Brave showing by young Under 12 team In Rathcormac.

Rebel Óg East Division Under 12 Hurling League 

Bride Rovers 7-5 Castlelyons 6-4.

Castlelyons headed for Pyne’s Field Rathcormac to play the locals in this league game on Sunday evening.  First time seeing the new developments bar looking in over the wall at clay heaped all over the place. Well. congratulations to Bride Rovers on their new facilities. We have heard a lot about changing demographics and its relevance to the GAA.  The population in Rathcormac and hinterland has undoubtly increased in recent years.  There is no doubt that the Rovers are meeting the needs of such a growing community and future proofing their club.  Three new pitches, carpark, sprinkler system and robot mower all complete and plans for a lighting system, Dugouts and digital scoreboard. 

We fielded a very young side with over half the team available for this grade again next year.  Bride Rovers who looked stronger got stuck in straight away and blasted two goals within five minutes.  However, Castlelyons settled down and goals from Flynn Murphy and Cian O’Donovan brought us back into the game.  Bobby Hosford, Jack Cronin, Tom Barry, Rian Fitzgerald and Robbie Wallace started to get on top around the middle and we started to get more ball into the full forward line. A few more goals from Cìan O’Donovan and Tom Barry point had us 5-2 to 3-2 in front at halftime.

Bride Rovers did the analysis at half time and came out in real hurling mode as they scored three goals without reply before Rian Fitzgerald banged in a cracking goal for us.  A few points from Cian O’Donovan kept us in it.  But we failed to capitalise on our chances while Rovers took theirs and their goalie made some good saves too, so they took it on the evening.   However, this was a great effort from all sixteen Castlelyons players and lads training continues Tuesday and Thursday.   Best wishes and a speedy recovery to Liam Martin and Luke Dolan a speedy recovery from their injuries.  The next Under 12 game football versus Brian Dillons on Monday 21.4.25 at 7.30pm.

Panel: - Robbie Milward, Bobby Hosford, Liam Cashman, Luke Dolan, Jack Cronin, Tom Barry, Robbie Wallace, Fionn O’Neill, Rian Fitzgerald, Liam Martin, Callaghan McCarthy, Cian O’Donovan, Diarmuid O hUallacháin, Mason White, Charlie White, Darragh McCarthy, Darren Buckley and Flynn Murphy.

Rebel Óg East Division Under 14 Hurling League

Castlelyons 3-18 Kildorrery 1-10

This game was played in Castlelyons on Wednesday evening and was more competitive that it looked on the scoreboard.  We were leading 0-13 to 0-4 as out midfielders and forwards were going well and supplied with good ball. Kildorrery then upped their game and several attacks but very safe handling in the goal by Josh Kinnane and good play in the full back line by Tadgh Hickey, Dylan Barrett and Fionn O’Neill held them out.  A fantastic goal from Ned Condon made it 1-13 to 0-5 at half time.  Kildorrery played much better in the second half, and it was 1-17 to 1-10 when Ned Condon completed his hat trick with two more goals to put us up 3-17 to 1-10.  All our forwards done well too especially Cionnaith Cotter while Kildorrery players Colm Fraher and Joe Gallagher with goalie Thomas Dunne hurled hard all through.  We are now second in this league with a good scoring average and four points from three games so keep it up lads.

Panel: - Josh Kinnane, Tadgh Hickey, Dylan Barrett, Fionn O’Neill, Carter Clegg, Ewan McCarthy, Rob Wallace, Alec O’Brien, Ned Condon, John Maloney, Cionnaith Cotter, Jimmy O’Riordan, Cathal Hickey, Liam Martin, Christopher O’Sullivan, Tom Barry and Jack Cronin.

Junior Football Challenge.

Our junior footballers played Killavullen on Friday evening in a challenge game in Castlelyons.  Killavullen are a strong footballing club having almost made the senior grade some years back and while they are back at junior level there is a gap in standards between us, but the game proved a very useful workout.  Referee James Bermingham had a relatively easy job.  We did field a very young team as some of our big boys are injured with others opting for the sliotar.  All the players in the panel got game time and well done to the team management for arranging the challenge game.

Panel: - S Hickey, C Sheehan, E McLoughlin, E Morrison, D Morrison, B Carroll, O Linehan, D Leetch, C McCarthy, B Spillane, S Cotter, J Cremin, A Lardner, R Morrison, S Rice, M Griffin, T O’Neill, M Rosner, K Barry, R Ryan, J Kenny, C McGann, S Leneghan, and P O’Regan.

Red FM Division 3 County Hurling League – Courcey Rovers v Castlelyons.

This game is now listed for Thursday 25th April at 7.30pm in Ballinspittle.  We have had many great games with Courceys over the years and this is one we could do with winning.  We are bottom of the league with no win after three games.  We had no game with a while so hopefully we will have a few of our injured lads back as we need a win to stay up in Division three.  Best of luck lads.

Castlelyons GAA Lotto Results – Monday 7.4.25. 

The last draw was held on Monday 14.4.25 and the numbers drawn were 21, 27, 29 and 31. There was no Jackpot winner.   The Lucky Dip Winners of €20 each were as follows: - Fiona O’Callaghan, Sonny O’Brien, Laura Fitzgerald, Sean O’Dowd, Andrea Quirke, Tracey Cremin, Regina Walsh and Ann Hegarty.

The Jackpot is again climbing to €13,400.  The next Draw be held in the Community Centre on Tuesday 22nd April at 8.00pm. Thank you all for your support and don’t forget you can play our Lotto Online or purchase from the usual outlets.

Castlelyons Ladies Gaelic Football Club host U15 East Cork Feile on Easter Monday.

There is no league action for either U13 or U15 teams this week, but on Easter Monday we host the East Cork U15 LGFA Feile. This is another milestone for our young Cumann Peil Gael na mBan as it is the first year we have had a team entered in this prestigious competition. With teams visiting from, Kilworth, Castlemartyr, Whitescross and Rockbán both pitches will be a hive activity, with game’s kicking off from 11am. Every team will play each other once in a league format, with the top two teams competing in the final at 3pm that evening. Best of luck to our girls and all support on the day is welcome.

Camogie Junior League.

Castlelyons 3-8 Aghada 3-8.

The girls second league match was at home against Aghada on Friday evening last.  It was a summer like evening with a great crowd.  Aghada started well and scored the first few points.  Then Castlelyons settled down and within ten minutes had scored two goals from Avril Beirne and Ava Hallihan.  The half time score was Castlelyons 2-5 Aghada 2-4.

The second half was even all the way and the encouragement from the sideline and the crowd helped Castlelyons as Aghada attacked hard, but our defence held very well.   There were some switches and substitutions, and Siobhán Crowley hit home the third Castlelyons goal of the night to the delight of the crowd.  This put us three points up and looking good for a win.  However, Aghada levelled it with a goal from a free in added time.  Final score Castlelyons 3:08 Aghada 3:08.  Well done to the girls and to their new management. Next premier junior game is away to Tracton Monday 21st April at 5.30pm.

Panel: - Grainne Mc Carthy, Isabel Fenton, Niamh Barry, Rachel Murphy, Niamh Coleman, Aibhín O Sullivan, Sarah Morrison, Olivia Sheehan, Eavan Cotter, Sarah Kate Reals, Avril Beirne, Jessie O Leary, Sive Hallihan, Katie O Riordan, Ava Hallihan, Siobhan Crowley, Melissa O Sullivan and Robyn Hickey.

Munster Senior Hurling Championship in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg on Sunday.

Zimmer Biomet was founded in 1927 in Indiana USA and has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Shannon developing all kinds of medical and sports products including hips, knees, etc.  However, I don’t know if Michael Cusack, the man from Carron ever know about this company much less have a pitch named after him in Ennis.  Anyway, the pitch was opened in 1936 and after some modernisation and renovation down the years it now houses 20,000 and is now called Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg after a major sponsorship deal.  On this Easter Sunday 20th April all those lucky Rebels who have tickets will be heading to the famed field in Ennis for round one of the 2025 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Cork versus Clare at 2pm.  It is preceded by the Munster senior camogie championship semi-final Clare v Cork 11.45am and the making of a great days sport.  

Clare are going into this game as League and All Ireland Champions in 2024 but after a poor league season in 2025 to date including relegation in the league and some concerning injuries to players.  Cork have stormed through the league blowing Clare away in Ennis scoring six goals in the process and, indeed, putting up big scores demolishing other teams before recording a facile win over Tipperary to take the Croke Cup in the final in the Páirc.  They are the form team, extremely impressive, as many of the players have come of age with punters and press making them run away favourites and supporters confident that this is finally Corks year that could all start with an Easter rising in Ennis.  There is no doubt that the Banner will hurl for their lives and Brian Lohan is a shrewd manager too.  However, all the indicators point to a Rebel win and best of luck to our own Castlelyons man Niall O’Leary and the team on Sunday.

Fixtures.

Rebel Óg East Division Under 18 Division 2 football League Lisgoold v Castlelyons on Friday 18.4.25 at 6.30pm in Lisgoold

Rebel Óg East Division Under 12 football League Castlelyons v Brian Dillons on Monday 21.4.25 at 7.30pm in Castlelyons.

Rebel Óg North Division Under 18 hurling League Castlelyons v Kilworth Araglen Óg on Wednesday 23.4.25 in Castlelyons at 6.30pm.

Red FM Division Three Hurling League Courcey Rovers v Castlelyons in Ballinspittle on Thursday 25.4.25 at 7.30pm.

Votes of Sympathy.

At the Club’s recent monthly meeting votes of sympathy were extended to the Mannix family, Bartlemy, the Noonan family, Fermoy, the Spillane family, Conna and the Mullins family Conna on their recent bereavements. Ar dheis Dé to raibh a nainmeacha to léir.

Notes by Kieran McGann.

Club Sponsor: - East Cork Oil.