irish & Cultural Officer for Cork GAA as he defeated Jerry Walsh of Ballydesmond.  He has succeeded Denis McSweeney, who had completed his term.

Referees.

Jim McAvoy, Blarney replaced Niall Barrett, Carrigtwohill as Cork GAA Committee Chairperson who had completed his five-year term.  Niall spoke about the shortage of referees and in particular the number clubs who were not supplying any referees to the game. He also outlined that there was considerable verbal abuse directed at referees and coming from outside the wire.  He pleaded with patrons to discontinue this abuse.

GAA nationally to start charging children to enter League games.

Delegates at the Convention expressed their opposition to the GAA announcement that Children will now be charged for league games. of charging.  One delegate queried what level of consultation there was with the county and was advised there was no query with Cork.  The GAA announced recently there will be a change in juvenile pricing. Children’s Tickets (U16) will be €5 for all Division 1 and Division 2 Fixtures in football and Division 1A & 1B in hurling.  These tickets can only be purchased alongside an adult ticket.  It will not apply for Divisions 3 & 4 in football or Divisions 2 & 3 in hurling.  A juvenile charge may also apply to other fixtures if required due to capacity. This new arrangement has been introduced after consultation with our counties and to assist with event control and health and safety protocols for fixtures that attract bigger attendances.

Strategic Plan.

A new Cork GAA Strategic Plan 2025-30 was circulated at the Convention.  It is a colourful 41-page document and interestingly it contained repeated reference to a new “home for our teams”.  The document outlined that all inter-county managers, “are united in the belief that the requirement of a home for our teams is now essential”. Considering the challenging finances a Centre of Excellence may be hard to realise within the next five years.

Championship Draws.

The championship draws took place at the Convention and Castlelyons will play Ballyhea, Inniscarra and Bishopstown to qualify for the knockout stages.  Nothing easy here but more on the draw later.

Three Imokilly hurling teams heading for Croke Park in January 2025 - Congratulations to all.

Well in January 2024 we had two Imokilly teams involved in the All-Ireland Club Hurling Finals in Croke Park as St Catherines played Tullogher / Rosbercon in the Junior Final while Castlelyons took on Thomastown, Kilkenny in the Intermediate final.  However, victory did not come south as both teams were defeated.  But Imokilly hurling is looking stronger this year as Sarsfields defeated Slaughtneil on Sunday and now play Na Fianna in the All-Ireland Senior Club Final.  Watergrasshill defeated Carey Faughs on Saturday comprehensively and now play Tynagh- Abbey/Duniry in the Intermediate final.  Russell Rovers defeated Ballinascreen of Derry and will now meet St Lachtain’s of Kilkenny in the Junior Final.  Congratulations to all three East Cork teams and best of luck in their respective finals in early January. 

Cork GAA 2025 Yearbook

Celebrate the highlights of Cork GAA with our 2025 Yearbook, a stunning collection of unforgettable moments and achievements from both County and Club levels over the past year.  Get your copy today from our treasurer Mick Spillane for just €10.

A Centenary Celebration.

Celebrate the Imokilly centenary with "A Centenary Celebration" recently launched by Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns.  It is a hardback book of 477 pages with all colour photos. There are match reports of years, 2011 to early 2024 and a history of all the Grounds in East Cork with special aerial photographs. Reports, profiles and stories of many East Cork stars, past and present, including many ladies who have recently taken on officerships with their clubs plus centenary celebrations. Castlelyons have featured a lot as they were in many finals in those years.  Price €40.  It you are interested contact Kieran McGann or any member of the East Cork Board.

Wedding Bells.

Congratulations from Castlelyons GAA to club stalwart Colm Barry and Aishling who were married during on Thursday.  Also, to Christine Carroll of the Camogie Club and PJ Nolan who were married on Saturday.  Comhghairdeas go léir and wishing you all the best these days and always.

Notice - Tractor Run – St Catherines Juvenile GAA – in aid of Irish Motor Neurone Disease

On this Saturday evening 21^st December, in conjunction with the Tractor Run in Ballynoe, there is an additional fundraiser in memory of Angela O'Regan. All monies raised will be going to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. All donations greatly appreciated. Contact Con Lawlor, Donal Barry, Maurice Carroll or Revolut Con Lawlor (@conlet1lzy). If you have access to a tractor and would like to join the tractor run, meet at Anthony O'Regan’s yard at 3:30 on Saturday. Many thanks.

Nollaig shona dhaoibh.

Guím Nollaig shíochánta agus Athbhliain shona daoibh go léir.