Best of luck to Cork on Sunday

Cork senior hurlers lead the way with 30 All Ireland senior titles while their opponents on Sunday Tipperary are edging close with 28 titles the last three coming in 2010, 2016 and 2019.  It is said that Cork have experienced a famine in recent times as their last title was twenty years ago in 2005.  But that is not really the case as they have remained so competitive all the time and, indeed, so unlucky to lose to Clare in the two finals of 2013 and 2024. Games between Cork and Tipperary games in Munster are fiercely contested and the rivalry is considered one of the greatest in our hurling history. On Sunday 20th July after a festival of great hurling we have the first ever meeting between the teams in the All-Ireland Final at Croke Park.  There are so many changes through the ages in hurling from the shape of the hurley, the colour of the sliotar, the sponsorship on the jerseys, the price of the ticket and the cost of the pint.  However, the power, fitness, skill of the modern hurler and the speed of the game is ahead of any other sport professional or otherwise and expect new heights on Sunday.

This Cork team have shown massive form to date this year winning the League and the Mackey Cup in Munster for the first time.  They are the bookies favourites too.  Tipperary have defeated Kilkenny to qualify in style and will make it a great final. The atmosphere is really building with towns and villages sporting the Rebel flags and buntings as the Cork public have really got behind this team all year.  Castlelyons’s Niall O’Leary has shown massive dedication and great skill with the Rebels these last few years.  It will take an almighty effort to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup.  The novel Knocknagow by Charles Kickham has an ending quote “Thank God there are happy homes in Tipperary still”.  The Rebels want to change this by making Cork happy and really are up for it. Best wishes to the team, management and Niall on Sunday. Nothing beats being there and if you have a ticket roar on the Rebels.  Go n-éirí libh. 

Rebel Óg Under 12 Hurling. 

Castlelyons 2-13 Ballygiblin 1-7

We were at home to Ballygiblin on Sunday last in what proved a highly competitive game.  We played with the wind in the first half and led 1-7 to 1-4 at half time.  Rìan Fitzgerald and Liam Cashman were hurling well in midfield and Dara McCarthy got a good goal.

Castlelyons worked fierce hard in the second half and got some great scores from Cìan o Donovan and Liam Martin.  This win gives us full points from two games and top of the table with Bride Rovers.

Rebel Óg Under 12 Football.

Bride Rovers 4-5 Castlelyons 1-4.

We played Bride Rovers away last Thursday evening in football.  It was a melting hot evening and Bride Rovers climatised faster scoring a few fast goals and well up at half time.

We put on a savage hard press in the second half but just could not get the scores to match. Tom Barry, Luke Dolan and Sean Ekechukwu were best for us on the evening.  Well done to all the lads who are enjoying their hurling and football.  We have two more away games in July as we play Nemo Rangers in Trabeg at 8pm on Wednesday 23^rd and Passage away at 2pm on Sunday 26th

A look at the past can be motivation for the future as our senior hurlers prepare again.

We have been blessed with more than our fair share of great days. We won many titles in our history in various grades up to last Sundays Junior C football county title and each one is treasured by the Club.  Our hurlers are out in this year’s Senior A hurling Championship with the first game versus Ballyhea in Kildorrery on Saturday 16th August.  We did have a quiet League as there were injuries and absences, but we held our position in division three for next year.  We have a month left to get the troops focused on the battlefield again and no doubt they will be up for it. 

Last year we qualified out of our group in the Senior A to play Na Piarsaigh in the quarter final in Páirc Uí Rinn.  This was an epic game that took over two and a half hours to settle.  The score was 3-23 to 2-26 after extra time and Castlelyons won 9-8 on the penalties.  Na Piarsaigh were four points ahead with four minutes left, but the lads came back to level and extra time but still level.  Then there was a penalty shootout with 26 penalties, and Anthony Spillane nailed the last one to send us into the semifinal versus Glen Rovers. Despite losing full back Colm Barry and county star Niall O’Leary through injury there was only one point in it with a little over ten minutes left.  Pat Horgan did score 2-9 that day to send the Glen into the final and they defeated Blarney to go back up to the Premier SHC.

In 2001, we were hurling in Premier SHC ourselves as there was no Senior A SHC that time and the senior championship was a tough knockout model. We had a great year starting with a first round twelve-point win over Ballincollig.  Then it was on to Riverstown for the next round versus Muskerry.  Barry Fitzgerald had the proverbial blinder at centre back and Peter Murphy in the forwards, but Muskerry looked to have it won when two points by Paul Cashman and then a goal by Darren Sheedy in injury time gave us a one-point win.  We took on Na Piarsaigh in the quarter final.  We were down four points with three minutes left and came back from the dead to draw level with a point from Ciarán McGann.  Then Sylvester McAuliffe sent us ahead, but they levelled. That day Timmy McCarthy scored 1-4, Eoin Fitzgerald 1-1, Syl McAuliffe 0-3, Donal Sheehan 0-2 and C McGann 0-1.

On to the replay and it was another cracker with Castlelyons coming out on top 0-13 to 1-7.  It was not the greatest game but there were some excellent passages of hurling.  Na Piarsaigh could not contain the twin threats of Timmy McCarthy and Eoin Fitzgerald. Aidan Barry was outstanding in goal, Barry O’Connell, Ciarán McGann and Declan Wallace too.  Scorers in the replay were Timmy McCarthy and Eoin Fitzgerald 0-4 each; Declan Wallace 0-2; Paul Cashman, C McGann, Sean Cotter 0-1 each.  We then lost to Blackrock in the semifinal who went on to defeat Imokilly in the final that year.  Was this the best Castlelyons team ever.  Mar deirtear ní bhíonn in aon lá, mar a bhíonn i lá eile.  It was different times and a different era.  However, it would be great to progress to the top level of senior hurling again and no doubt the lads are preparing to give it a right go.

The 2001 Team and Management.: Aidan Barry; William O’Riordan, Barry O’Connell, Andrew Meade; Sean Cotter, Barry Fitzgerald, Michael O’Connell; Donal Sheehan, Ciarán McGann; Paul Cashman, Timmy McCarthy, Declan Wallace; Eoin Fitzgerald, Darren Sheedy, Sylvester McAuliffe; Subs; Peter Murphy, John Molloy, Daniel Carroll. Manager; Ned Fitzgerald; Selectors Donal O’Connell; Ger Barry (RIP) and John Horgan (RIP) Coach.

Rebel Óg East Under 14 Football League.

Kilworth 3-11 Castlelyons 3-11. 

Our Under 14 footballers qualified for the League semi-final by virtue of drawing with Kilworth Araglen in the Kilworth pitch last Friday evening.  Here were some good patches of football in the first half by both teams as Ned Condon with a goal and Cionnaith Cotter were the chief scorers in the first half. Tadgh Hickey was doing mighty in goal under Kilworth pressure. We defended well early in the second half with Robbie Wallace and Ewan McCarthy doing very well.  Wallace found Cotter with a great pass who aid of to Ned Cotter and Ned finished with a great goal.  It looked as if we were on our way, but Kilworth/Araglen had other ideas and fought their way back into the game.  Again, most of our scores came from Ned and Cionnaith but Liam Martin scored an invaluable point too.  There was a right battle for supremacy in the last few minutes as Castlelyons backs held out well to hold the game all square.  This was a good result for us considering we were missing a few and played some under 12s who did not let the side down.  We now finish second to Bride Rovers in our league and await whether we have made the final or there are semifinals.  Well done lads and to Manager Nelius O’Brien. Team: Tadgh Hickey; Carter Clegg, Cathal Henley; Robbie Wallace, Ewan McCarthy, Jack Cronin; Alex O’Brien, Ned Condon; Jimmy O’Riordan, Cionnaith Cotter, Tom Barry; Liam Martin, Josh Kinnane.

Castlelyons GAA Lotto Results - Monday 14.7.25 - Jackpot now €16,000

The results of the draw held on Monday 14.7.25 had the following numbers drawn were 11, 13, 18 and 28. There was no Jackpot winner which was €15,800.   The Lucky Dip Winners of €20 each were as follows: Martin Cronin, John Barry, Martin O’Flynn, LNAP Hegarty, Christy Daly, Luke Murray, Chris Corcoran and Neil Spillane.

The Jackpot is now a massive €16,000.  The next Draw be held in the Community Centre on Monday 21st July at 8pm. Thank you all for your support and don’t forget you can play our Lotto Online or purchase from the usual outlets.

Camogie.

Kilworth, St Catherines, Fermoy, Bride Rovers, and Sarsfields all took part on this most popular Annual Ciara O Brien Blitz last Saturday in Castlelyons.  We had sun, heat, hospitality and above all great camogie on the day. Castlelyons won through to the final after defeating Kilworth in a great game that went to extra time.  However, Sarsfields defeated us by a few points in the final after a great game.  Our own Ellie O’Brien won the player of the game award.  Aoibheann O’Sullivan Fermoy spoke and presented the trophy to Ellie.  Áine O’Brien spoke on behalf of the O’Brien family and thanked all on behalf of the family.

The Under 17 Annual Imokilly Blitz was held in Castlelyons last Sunday. There were seven teams entered in the competition namely, Aghada, Bride Rovers, Carrigtwohill, Castlelyons, Midleton, Watergrasshill and Youghal.  Castlelyons beat Watergrasshill and Carrigtwohill in the group stages.  They played a much stronger Midleton in the final losing narrowly 2-5 to 2-9 after some great camogie.  Well done ladies.  A good afternoon of Camogie was had by all.

Congratulations to the Foley Family.

Kevin Foley, the legendary Meath footballer, his wife Geraldine and family resided for some years in Castlelyons before moving back to Trim Co. Meath. Kevin hard tackling half back with great speed and won two senior All Ireland senior medals.  He was a Vet in Rathbarry Stud and when he retired from county football, he played with Castlelyons for a while, and the family have many friends in the parish. 

Their son Liam won Gold in the 1500M and the 800M and a bronze in the 400M in in the European IAAD Games in Prague recently.  In 2024 Liam won in the 1500M and 800M in the Trisome Games in Turkey earning him the title of World Champion. Liam trains with the Trim Athletic Cub and is a seasoned campaigner in road races too. Liam’s participation in international competition has inspired so many and has drawn unique focus on his talent and ability. Congratulations to Liam and family from our Club and all in Castlelyons.

Notes: Kieran McGann; Communications Officer

Sponsor:  East Cork Oil.