Co-Op Superstores Senior A Hurling Championship Final Castlelyons V Bride Rovers.

All roads to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening for the county final of the Senior A championship versus neighbours Bride Rovers.  This is certainly a novel and exciting pairing.  Both the villages and town lands of the two parishes are adorned with flags, buntings and posters.  I noted even one man’s van adorned with posters not for any election but showing his great spirit of support for the Rovers.  Castlelyons came through their group last year despite a heavy defeat to Bride Rovers in Ballynoe.  It was to their credit that they came through a game for the ages in the quarter final versus Na Piarsaigh to take it to extra time and then win it on penalties when Anthony Spillane buried the penalty in sudden death.  Then with nine minutes to go in the semi-final we led the famous Glen Rovers by a point.  But with the loss of our sterling full back Colm Barry and county star Niall O’Leary the pressure was on, and the Glen won in the end.  

After working hard to get to the semi-final this year Blarney were the opposition and while they tried to take us in the closing stages, we stayed the course to come home winners.  Our opponents in the final have been in five semi-finals in the last number of years and know all about tough games.  Blarney were big favourites this year and it was to our team’s credit that they did the business.  Now we are taking on a battle-hardened team in Bride Rovers who are big favourites with the bookies and in surrounding chat.  Let’s hope it will be a good game and again just hoping if our lads keep in there entering the last quarter maybe they could spring a surprise.  Looking forward to the game with Ian McCarthy, Bandon the referee.  Castlelyons Abú.  

Parking for the big games Saturday evening in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

We have been notified that Suttons Yard Car Park (T12 K7TV) will be open to the public this Saturday, October 18th and Sunday, October 19th.  Access is via Monaghan Road, on a first come, first served basis.  No car passes are required.  The car park will open from 3.30pm on Saturday.

Those attending the Co-Op Superstores Hurling Finals to make use of this facility as parking within the stadium is reserved exclusively for the participating teams.  Members of the public please respect the local area and residents.

East Cork Junior C Football Championship Final.

Cobh 0-12 Castlelyons 1-6

We headed for Páirc Séamus De Barra in Carrigtwohill last Sunday morning for the East Cork JFC Final versus Cobh.  There was a large crowd for a C final and while we defeated narrowly in the group game they were always in with a chance in this game.  We attacked early on, and it was clear that they were marking our danger man Richie Morrison very closely this time as he was even fouled twice early on, but we failed to convert the relevant frees.  They scored two points and then exchanged points as Cees scored one for us.  Then one of our lads received a black card but we held our game well and Stephen Hickey scored a massive two pointer for us after Sen Óg McGuire was fouled.  Cobh scored again before half time to leave it 0-5 to 0-5 in Cobh’s Favour at half time.

On the resumption Cobh took over for a while and extended their lead 0-8 to 0-4.  Cathal Sheehan and Adam Lardner came on.  Our goalie   Hickey came to the rescue again with a great save.  We were still well in the game, but our passing could be much better.  Richie Morrison was fouled and Cees Kouwenberg slotted over the free and Cobh replied with a point.  It was 0-5 to 0-9 with fifteen minutes left. Our backs played well particularly Declan Morrison, Eoin McLoughlin and Matthew Rosner as Dylan Leetch began to take hold at midfield for us.  Then Dylan made a great run and parted to Richie Morrison who banged in a great goal to leave it all square at 1-6 to 0-9.  Scores were hard to come by for both teams, and it was still level play with 5 minutes to go.  However, Cobh finished the stronger with three points.  Congratulations to Cobh and Dick Fitzgerald, Vice Chairperson of the East Cork presented the cup to the Cobh captain afterwards.  Look well done to the lads we won the confined County defeating Rochestown in a great day in Mallow earlier.  But with all the hurling and no one from the panel playing this was not to be our day.  Team Manager, Darran Tobin and Chris Cotter Selectors deserve great praise for their years work in keeping the adult football going and bring a county to the Club as well.  Thanks too to Tori Cook our physio all season.

Panel: - Stephen Hickey, Kevin Barry, Cathal Sheehan, Conor McCarthy, Declan Morrison, Óisin Morrison, Eoin Barry, Matthew Rosner, Stephen Griffey, Sean Leneghan; Dylan Leetch, Eoin McLoughlin, Alan O’Regan, Shane Flynn, Stephen Rice, Adam Lardner, Richard Morrison, Michael Griffin, Jack Cremin, Ronan Ryan, Jack Kenny, Sean Óg McGuire, Cees Kouwenberg, Tom O’Neill, Sean O’Callaghan.

Rebel Og East Under 14 Division Two Football League Final

Bride Rovers 2-10   Castlelyons 2-9

Our Under 14 team played their last fixture of 2025 in Rathcormac Páirc na Bríde last Tuesday.  We lost twice during the year to the same opposition so the team knew that a big effort would be required.  Castlelyons started slowly, and Bride Rovers steadily began to pick off their points. Ned Condon got us on the scoresheet just before the 12-minute mark with a well taken point. Just as it seemed as if the lads were working their way into the game, Tadhg received a very harsh black card for a pullback 25 metres from goal. With Castlelyons down to fourteen for the next ten minutes Bride Rovers upped their pace and scored an unanswered 1-3.  We were back up to fifteen players from the 22nd minute and we began to attack again.  We were unlucky to not score a goal when the Bride Rovers goalie Conor Collins pulled off a good save. Cionnaith Cotter popped over Castlelyons’ second point from a free after 27 minutes. Unluckily just before half time Dylan was beaten for a second goal, to leave the half time score 2-8 to 0-2 in favour of the home side.

Castlelyons started the second half in a determined mood. Dylan Barrett switched to the forwards in the second half and his presence started to pull the Bride Rovers defence out of shape. Ewan McCarthy, Cionnaith Cotter and Ned Condon started to drive into the centre of the Bride Rovers backs and gaps started to appear. Twelve minutes after the restart Castlelyons had added 1-2 unanswered. Bride Rovers broke up field for a point, and our lads got back to work cutting into the Rovers lead. Points for us, rarer than hens’ teeth in the first half, started to flow, and the lead began to evaporate. With ten minutes left Bride Rovers tagged on another point to take their lead out to six points.

Cionnaith Cotter popped over a free to reduce the lead followed by a point from Ned Condon. Next, Ned drove a close in free through a crowded goal line to reduce the lead to one point as the sixty minutes approached. Injuries and cramp started to take its toll on some of the lads, but they continued to drive at the wall of Rovers defenders. In fact, our lads attacked all during the three minutes of injury time but failed to score and the chance of taking the game to replay was lost.  The result was tough for the lads but the manner of the fight back in the second half showed their character as individuals and as a team. Castlelyons Abu.

Team: - D Barrett; Robbie Wallace, T Hickey, M Abdelrazik; C Clegg, J O’Riordan, E McCarthy; A O’Brien, N Condon; Ryan Wallace, C Cotter, C O’Sullivan; C Henley, J Kinnane, J Moloney. Subs: - T Barry, L Martin, F O’Neill.

Thanks to all for the colourful preparations for the County final.

Just to say that it's great to see the parish looking so good with all the flags and buntings and Car Flags. If anyone was some more, they could contact Cian Kearney (086/0356378) or myself (086/8196232)

Castlelyons Senior Hurlers – County Final – GoFund.me

Our senior hurlers have given us massive enjoyment and brought great honour to the parish of Castlelyons in the last few years.  This year 2025 is our greatest to date as we play in the biggest final – the Co-Op Superstores Senior A hurling championship Final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh next Saturday versus our neighbours Bride Rovers in what should be an most exciting local derby.

Your support on the evening is vital, and it is great to see the flags and buntings going up all over the place.  There is a cost to the Club associated with the preparation of the team and especially when we make the county final.  To reduce these costs, we have set up a Go Fund.me.  Any contribution is voluntary and a matter of choice for anybody. It is just that any donation helps us get closer to our goal.  You can click the link circulated and set out below to donate or share it with others who might want to help.

Thanks for being part of our journey and let be said that the community contributions to the major development programme for Castlelyons GAA is really appreciated by the Club.  Castlelyons Abú.

https://gofund.me/b0e112281

Proposal for Castlelyons GAA, Camogie and LGFA to purchase the App called CLUBZAP 

We held a meeting on CLUBZAP on Monday 13th October at 8pm in the Community Centre.   There was a reasonable interest by the various Clubs. We held a ZOOM call with the CLUBZAP Company.  Clubs will now decide it is a suitable source of improved communication for us and let us now in the next two weeks. 

Castlelyons GAA Lotto Results - Monday 13.10.25 - Jackpot now €18,600

The results of the draw held on Monday 13.10.25 had the following numbers drawn 12, 24, 26 and 27. There was no Jackpot winner which was €18,400.  The Lucky Dip Winners of €20 each were as follows; Mark Henley (MOS), Pauline & Richard (JB), Johnny Hurley BF), Kathleen Cashman (P/O), Cian O’ Leary (DO’L), Sinead Healy (JH), CALM (MS), Alex Henley (MOS)

The Jackpot is now a massive €18,400.  The next Draw will be held in the Community Centre on Monday 20th October at 8pm. Thank you all for your support and don’t forget you can play our Lotto Online or purchase from the usual outlets.

Stewards Training.

More Stewards are required to support the great work of the present cohort.  There will be a training course on Thursday 6^th November at 7pm in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.  If you are over 18 years of age (male or female).  Available for a set number of games at weekends.  Fit, Active, Friendly, courteous, enthusiastic. Do consider it.  Also, those existing stewards need to renew their accreditation on the night.  Stewards will be trained and accredited by the GAA National Health & Safety Committee and the course is monitored by the Europlan Group who will be present.  We have a new pitch, Stand and will be getting a number of games into the future and it is good to have members trained and the work in the Páirc has a great atmosphere.

Castlelyons GAA Annual General Meeting.

The annual general meeting of Castlelyons GAA will take place in the Community Centre at 3pm.

Vote of Sympathy.

Sincere condolences to all the Ronayne family on the recent sad passing of Sean Ronayne Bridesbridge and Boston.  Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm uasal.

Notes:  Kieran McGann, Communications Officer.

Club Sponsor:  East Cork Oil.